A vertical shock is better...

[RockCoach]

...than none.

[Iwan Kemp]

...than none.

 

 

Can we move this post to Post 1 in the thread? Me pouring you one

 

http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Jack-Donaghy-Pouring-Alcohol-Loop-30-Rock.gif

[usxorf]

No, you are wrong, just because.

 

This vertical shock design is better because it has the LEAST linkages and pivots and weighs the least!

 

Vertical shock.jpg

 

*Updated with technical terms 

So light it floats! How much grip do the tires have if the bike is floating?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

So light it floats! How much grip do the tires have if the bike is floating?

Rectified as soon as señor MAMIL sits astride

[NicoBoshoff]

I preferred it when you guys were arguing about what colour bike is fastest.  At least that had some hard science behind it.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I preferred it when you guys were arguing about what colour bike is fastest. At least that had some hard science behind it.

And unicorns

[Eddy Gordo]

It's Friday, I can talk crap now... This horizontal shock it better, hahahaaaaaa.hightower_black_hero_web.png

Well its a santa cruz so it should be better!!

[NicoBoshoff]

All that I can conclude from this is that the Specialized Enduro must be winning all those magazine awards because the test riders are always on their back wheels, making the shock seem vertical.  Had they known the truth...

[Skott5]

I think forks, with the brace curved forward are better than forks with the brace curved backwards .. 

[Patchelicious]

That is rather mesmerizing! 

 

Going on 100% looks,, the Canyon looks the coolest

Man it does!! Canyon, the new Dirt Roadie fave!

[Eddy Gordo]

I remember some great bikes that ended up as a bit of disaster BECAUSE they did away with extra pivots. Yeti's 575 is just one of those.

 

But let's all hear it for some bikes that have shown some promise, but could have been so much better if only the designers mounted the shock vertically. *Sigh*

 

Evil Wreckoning

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0349/7357/files/EvilWreckoning-11Logo.jpg?13886376320075994922

 

Ibis Mojo HD3

http://14761-presscdn-0-15.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Gary-Forrest-HD3-Team-Ibis-4480.jpg

 

YT Capra

http://ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb10677065/p4pb10677065.jpg

 

Pyga Stage

http://14761-presscdn-0-15.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/PYGA-1931.jpg

 

Pivot Mach 6

http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/28115/setup_checks/23610/photos/16259/s1600_image.jpg?1382856315

 

 

Rocky Mountain Instinct

http://14761-presscdn-0-15.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Rocky-Mountain-Instinct-950-MSL-Enduro-Magazine-3-von-8-810x540.jpg

 

...looking at these I'm surprised how many bigger bikes (where proper suspension is infinitely more important) does in fact NOT run a vertical shock. I'm actually starting to think that maybe a horizontally placed shock...

 

Some years back I had a Mongoose Otero with a coil over shock. The shock was mounted to the top tube. At the time it felt great, extremely responsive etc. Then I got a Kona Tanuki DL with a vertical shock. I never could come right with it. It just didnt, I dunno, maybe cause it was a Kona Fasttrax shock, but then the mongoose had I think I kind shock or somthing. Anyways I broke the kona and now have a Commencal Meta Sx and had a Morewood Shova. I like both bikes. Newer tech, diff shock placements and it soaks up everything and the commencal is more responsive to popping of jumps. The morewood is better in blasting through stuff

[Eddy Gordo]

I preferred it when you guys were arguing about what colour bike is fastest.  At least that had some hard science behind it.

I thought it was 26" wheels

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I think forks, with the brace curved forward are better than forks with the brace curved backwards ..

Pinkbike would disagree. We all know the Mattoc is the *best fork ever*

 

Lol

[Dicky DQ]

Nope. Unless it was just a correction of his grammar. In which case, you're right

 

Less pivots in a system does not make it a better system. It just makes it different.

Grammar Nazi I am, well in this case as it is all I can add. What is all this nonsense about this and that. A HARD-TAIL solves all these issues like:

Solid rear triangle,

Weight,

2 x water bottles

In this case who cares where the shock mount is. Drop you tyre pressure to 1.1 to 1.5 bar and problem solved. 1.5 works for dudes like me in the 100 + kg cat. But of coarse this a whole new debate that the OP may want to weight in on.

 

I am so old school that when people talk about a shock I immediately think of a fork as this is all I know.

[MTBeer]

my only contribution to this fascinating debate is as follows -

 

99% of the people that I fly past on downhill single tracks while chasing STRAAAAVAAAA pb's wouldn't notice the difference if their fecking vertically/horizontally/diagonally mounted rear shock was attached to the fecking handle bars.

 

#toomuschanalysisandnotenoughriding

 

#justrideyourfuckingbike

[usxorf]

Grammar Nazi I am, well in this case as it is all I can add. What is all this nonsense about this and that. A HARD-TAIL solves all these issues like:

Solid rear triangle,

Weight,

2 x water bottles

In this case who cares where the shock mount is. Drop you tyre pressure to 1.1 to 1.5 bar and problem solved. 1.5 works for dudes like me in the 100 + kg cat. But of coarse this a whole new debate that the OP may want to weight in on.

 

I am so old school that when people talk about a shock I immediately think of a fork as this is all I know.

1.5bar on a back wheel at 100kg+... do your wheels ever leave the ground?