Enduro/gravity bike suspension and geo

[PhilipV]

To all the Hubbers with Rock Shox Pike/revelation forks 2018+... does your fork travel match the exposed stanchion area?

 

Its a long story but I bought a fork thats suppose to be 150mm and it only shows 142mm exposed stanchion area. According to all sources I have called on this far its the right airspring but I cant imagine, RockShox would make a fork that uses a larger negative air chamber, which therefore sits 10mm into its travel(in essence its negative travel) and still call it a 150mm (10mm negative spring +140 positive)..anyway.

 

So If a 150 pike measures 140mm, I need a 160mm debonairspring.

Is the Damper side not limiting the travel on that fork? ie it's not extending to the full length the 150mm airspring allows because the Damper shaft can't extend anymore? Edited February 21, 2020 by PhilipV

[Bos]

..

Edited February 23, 2020 by Bos

[Bos]

It's the simplest solution.. your negative air spring is overpowering the main spring a bit. All forks sit a bit lower in their travel because of this. If there is a fault with the bypass orifice it will need to be checked out but chances are theres nothing wrong.

 If I pull the lowers out, I get another 5mm, but why would Rockshox suddenly start including the negative spring in the suggested travel.. I have had all types of RS forks and its never been an issue, I know what you mean, but Its not the issue here.(Solo air/dual air/dual position air)

 

Is the Damper side not limiting the travel on that fork? ie it's not extending to the full length the 150mm airspring allows because the Damper shaft can't extend anymore?

 

The damper is supposed to be able to handle up to 160.. and is longer than the airshaft, so not that one either. 

 

Which to my initial question. Those with 2018+ Debonair Pike/Rev boost 27.5/29 forks, does the suggested travel match the exposed stanchion or is it slightly short, because I think someone is giving me the wrong answer. Unfortunately the only way I'm going to get my answer is if someone with the same fork can pull the lowers and check how long a 150mm airspring really is or take it to drew. 

 

Anyway, I hope Drew has a 150mm fork or airspring lying around so I can compare it, I'm planning on making a turn there Monday

[Headshot]

My big bike shock started making sucky noises so it went in to Stoke for a service. Aside from the noise, the compression damping had failed so it was well overdo for an overhaul. It came back and the difference was massive. Only disappointment was that after 120km the thing developed a weird noise and seemed to be sticking as it passed a point near sag. In it went again to be returned a day later. A seal had popped. Been experimenting with air pressure and running around 30% sag now. Bike seems to have hit a sweet spot with pedaling efficiency and support. As soon as funds permit I will get a 50mm rise bar to bring the font up a tad and add a 200mm dropper post. 

 

With Tokai still only open if you ride a very long way around as the "manned" gate remains locked and unmanned, riding in the South burbs has been limited to the green belts, and Cecilia to Newlands forest route. Planning on trying out the new single track below the 12 Apostles shortly however.

[Thermophage]

My big bike shock started making sucky noises so it went in to Stoke for a service. Aside from the noise, the compression damping had failed so it was well overdo for an overhaul. It came back and the difference was massive. Only disappointment was that after 120km the thing developed a weird noise and seemed to be sticking as it passed a point near sag. In it went again to be returned a day later. A seal had popped. Been experimenting with air pressure and running around 30% sag now. Bike seems to have hit a sweet spot with pedaling efficiency and support. As soon as funds permit I will get a 50mm rise bar to bring the font up a tad and add a 200mm dropper post. 

 

With Tokai still only open if you ride a very long way around as the "manned" gate remains locked and unmanned, riding in the South burbs has been limited to the green belts, and Cecilia to Newlands forest route. Planning on trying out the new single track below the 12 Apostles shortly however.

Don't forget the multitude of trails on Devils side, front of TM and Signal Hill too bra

[Eddy Gordo]

My big bike shock started making sucky noises so it went in to Stoke for a service. Aside from the noise, the compression damping had failed so it was well overdo for an overhaul. It came back and the difference was massive. Only disappointment was that after 120km the thing developed a weird noise and seemed to be sticking as it passed a point near sag. In it went again to be returned a day later. A seal had popped. Been experimenting with air pressure and running around 30% sag now. Bike seems to have hit a sweet spot with pedaling efficiency and support. As soon as funds permit I will get a 50mm rise bar to bring the font up a tad and add a 200mm dropper post. 

