Increases the rear wheel travel from 3.7" (4.5" claimed) to an actual 6.2"
By simply flipping the shock insert over the head angle is changed. The kit also includes a choice of a totally custom shocks: a Fox Vanilla RX or a Stratos Helix -two of the top of the line dampers in the industry. The dampers are mated to a custom-tuned MountainSpeed Rear Spring specifically tuned for the rider. The kit also includes all hardware necessary for installation.
Bike Setup: 2000 FSR Enduro Pro and all the good stuff (Time, Chris King, Thompson)
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Submitted by
JT
a Downhiller
from Bethesda, MD, USA
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2001
Strengths: Provides Great travel upgrade for wanna be downhillers/freeriders
Weaknesses: only max backbone frames can take the fox shock
Bottom Line:
This is a preety cool shock kit that has worked for me for about a year. the only problem is that my frame is not a max backbone frame, which is required to get the fox shock. not to say the stratos is bad, but fox is better.
Bike Setup: lg frame, Risse Trixxxy w/ 7", Sram 9.0 sl, truvativ hussefelt dh isis
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Submitted by
Pete i
a Cross Country Rider
from MA
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2001
Strengths: Travel definately is increased, Stratos Helix Expert is agood shock. Needs bearing kit to complete the package. Fox vanilla float R in stock link works OK too and is lighter but doesn't add some needed travel. Longer than stock Fox vanilla with slightly more shock stroke adds a little travel but makes head angle too steep for DH sections. Mt Speed kit with stratos also steepens head angle even when used in lowest rear end position. Bottom line is, more travel added in the rear will need a longer fork to make up for the taller rear end, or you will run with more sag, drop travel which is good for keeping the wheel on the ground when hitting potholes. Will need longer fork or longer travel fork to compensate for longer taller rear.
Weaknesses: Pricey, and heavy. Why is the link so heavy, in combo with the coil over stratos this thing is luggage, why?
Bottom Line:
Good design but heavier than it needs to be. Obviosly designed with heavy DH influence and less XC weight concern. Mt Speed, Please modify the CNC program and offer a lighter XC version of the linkage to be used with a lightweight FOX Vanilla shock for XC applications.
Strengths: 6.2"/71 OR 5.8"/69 TRAVEL OUT OF A 3.75"(CLAIMED 4.") FRAME. DO THE MATH, 1.25" SHOCK STROKE (VS. 2.0") STROKE AT ROUGHLY A 3X1 RATE. OPT FOR THE FOX VANILLA SHOCK THOUGH.
Weaknesses: KIT ADDS A POUND OR SO DEPENDING ON STOCK SHOCK. ITS SO TOTALY WORTH IT.
Bottom Line:
TAKE A GREAT BIKE AND MAKE IT AWSOME!!!! BE READY FOR BIG TRAVEL. THIS REALY IS 6.2"! IF YOU WANT TO GET MORE OUT OF YOUR FSR, BUY THIS UPGRADE! FRAME IS STILL READY FOR TRIPLE C.R.&FRONT DER. PEDAL UP AS WELL AS EVER. REALY HIGH B.B. TOO. W/2.3"TIOGA DH SNEAKS, & A 5" FORK, I GET A B.B.HIGHT OF 14.5". NO MORE BASHING PEDALS. I DONT NOTICE ANY MORE FLEX THAN USUAL EITHER. & THATS A BIG "+"
Similar Products Used: A DOZEN FULL SUSY FRAMES & MY FSR PRO IS MY FAVE.
Bike Setup: '98 FSR PRO, MRP KIT, "MR T", XT DISK, ETC. ETC. ALL DH STUFF.
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Submitted by
J
a Weekend Warrior
from Kirkland, Wa
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2001
Strengths: 6" of plush travel, enough said.
Weaknesses: Jacked head tube angle at 6.2". After calling and emailing MountainSpeed to ask if this kit would fit on the 2001 FSR, they told me it wouldn't. Well of course they were wrong.
Bottom Line:
The guys at Downhill Zone in Seattle hooked me up. I told them Mountainspeed said the kit wouldn't work on my bike and they said BS. I took it in and they slapped it on with no problem. Initially they threw on a 850 spring and it sucked. They rear end was not responsive at all, so I took it back and they threw on a 750 which is working just fine. I've been running it at 6.2, but I think I'll run it at 5.8 from now on to alleviate the steeper head tube angle. This bike would suck without this kit, just riding around with the float RC was painful.
Bike Setup: 2001 FSR Enduro Pro, Z1 MCR, Hayes disc, Rhynolite XL, Chris King, IRC Kujo's 2.25, Race face components.
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Submitted by
Rebel .
a Downhiller
from Mill Valley, CA
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2001
Strengths: PLUSH AS HELL.
Weaknesses: None so far.
Bottom Line:
Get this upgrade. I don't know how the bike performed before the shock because I bought the frame used with the upgrade for $600 and it was one hell of a deal! I have used this thing to death and it won't break or bottom out on me (w/Stratos shock, the best)! Trust me, instead of getting a new frame, get the upgrade, and you will not be sorry.
Strengths: I don't know, MRP won't support their product.
Weaknesses: 1. The front wishbone attachment. 2. No info on the need to lengthen cables on their web site.
Bottom Line:
MRP ships this kit expecting you to have stock suspension bushings. (Even so the front wishbone inner diameter was a few .001's to small) If you have installed their bearing kit you are out of luck. You won't find any mention of this on their website. The solution: if you have a press you might be able to get the bearings out of your old wishbone without damaging them. If you have the old pivot it might fit - mine doesn't. Apparently what MRP wants you to do is order replacement bearings for $10. For $400 they should at least tell you this up front. Considering that I've spent over $800 with them I'm fairly pi**ed off.
Oh Yeah - I got lucky and put a DH stem on at the same time as this. If I hadn't I would be buying a new Gore shifter cable and Hayes brake housing.
Bike Setup: '98 FSR Elite, Only the frame is stock. Z1 20mm, MX-6, f&r Hayes, etc.
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Submitted by
jumpdaddy
a Downhiller
from SAn Diego, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2000
Strengths: Gives your bike a realistic amount of travel. Much better rear shock. Fox RX shocks are tha bombin'! I can do some much better drops on my bike now. I put it on w/ a new rear end as well giving the bike a great feel!
Weaknesses: Hits my rear tire! What the dillie yo? It's only a 2.25 el gato too. I got the thing for free so I should just shut up and ride. I had to dremel out the bottom of my seat tower to squeeze in the RX shock. (not a MAX-backbone frame). Hey I can drop my seat now! I think they cost a ton too. I sell them for $399.
Bottom Line:
Buy the stupid thing it gives you a real bike. No joke. Specialized is lying when they say 4.3" or 4.5" or whatever. My scwinn Rocket has more than stock FSR's! Anyone w/ a taiwanese frame can do what I did to get the better shock. I work at a shop and stratus stuff get warrantied all the time. Get the fox whatever you do! email me and I can tell you EXACTLY how to do this cleanly. Say goodbye to your warranty though! They don't break anyways. buy it.
Similar Products Used: link kit w/ a vanilla R. Helped a bit, but still gutless on big drops.
Bike Setup: Z-1 5", Hayes, tapers, 2.7 maxxis up front IRC back. decent bike for most anything short of kranked 3 or down.
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Submitted by
CARL FISET
a Downhiller
from CANADA
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2000
Strengths: NICE DESING, STIFF, LOT'S OF TRAVEL, GOOD PEDALING EFFICIENCY
Weaknesses: NONE
Bottom Line:
THIS BIKE SETUP IS GREAT FOR EVERY TYPE OF RIDER. GREAT BIKE FOR SMALL CLIMBING AND DH. STIFF REAR END.I HAVE THE LOCK OUT ON IT AND I HAVEN USED IT YET: THE THING CLIMBS LIKE A MOTOCROSS
Bike Setup: FSR 97 HELIX PROS 6.2 WITH LOCK OUT" BOXXER 2000 7" 24'WEEL FORMAT 3" FRONT TIRE, 2.75 ARROW REAR.
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Submitted by
Noah crary
a Downhiller
from S.B., Ca
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2000
Strengths: It increases travel of an already good bike.
Weaknesses: $$$, it costs money
Bottom Line:
Whats not to like. I ride better, my bikes faster, I drop bigger stuff, it even attract hot girls! I love MRP! They make what you need. Buy it and you'll be happy and fast!
Bike Setup: '98 FSR pro with MTN speed travel kit, bearing kit, brake adapter, and Chain guide
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Submitted by
steve danyo
from seoul + atlanta + san fran
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2000
Strengths: Smooth, long travel. Does not compromise pedaling efficiency over stock set-up.
Weaknesses: MS won't sell only the linkage, nor do they offer the Stratos Helix Pro (which has lock-out) instead of the Expert as an option.
Bottom Line:
The other reviewers describe the kit's operation spot-on, and I agree 100%. Also, it is easy to install. I want to add that I thought the kit would make the bike much more difficult to pedal, but this hasn't been the case at all. There is no difference in pedaling effiency that I've noticed, and I ride paved flats TO the trails from my front door, 20 to 70 minutes away, up 300-500 meters AND down (and up and down again, and maybe again and again), then back home again. A year ago, I would have thought this would be very difficult on long travel full suspension, coming from a grouchy beefy steel hardtail, but it's not; in fact, I haven't touched my hardtail since I bought the FSR in August (The MS kit in October). O.k., o.k., I DID touch it to remove the seatpost that got severely stuck because I paid little attention to the bike.
