Offset shock bushes

[Iwan Kemp]

Just got a angled headset installed on Friday. It was a Works-Components model (1.0 deg) and I installed it on my Giant XTC 29r composite. I still need to take it for a test ride, but just coming back from the shop, the bike seemed to behave a bit better. These are not cheap, but if you are not quite happy with your bike, it sure is worth a try before buying a new bike.

 

I have read reports that the Cane Creek angleset has some issues with knocking and noise, it might be because of all the loose parts in it, but you get a lot more options with the Cane Creek model. I might go for a ride tonight or in the morning and post the results here. FSA also make one, but is a bit more expensive.

 

If you follow the fit instructions to the t (good YouTube vid by Cane Creek as well) you shouldn't have any issues.

[Bizkit031]

The angle headset is easy to install I just need together a price for one,I know

Africa cycles have them in stock.

[camelman]

If you follow the fit instructions to the t (good YouTube vid by Cane Creek as well) you shouldn't have any issues.

Who follows instructions? It's only a few parts

[G00SE]

Ok my mate spoke to one of the guys that we do Enduro with and he says that he would rather suggest a angle headset that only changes the head angle. This guy is a suspension designer for Morewood.

 

That doesn't make sense to me.

Surely, even if you adjust the HA with an angle set, it will still affect the BB height, and other angles in a similar way that offset bushings would?

[Brian Fantana]

That doesn't make sense to me.

Surely, even if you adjust the HA with an angle set, it will still affect the BB height, and other angles in a similar way that offset bushings would?

 

Yes, due to the slacker head angle you will drop a few millimeters on your front end, and in turn the BB.

 

My Revelation has an axle to crown of 529mm and with the 68º HA it gives a perpendicular distance of 490.5mm between the axle and the crown.

 

If I slacken my 68º head angle by 1.5º, the perpendicular distance from will change to 485.1mm which is a 5.4mm drop on the front end of the bike. The BB drop will be less.

 

The BB drop will be in the shape of an arc around your rear axle. You will have to convert this drop to an angle (by using abovementioned drop and distance from rear axle to crown), and by using the distance between the BB and the rear axle you will be able to calculate what the drop in BB height will be.

 

The offset shock bushes can cause a big BB drop. My bike has a rear suspension leverage ratio of 2.9. If the eccentric shock bushes are mounted in a way to slacken the bike with an offset of say 3mm it means that my rear suspension will sit into the first (2.9 x 3) 8.7mm of its travel. This means that your rear wheel will travel further and closer to the frame at the end of the stroke. So unless you reduce the stroke of your shock, you will need to be very certain that your rear wheel will not touch the frame and cause damage when you bottom out.

 

In my very personal opinion it is better to just ride the hell out of the bike you have, and if you want a bike with different geometry, it is easy, just buy a different frame, and ride the hell out of that bike as well!!

[Bizkit031]

Hey I'm not a suspension designer so I can't really comment too much,oh he also says he does not know how the bushes stay in place and not move around.He did say the only issue with a angle headset is that they tend to start creaking.

[clement]

Hey I'm not a suspension designer so I can't really comment too much,oh he also says he does not know how the bushes stay in place and not move around.He did say the only issue with a angle headset is that they tend to start creaking.

 

 

They stay in place due to the friction on the ends when they are tightened down with the shock bolt. However even if they are not tightened down they will still settle in the correct position to give a reduced head angle.

 

 

I also looked at the angle headset, while it is the "more correct" way of reducing HA the offset bushes won on price and ease of use. Seeing that it is essentially the same as running a little more sag (or eating a bigger breakfast) the effect on suspension functionality is minimal. (Obviously dependant on the specific design though) The one thing to watch for is that under full compression you still have clearance on all the components and the wheel do not hit the seat tube.

[Bizkit031]

Got a price for a FSA angle headset of R2600. Eishhhh!

[Daniel J Méssem]

Machining a few offset bushings for myself and friends, let me know if anyone else is interested

Edited September 9, 2014 by Daniel J Méssem

[nolipoli]

Daniel, what bike are you machining for?

[Daniel J Méssem]

Solis tephra 5.5

[ThePubSA]

Yes, due to the slacker head angle you will drop a few millimeters on your front end, and in turn the BB.

 

My Revelation has an axle to crown of 529mm and with the 68º HA it gives a perpendicular distance of 490.5mm between the axle and the crown.

 

If I slacken my 68º head angle by 1.5º, the perpendicular distance from will change to 485.1mm which is a 5.4mm drop on the front end of the bike. The BB drop will be less.

 

The BB drop will be in the shape of an arc around your rear axle. You will have to convert this drop to an angle (by using abovementioned drop and distance from rear axle to crown), and by using the distance between the BB and the rear axle you will be able to calculate what the drop in BB height will be.

 

The offset shock bushes can cause a big BB drop. My bike has a rear suspension leverage ratio of 2.9. If the eccentric shock bushes are mounted in a way to slacken the bike with an offset of say 3mm it means that my rear suspension will sit into the first (2.9 x 3) 8.7mm of its travel. This means that your rear wheel will travel further and closer to the frame at the end of the stroke. So unless you reduce the stroke of your shock, you will need to be very certain that your rear wheel will not touch the frame and cause damage when you bottom out.

 

In my very personal opinion it is better to just ride the hell out of the bike you have, and if you want a bike with different geometry, it is easy, just buy a different frame, and ride the hell out of that bike as well!!

Good post..

 

Needs a PUSH tune