RS Monarch RT3 vs. Monarch Plus RC3

jasonp22 · Feb 11, 2018

Looking to purchase one of these shocks to replace my current Fox Evolution CTD. With the proprietary linkage (FSR) on my bike, shock selection is really limited.

I’m riding a mid-range aluminum full susp and have a few riding destination trips and races planned for this year. I’ll probably get a new bike 1-2 yrs from now. Is the Plus worth the extra $100 over the regular? I don’t want something that will provide only minimal gains I’m not likely to notice. FWIW, I’ll get a custom tune on the shock too. Thanks

PhillipJ · Feb 11, 2018

BikeYoke (https://www.bikeyoke.de/en/) probably have something to fit many different shocks but they're not particularly cheap.

The main advantage of the Monarch Plus is that the additional oil volume will keep damping more consistent over long runs. If you don't have trouble with your Fox overheating and losing damping then you don't need the piggyback.

The Plus does have some LSC adjust, the RT3 does not, it has a platform/threshold that is (IMO) inferior to adjustable LSC.

233946 · Feb 11, 2018

Why not send you current shock to Avalanche? For $230 all the internals are replaced and it is custom tuned for you.

http://www.avalanchedownhillracing.com/Fox DHX/Fox Float Evolution and Performance SSD HSB Mods.htm

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

trailbildr · Feb 11, 2018

If you have a stumpjumper, you actually have more rear shock choices than any other bike so the 'proprietary' issue really isn't a thing. 2 Ohlins, 2 RockShox, 2 Fox and 1 DVO rear shock work on there so buck up!

The Monarch RT3 is an inline damper unit with three compression positions that a lot of people really like on those bikes. The Monarch Plus RC3 is a remote reservoir unit that provide much greater heat management and response resulting in better traction and less fade for aggressive riding. If you are just riding around on trail and xc stuff, stick with the inline Monarch. If you are doing bigger drops, riding longer downhills and bike parks, I would spring for the reservoir unit. Both are on the easier end of the spectrum for set-up and service. I would forgo any custom tuning until you have some experience with the ride quality.

Any suspension shop in your region (there's probably at least one) will be happy to talk to you about use, set-up and maintenance issues on each.

Avalanche is well-regarded but you are locked into their service/upgrade/parts availability issues. If you aren't rallying really hard, a custom tune is of dubious benefit. It used to be the case that you HAD to have a custom tune but that's not so true anymore. Whatever you need, it's 100% based on your riding style, weight, bike and future hopes for progression.

mk

jasonp22 · Feb 12, 2018

Thanks everyone, really helpful info. Yes this is for a ‘16 Stumpjumper, and seemingly a better value to get a new shock than get a full damper service. But as you can tell, $350 is about my limit.

Sounds like this is between RT3 w/ custom tune and Avy for my CTD Evolution. I’m an intermediate rider w/ a handful of enduros planned this year. Perhaps I’ll reach out to Avy for their thoughts too. Interestingly, they also have an upgrade for my RS Revelation 140... This could end up being a cost-efficient way to keep me running with decent equipment.

trailbildr · Feb 12, 2018

You should be servicing that rear shock at least once a year for air can service. Damper is as-needed or once every two years minimum.

Dump that inline Fox rear. Too spikey. Save your future self from problems and just get a Monarch Plus RC3. We have an Avy rear shock in here and the owner is going back to stock internals on his Fox X2. Expensive test.

mk

scottzg · Feb 12, 2018

I had my monarch+ RC3 revalved by Avalanche; the difference was tremendous. The suspension feels very dead. The bike doesn't 'fall' in to its travel any more; it behaves much more consistently cuz my weight distribution isn't wandering around. The extra consistency makes me a lot more comfortable doing doubles- i'm not worried about getting flung weird because i'm deeper in the suspension than i expect. Avy removed the 2 extra volume reduction bands i had added but now i never bottom the shock despite running the same spring pressure. Maybe it's smoother and has more traction, but i ride my hardtail mostly, so my FS feels amazing no matter how it's tuned.

I had a different tuner custom tune an rp23 a couple years ago, but that was a waste of money. It felt the same, but firmer. I don't know if it's Avy magic or just that my wants were outside the scope of the rp23.

I'm 220lb advanced rider, so that's a factor. I don't know what you should do; i was underwhelmed by custom inline fox and by the monarch+. Avy monarch+ is easily the best shock i've owned though. If that's because of their aftermarket internals then it's an easy choice to me, but it could be that the monarch+ is just a much better starting point for a custom tune for a big guy.

trailbildr said:
.

Avalanche is well-regarded but you are locked into their service/upgrade/parts availability issues

Anyone can service an air can, and usually your shock is getting sent somewhere anyway for anything more extensive... i don't see the big deal?

crseekins · Feb 12, 2018

trailbildr said:
You should be servicing that rear shock at least once a year for air can service. Damper is as-needed or once every two years minimum.

Dump that inline Fox rear. Too spikey. Save your future self from problems and just get a Monarch Plus RC3. We have an Avy rear shock in here and the owner is going back to stock internals on his Fox X2. Expensive test.

mk

Can you explain the issue you have here so we can understand the problem better?

trailbildr · Feb 13, 2018

Explain what part?

Inline Fox units generally have higher IFP pressures which works ok on shorter-travel bikes with lower expectations of control/traction. Lower IFP on Monarch Plus (or damn-near any remote res rear shock) helps initiate stroke so you get better reaction in direction change and initial compression after top-out.

When it comes to suspension service, we do everything in house so we see a lot of the drama that occurs for people. Broken check-shims, unthreading piston rods, blown IFPs, compressed Boost Valves, leaky controls. We are also a full-service bike shop so we do a ton of suspension set-up (both locally and at bike parks) so we are pretty well-versed in the issues that people are having while they are learning.

Anything else?

mk

ac1000 · Feb 13, 2018

trailbildr said:
Explain what part?

Sounds like Craig was asking why you changed a shock he modified back to stock.

crseekins · Feb 13, 2018

ac1000 said:
Sounds like Craig was asking why you changed a shock he modified back to stock.

Yes, exactly what I was asking!

trailbildr · Feb 13, 2018

It wasn't my shock. It's a customer's rear shock. He sent it off to get it custom tuned but didn't like it. He wants us to rebuild it back to normal so he can sell it. I didn't talk to Craig about this particular issue as it was just a customer request.

I've had a few conversations with Craig. I don't personally have any product from him.

Much like custom-built bikes, if you don't like it, you are stuck with it. Custom-tuning is one thing but it is different than installing new internals for different functionality. A lot of what Avalanche offers is new internals. Push doesn't do custom tunes anymore, RockShox doesn't support custom tuning (other than pro athlete stuff) and neither does Fox. I would suggest that custom internals are not as successful as complete product, such as an Eleven-six.

mk

scottzg · Feb 13, 2018

trailbildr said:
RockShox doesn't support custom tuning

I've restacked all my RS forks with info either direct from RS or in their service manuals. In the case of my pike (heavy rebound tune) it was a pretty necessary change. Prior to moving to the heavy tune i had like 1 click between the front end flapping and chattering or being basically fully closed.

crseekins · Feb 13, 2018

trailbildr said:
It wasn't my shock. It's a customer's rear shock. He sent it off to get it custom tuned but didn't like it. He wants us to rebuild it back to normal so he can sell it. I didn't talk to Craig about this particular issue as it was just a customer request.

I've had a few conversations with Craig. I don't personally have any product from him.

Much like custom-built bikes, if you don't like it, you are stuck with it. Custom-tuning is one thing but it is different than installing new internals for different functionality. A lot of what Avalanche offers is new internals. Push doesn't do custom tunes anymore, RockShox doesn't support custom tuning (other than pro athlete stuff) and neither does Fox. I would suggest that custom internals are not as successful as complete product, such as an Eleven-six.

mk

Interesting that you say return it back to normal, in this case the Fox X2 still performs exactly as designed, we offer a bit finer tune by replacing the main piston with a revalveable midvalve style piston that allows for rebound shimming and adds midvalve support to the compression to help with wallowing and the harshness created by the course damping adjustment of the external low and high speed compression circuits. Sort of similar but a different direction to what Fox has done by retuning the 2018 X2 and DHX2 and modifying the internals to use a smaller piston with new shims that you say no one is doing anymore. Interesting that you don't know this!:nono:

trailbildr · Feb 13, 2018

Yeah, RS has the custom rebound tune. That's true.

Craig, what I don't know could fill volumes. With no official mountain bike school of suspension design or tuning, many of us are learning as a constant state of being. I'm not a manufacturer or engineer.

What I was saying was that custom tuning is falling out of favor which is specifically a comment about the number of custom tunes being done in the marketplace.

Of course, I could be wrong.

Fox is constantly changing how they are doing things. It's either because every time they make a change their already-awesome product gets even better or because they are always trying to make something better based on some failure mode or poor performance. I don't talk to the engineers, just the service and sales staff.

mk

RS Monarch RT3 vs. Monarch Plus RC3

jasonp22

PhillipJ

233946

trailbildr

jasonp22

trailbildr

scottzg

crseekins

trailbildr

ac1000

crseekins

trailbildr

scottzg

crseekins

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