 

Is there any reason why tokaimtb cant provide a manned service of the gate? And probably only over weekends. Would be a treat if they could

 

With Tokai still only open if you ride a very long way around as the "manned" gate remains locked and unmanned, riding in the South burbs has been limited to the green belts, and Cecilia to Newlands forest route. Planning on trying out the new single track below the 12 Apostles shortly however.

[Headshot]

I need to vent.

 

I've always had good service from my suspension products. A couple of Fox forks, a RS Reba, a Pike and now a Yari. The only rear shocks I had before the Monarch on my current enduro were Fox and they never gave any hassles whatsoever.

 

Enter the Monarch Plus RCShite ... A 2.5 year old  otherwise perfect shock has been rendered useless by a manufacturing or QC issue. A hairline - more like spider web fine crack, formed near the end of the damper shaft where it threads into the head of the shock where the adjusters are. Its almost impossible to see  but is enough to cause high pressure oil to vacate the damper while riding, rendering the shock pretty much useless after a few rides. This kind of failure should not happen of course, but on good authority I know this is not uncommon with these shocks. Frustrating enough you'll agree but there's more. RS do not supply spare damper shafts. Nowhere on planet earth in fact.  And the warranty has expired. The shock is now only good for spares...my bike is now an ornament.

 

Thank goodness I have a HT to ride while I try and sort this sh#t out. 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Urgh, that sucks, Tim. Sorry to hear that. 

[Headshot]

Urgh, that sucks, Tim. Sorry to hear that. 

 

"Sucks" is what my shock said...

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

"Sucks" is what my shock said...

In this case, the Fox did not say this... 

[Jewbacca]

Meh.... Cape Cycle systems should step in here.

 

That is a load of bollocks and they should cover it.

[Meezo]

I need to vent.

 

I've always had good service from my suspension products. A couple of Fox forks, a RS Reba, a Pike and now a Yari. The only rear shocks I had before the Monarch on my current enduro were Fox and they never gave any hassles whatsoever.

 

Enter the Monarch Plus RCShite ... A 2.5 year old  otherwise perfect shock has been rendered useless by a manufacturing or QC issue. A hairline - more like spider web fine crack, formed near the end of the damper shaft where it threads into the head of the shock where the adjusters are. Its almost impossible to see  but is enough to cause high pressure oil to vacate the damper while riding, rendering the shock pretty much useless after a few rides. This kind of failure should not happen of course, but on good authority I know this is not uncommon with these shocks. Frustrating enough you'll agree but there's more. RS do not supply spare damper shafts. Nowhere on planet earth in fact.  And the warranty has expired. The shock is now only good for spares...my bike is now an ornament.

 

Thank goodness I have a HT to ride while I try and sort this sh#t out. 

sorry to hear, i have a 200x57 RS Monarch Plus, that's laying around.

 

i don't know what to ask for it, and i can drop off stoke for them to confirm all is in order?

[Hairy]

sorry to hear, i have a 200x57 RS Monarch Plus, that's laying around.

 

i don't know what to ask for it, and i can drop off stoke for them to confirm all is in order?

Does his frame not have a propriety Spaz connection thingiemajig on the shaft?

[Jewbacca]

Does his frame not have a propriety Spaz connection thingiemajig on the shaft?

Can't you swap out the shaft? (I hate using that word)...

 

I also have a very very basic 200x57 monarch shock lying around.

 

It has no lock out only rebound control. If you can use it you're welcome to it

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Can't you swap out the shaft? (I hate using that word)...

 

I also have a very very basic 200x57 monarch shock lying around.

 

It has no lock out only rebound control. If you can use it you're welcome to it

Here to save you. It's called a yoke. If you change it you can legit call yourself a yokel.

 

@Tim I also have an Rs Kage coil shock with a 600lb spring in excellent condition, if you wanna buy the yoke and open up a world of aftermarket options later on.

Edited July 9, 2020 by Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

[Headshot]

Thanks for the offers guys, really appreciate the sense of community around here. The shock is a Spesh proprietary unit 216x57. The shaft is 10mm thick and needs to be the right length. I think there are other differences between the various models too. 

 

I got in touch with Robbie Powell and he thinks he may have either the part or a fresh unit off another bike he has swapped out with an Ohlins for a customer. Will find out tomorrow. 

 

I've attached a pic of the shock with the air can off. The internals are pristine...The damper shaft is the silver/gray bit. Its threaded where it screws into the top of the shock. The teeny tiny crack is a few mils in from the top of the shaft and visible on the inside.