Anyway, I did have to change the front end, which you may or may not have to do: instead of a 98 Z-1 BAM, I installed a '99 Z-1 BAM, to increase the travel from 4" to 5". I'm also adding a 6.5" travel Stratos MX-6 for DH racing and truly certifiable descents. I haven't installed that one yet, so I can't comment on that particular set-up, but the '99 Z-1 BAM matched to the MS kit is great for my riding style: tight, technical, rough descents. I'm anticipating the MX-6 will, among other things, slow down the front enough to make the bike a more stable DH racer (I'm racing pro/elite in Korea on this bike--last year on the hardtail! On 4" of travel and no MS kit, I placed 5th in the last race. With the hop-ups, I hope to do *much* better). As it is now, with 5" up front, it's a little twitchy (which is usually good for the local trails in Seoul).
Bottom line: buy this kit if you need 2" more rear travel, much faster steering, and don't want to buy a new bike. OR, if you want a beater-freerider, get an FSR Comp frame and slap this kit on there. There are few such cheap but efficient long-trabel packages out there. Don't buy this kit if your trails are buffed, flat singletrack with few rocks, or if you plan to race XC country with it. For me, an expat abroad, having a XC bike, a third world tourer, a commuter, a freerider, and a DH racing bike is a bit much. The FSR, with and without the MS pkg, does most of these things adequately (except touring). I can change a few parts and -- shazam! -- 6" DH racer. After the race, shazam! -- freerider. Change a few more parts with lighter versions and I can race XC (not seriously) or go on super-long-distance epics. The MS kit allows your FSR to be much more adaptable to different applications. Also, since I've only had the kit since October, I can't really comment on its durability. I do tend to break stuff, though.
I've got just the main pivot from the MS needle bearing kit on the way. If it noticeably affects the performance of my current set-up. I'll tell ya all about it....
I'd like to express some slight frustration with Mountainspeed, though, who, after 10 days of waiting for a return e-mail, informed me they were unwilling to sell me a new kit with the Stratos Helix Pro shock (although I was willing to pay the added difference for the lock out feature that model adds), nor were they willing to sell the kit w/o the shock. So I bought a used kit off the mtbr boards in great condition that had the Helix Expert shock and my suitable spring rate. Later, I'll add the Helix Pro.
Bike Setup: MS kit w/ Stratos Expert option on a 1998 FSR Extreme w/ 1999 Z-1 and Stratos MX6 forks and many different kinds of wheel/tire combos.
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Submitted by
Jack
a Weekend Warrior
from Beaverton, OR
Date Reviewed: May 23, 1999
Bottom Line:
This product has been perfectly mated to the FSR. The travel is absolutely bottomless. My setup has the Stratos shock which rocks. This is a bomb proof, can't go wrong, better than sex upgrade to the FSR. I run it at 6.2 with a '99 Z-1 Marzocchi 130mm. Runs tight, technical single track or blasting downhill without preference. I just added the MS Bearing kit, and this baby just ROCKS!
Submitted by
Mark Fernee
a Weekend Warrior
from Columbus OH
Date Reviewed: April 12, 1999
Strengths: Extra 2.5 of quality travel
Bottom Line:
This kit is amasing. It enables you to select between 5.8 and 6.2 inches of travel with a change in bottom bracket height and head angle (1 degree head angle change). I'm running the 5.8 inch setup to keep the head angle slack enough for down-hilling. The bike works well in tight single-track and is very nimble. On DH runs the rear is so plush and works so well the most of the rough stuff is just eaten up. The Fox Vanilla RX is an awesome damper which works well with the Eibach spring. With the 6.2 setup I'd suggest a 6 fork to balance the bike as the head angle feels too steep for comfortable DHing in really steep stuff.The extra travel really makes this bike shine. It performs like a full blown DH racer but can still be used for XC (if you have to). The bike is very stable at speed and can handle sharp hits, absorbing all in it's path. The difference is really like night and day. I rode with guys on a Yeti Lawill 6 and GT Lobo and this bike held its own, and its a lot lighter !
Bike Setup: FSR Elite, '99 Bomber QR 20 fork, FSR-FOX kit
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Submitted by
OZZY
a weekend warrior
from Roswell GA
Date Reviewed: March 8, 1999
Bottom Line:
GOT this kit for my bike in january. KICKS MAJOR @SS! OH so much travel seems bottomles. tire sticks to ground better and has a plusher ride. THIS is the Best upgrade out for the FSR right now. Cant wait till the bearing kit arrives.
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Submitted by
dj
a downhiller
from or
Date Reviewed: March 8, 1999
Bottom Line:
i am hopefully getting sposored by mountain speed this month, hear is the scoop, they are making a needle bearing kit for under 100 makes the stock bushing feel like sandpaper once bounced on, making a fsr bolt on rear( hayes prefered) disk brake adapter( around 100)still in testing, the full speed racer is the best 6.3 inches of @#$%ING PLUSH travel,i meen bounce like a rubber ball, you can reverce the link to go back to 4 but why would you? the rear linkage retails for around $399 contact ms at 1-503-497-9099 i would give it way, way over
