Fillet-brazed said:
Why would that be plusher than a coil? Coil still sets the standard for a proper spring curve, although air springs are now getting very close. Now if thats an old Risse or a Fox Alps, those were not even close to matching a coil spring, especially the Risse.
Platform on a high pivot. Double barf.
DIG IN geometry, I love it when the marketing team can take the engineers' mistakes and turn it into a good thing.
What does "preloadable" mean?
What does a platform fix on a single pivot bike (I think the SP bikes with a low pivot are fine)?[/QUOTE]
Well, it's true that coils will be plusher, on a modern, properly functioning shock......On this particular shock though, there are a few issues. Finding springs made for it is tough enough, then tossing proper rate for my weight, just makes it worse. These are so old, I have no idea who built them, and they are serviceable, near as I can see. The rebound is so slow, it packs up if you go over two bumps, and then it's got nuthin' in the tank, for the 3rd, unless it's like 20 feet farther down the trail. No rebound adjustment as I can see, either. Thoughts and suggestions are quite welcome!
As for platform on a high pivot, yeah, just a waste of resources
Preloadable, well, if you've ridden both linkage, and SP's, then it should make sense, if not I'm referring to say, a log crossing, or approach to a jump. With an SP, you can shift weight rearward, and sink into a bit of travel, then use it's release to springboard you up and out, or over, or whatever the need may be. On a linkage bike, do that, and the bike just goes, pffft, huh, what'd did you want? No curvature of axle path, prevents preloading, unless it is done in a purely vertical manner, which just doesn't lend itself to the body english, most natural to the movements I'm talking about.
Platform on an SP.... I'm ready to step in the poo on this one. SP bikes bob, no way around it. You can use a smoother stroke, and minimize it, you can soft pedal, and do the same. But pedal choppily to accelerate, or stand for a particularly tough climing section, and it's going to wallow a bit. Don't get me wrong, I've ridden SP exclusively for years, (one brief foray into a '03 Specialized Enduro sent me packing, back to SP land) Jekylls, Super V's, heck, I got into 29er's, and searched long and hard for an SP 29er (Astrix Monk, which rocks, BTW). I've used every trick, and excuse out there, so now I just say it proudly, yup, they bob, alot. Most companies used Lock Out as the slave to the problem, but it was often left on, which eventually blew the shock, and besides, what good is suspension, if it's not there. But, toss a Platform onto it, and all of a sudden, it's quiet, no bob, no need to stay seated ( I do most of the time anyway, but...) when you climb, it doesn't take energy away from forward motion, with up and down. Admittedly, platform takes a bit of tuning, to get what you want, and different shocks work better or worse, depending on your preference, but they are a huge improvement. I use the Progressive 5th Element on several bikes, and love it's ability to be both firm, and yet, move into travel without my even noticing it's activating, yummy. Most others have a fairly distinct "break" into the travel. Hope that helps :thumbsup:
