You are hereForums / By Discipline / Mountain (off road) / MTB Gear / rear shock size?

rear shock size?


jpack's picture

By jpack - Posted on 27 October 2008

Do i have to replace my rear shock with one of the same spec:
i.e. eye2eye length and stroke?
or can i go for a slightly smaller one?

specifically. i have a e2e = 200mm, stroke = 57mm
i'm looking at a e2e = 195mm, stroke = 50mm

Tags
love4riding's picture

No, you must use the right length and stroke. Or else you will lose travel, change the geometry of the bike and possibly damage the frame.

Flynny's picture

It will change your geo slightly with the smaller eye to eye. It will lift the rear wheel up slackening your head angle and lowering your bb hight

Depending on stoke to travel ratio the 7mm in stroke may end up being 21mm less travel at the rear wheel (more probably 14mm)

Running a smaller shock is unlikely to cause damage (A longer one may see parts of the frame crunch together before the shock bottoms out) but it will change the way it handles to some degree

delicious's picture

The correct size you need is very common so there is no excuse. Just buy it. If the odd size you are considering is a money saving effort then stop right now. Bicycle suspension is no place to save money.
To save money do things like drive your car less. Or give your girlfriend fewer presents or give your children less food, that sort of thing.

Flynny's picture

"Bicycle suspension is no place to save money.
To save money do things like drive your car less. Or give your girlfriend fewer presents or give your children less food, that sort of thing."

That's going into the signiturnator

Rob's picture

LOL@ delicious... very well said (the saving money thing)! Laughing out loud

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Best Mountain Bike