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5.5 rear end flex?

943 Views 11 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Tkul, Jul 14, 2009

wilsonblur

Discussion Starter · Jul 1, 2009 (Edited)

I have seen some guys commenting on how flexy the rear end is on 5.5 and 6.6's. I haven't noticed it until recently. I have th 2008 with the solid rear link. It feels a little to me like when my ellsworth chain stay cracked and the rear was steering itself. My 8 year old Hugi 240 has started to develop some play laterally and could be the culprit. My Blur also felt this way a little before switch the parts over.

If you feel the rear end is flexy can you describe what it feels like? Right now when pedaling I think the frame feels incredibly stiff. This for me is usually where flex shows up for me and is worse on fast downhills. The bike only has about 16 rides on it and everything is tight on the rear end. I am just looking to find out what's normal for the 5.5 and what is play in the hub.

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bpnic

· #2 · Jul 2, 2009

My '08 5.5 does not track rough terrain like my Ells Moment did at high speeds. I'm guessing that's due to stiffness.
I'm running a RS Lyrik @145mm up front, and Easton Havoc 10mm "Fun style" bolts in the rear hub. They seem to help.

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wilsonblur

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 2, 2009

I am going to run a different wheel for a little while to see if it changes anything.

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wilsonblur

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 7, 2009

wilsonblur said:
I am going to run a different wheel for a little while to see if it changes anything.

Its totally the hub. I am running a loaner wheel from my dad and it changed everything. The Hugi is back at DT Swiss for a completer rebuild. I am growing to really like my 5.5. :thumbsup:

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Tkul

· #5 · Jul 12, 2009

I`ve read a lot about rear stays flex...

How people can notice this? Is that so dramatic? Can a bolt-thru reduce flex?
I`m seeing some great deals with 6.6... and the only thing putting me off, is the rear flex

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wilsonblur

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 13, 2009

Tkul said:
I`ve read a lot about rear stays flex...

How people can notice this? Is that so dramatic? Can a bolt-thru reduce flex?
I`m seeing some great deals with 6.6... and the only thing putting me off, is the rear flex

Its really not flexy, mine wasn't the rear end. It was my hub that had play causing the tire to rub and disc to rub as well. I swapped rear wheels while mine is in the shop and I think its great now. I have the mono link and not the two piece link. Also having owned a Blur XC, Ellsworth Truth, Rocky Mountain Element, this is by far stiffer than all of those.

I don't know about the 6.6 but I really think the 5.5 is as stiff as any other bike i have ridden in its class including a Blur LT, Specialized Enduro, Ellsworth Epiphany, and Trek Remedy.

Depending what you like I think the 6.6 would be fine. I also think thru bolts almost always help.

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Peter E

· #7 · Jul 13, 2009

I guess it depends on what bike you come from. My previous bikes were from titus and Foes. I find the rear end of the 5.5 quite flexy compared to those

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wilsonblur

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 14, 2009

Peter E said:
I guess it depends on what bike you come from. My previous bikes were from titus and Foes. I find the rear end of the 5.5 quite flexy compared to those

In what way? Are you running the exact same set up with wheels, hubs, cranks? etc. Frames get blamed for a lot of flex that comes through the wheel set. Mine tracks great and is laterally stiff when pedaling. Is it as stiff as my brother's Bullit, no but it doesn't weigh over 7 pounds frame only either. I think quite flexy is a stretch. I'd be interested if some one could chart frame stiffness like they do for shock rates.

Have you ever read Blink, by Malcom Gladell? He has a chapter where he talks about how humans can't actual describe what they are feeling? A researcher has digitized and interviewed all the best tennis players in the world to help reproduce great tennis swings. All of the players interviewed said they twist their wrist when hitting a forehand shot. The computer analysis showed if they twisted it was less than 1/8th of an inch and most did not twist till after the ball left the racket.

My point being is we have impressions of what we think is happening and don't really understand until someone comes along and scientifically approaches the subject. It could be anything from tires to hubs to a poorly assembled frame. Most tracking issues in my opinion relate back to hubs, wheels and axles which is why so much work has gone into thu axles.

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Peter E

· #9 · Jul 14, 2009

There is no way I can tell you exactly what happens but I can try to tell you what it feel like. The bike just feels softer, like if the swingarm flexes sideways or twists (CW or CCW looking from behind the bike).
I moved all the components from my Foes (FXR 07) to the 5.5 (except for the BB, but both were XT). All bearings are new and there is absolutely no play anywhere.

Its kind of like when I compare my Float RLC with QR with a Pike with maxle, its just more flexy. A frend has a 6.6 and he thinks it is flexy too.

I guess it also depends what kind of terrain you are riding. My trails are technical with lots of rocks.

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Mrwhlr

· #10 · Jul 14, 2009

Peter E said:
There is no way I can tell you exactly what happens but I can try to tell you what it feel like. The bike just feels softer, like if the swingarm flexes sideways or twists (CW or CCW looking from behind the bike).
I moved all the components from my Foes (FXR 07) to the 5.5 (except for the BB, but both were XT). All bearings are new and there is absolutely no play anywhere.

Its kind of like when I compare my Float RLC with QR with a Pike with maxle, its just more flexy. A frend has a 6.6 and he thinks it is flexy too.

I guess it also depends what kind of terrain you are riding. My trails are technical with lots of rocks.

See! There! I knew you were imaging that frame flex. I'm really sorry I ditched the 6.6 for an Endorphin, wish I could have that one back.

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wilsonblur

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 14, 2009

Peter E said:
There is no way I can tell you exactly what happens but I can try to tell you what it feel like.

I guess it also depends what kind of terrain you are riding. My trails are technical with lots of rocks.

Wasn't that my point? That we as humans can't tell exactly what we feel about something. You like the feel of your Foes that's great, I am just saying that the feel I have from my 5.5 is not flexy.

My trails are also VERY rock with lots of jagged rock gardens and roots. I get lots of rocks causing lateral deflections and like I said, I feel like the bike tracks great. I definitely noticed the play in my rear hub, it felt like the rear was steering itself. The 5.5 may not pedal as well as the Foes. When I jump on my Dad's Epiphany I feel like I am on a HT compared to the 5.5. It just feels faster and doesn't seem to react to pedaling forces. It doesn't feel as soft to me.

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Tkul

· #12 · Jul 14, 2009

Mrwhlr,
I ditched the 6.6 for an Endorphin, wish I could have that one back

--> 6.6 right?
--> How do you compare both bikes?

wilsonblur,

I agree with you. What people "feel" is sometimes completly different from what`s happening. The most "surprising thing, I think would be:

Earth is not flat
The Sun doesn`t move around the Earth

Although some people in a very know region of Italy, only approved this last "thing" a few years ago...

Back to topic!
That`s why there are data loggers for suspension, so we can have real imput and data to analyse it, but I think there are exceptions, and this exceptions make the rule

No really... there are people out there, that can feel the difference and can tell what should or not be a thing (cars, boats, airplanes, bikes... you name it).

For me it`s hard to tell how people feel this flex!

Talking about rigid and flexxx:
I switch my AM1 (2005) for a Z1FR back in 2007, and can tell I felt a difference how the bike tracks.
I don`t feel the flex... sorry! What I feel is that the extra strengh of the 20mm and T, gave me a more precise handling, and I can take it some abuse.

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