Rear Shock Upgrade?

Benchracer · Mar 23, 2006

Newbie here. Love the board. I couldnt get the search to come up w/ what info I was needing so here is my question:

I have a 1999 Specialized FSR. It currently has the stock spring for the rear suspension. Can that spring be replaced with a shock? What kind/type shock? Do I need to modify the frame/mounts? I love the bike. I also don't have the $$$ to replace the whole bike. I am just getting back in the saddle from a nasty spill from 2 years ago. I ride in some pretty rocky terrain, with some high speed downhill, jumps, and climbs. Your advice & experience are appreciated. Thanks.

Benchracer

fsrxc · Mar 23, 2006

Benchracer said:
Newbie here. Love the board. I couldnt get the search to come up w/ what info I was needing so here is my question:

I have a 1999 Specialized FSR. It currently has the stock spring for the rear suspension. Can that spring be replaced with a shock? What kind/type shock? Do I need to modify the frame/mounts? I love the bike. I also don't have the $$$ to replace the whole bike. I am just getting back in the saddle from a nasty spill from 2 years ago. I ride in some pretty rocky terrain, with some high speed downhill, jumps, and climbs. Your advice & experience are appreciated. Thanks.

Benchracer

Yes, you need to find out the current shock's eye-to-eye length and stroke, then pick a matching replacement. Fox used to have an application guide (listing bikes and what shock fits) on their website, but it doesn't seem to be there anymore...
http://www.foxracingshox.com/fox_bicycle/bike_index.htm

Coaster? · Mar 23, 2006

Bench,
I have a '99 FSR (the ugly red, white & blue version) that I upgraded to an air shock. I used a Fox Vanilla Float Air that I bought off of Ebay. If I recall correctly, I had to look for a 6.25" eye-to-eye shock with 1.5" of stroke, which was a pain. I'm fairly certain that the more standard 6.5/1.5 shocks would work, though. I also had to call Fox to order the correct bushings to mate the shock to the FSR frame.
All in all, I rode that shock for around six months before constant maintenance made me switch back. Now the FSR is my back-up bike, and I like having that big sloppy coil on the back end. My advice is to stick with the coil until you upgrade your entire rig.
Just my $.02,
Coaster

Benchracer · Mar 23, 2006

Big thanks to Coaster & FSRXC!

my LBS also did some checking & found that the RockShox Bar 2.1 is a direct replacement. I have to focus on replacing the stock front shock first for rigth now.

Coaster-how loose do you have your rear spring?

Rear Shock Upgrade?

Benchracer

fsrxc

Coaster?

Benchracer

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities