[Sergio MTB]

Hello to all,

My friend in Cuba has a bike I passed along for us to do some MTB when I am visiting. But we would like to upgrade the suspension components so he can keep up in the down hill sections.

Bike is a Rocky Mountain Spice 2001. 3,9 inch travel bike. A lot of upgrades except for the suspension which is what brings me here today.

Front Suspension is a 2001 Marzocchi Z-3 Air with I believe 100mm travel or aprox 4".

Rear Suspension: Fox Vanilla R coil. The spring says 500 X 160(this is the one I worry more about changing) I suggested my friend it may say 500 X 1.60 but maybe the dot is worn out? The distance eye to eye is 6,5 inches.

Any advice on what shock would be god to fit this bike with the less possibly geometry alteration would be great. I don't mind going with something with sightly longer stroke. Since I would also like to change the front suspension to match the rear. Let's say I am looking to upgrade to 140mm front and matching 5" travel at back?

Suggestions are much appreciated and any advice in advance thankfully regarded.

Sergio

 

[Dougal]

Keep the fox vanilla r. They're a good performing and reliable shock. Better than the fox air shocks. If you wanted air then consider a manitou McLeod.

You can't easily change travel on the back end of a mountain bike.

sent from mobile.

 

[Sergio MTB]

Thanks for your advice, and yes, I am keeping that option open. In case we'd keep the Vanilla R shock, is there any tutorials in regards to how to refurbish it? I will start looking around right now. Already sent my friend an email telling him to take the spring off and try to move the shock component to see if the shock is shot. I that case and if it is not a huge pain in the but we could try bringing it back to life? Also a 500 spring is rated for what weight, my buddy must be around 200 - 220 lbs with gear, So I wonder if maybe changing the spring to a highest rate will help as well.

I mean change oil, seals and putting a harder spring might do the trick, right?
What do you lot think?

Thanks.

 

[Sergio MTB]

found this spring rate calculator and it seams the spring rate we are aming at 220 lbs is around 950...

WebHelp

 

[Dougal]

Oil change and service can be done by anyone competent to work on rear shocks. Gas pressure was 200psi and oil was 32 cSt. But it likely won't need it.

The DU bushings on each end will show how much it's been ridden. Many bikes just sit in garages.

 

[Sergio MTB]

Thanks again for the info,I do remember the bushings were in good conditions when I bought it. I am still waiting for my friend's answer about the conditions of the shock. the question is are 2001 Vanilla C/O R really that good that is worth it to send it back to Fox for refurbishing or would it be better to buy something more modern and in the same length / travel? Still considering some better performance out of this bike if possible.

Here I found this info on the same fox help site.

MANUFACTURER: Rocky Mountain
YEAR & MODEL: 2000 Spice
FOX PRODUCT: VANILLA C/O R
MAX LENGTH: 6.500
TRAVEL : 1.500

 

[Sergio MTB]

i had a hint from reading previous threads all over the network, than the writing in the spring of a fox shock means the rigidity and the stroke. but the more I keep reading it resembles more like it means the rigidity and the total length of the spring?
I was under the impression for example this one saying: 500 X 160 meant the "strength" of the spring is 500 and there was a missing dot for 1.60 inch stroke or shock travel. But now reading around I find the shock stroke is actually 1.5 inches. And also sourcing shocks on ebay it seams the second number refers to 160mm total length of the spring in off the shock assembly. I mean it makes more sense in a spring as per information but I would like if possible some one here would make this clear for me... I will keep reading now.

 

[Dougal]

The spring numbers are rate (stiffness) and safe usable stroke. 1.6" gives you room for some preload on a 1.5" shock.

No-one makes coil 6.5x.1.5" shocks of any quality these days. If you were to go air, then the Manitou McLeod is my pick. Here is an 97 FSR I built up over Christmas with the McLeod in place of a Fox Vanilla R:

 

[Deerhill]

Here I found this info on the same fox help site.

MANUFACTURER: Rocky Mountain
YEAR & MODEL: 2000 Spice
FOX PRODUCT: VANILLA C/O R
MAX LENGTH: 6.500
TRAVEL : 1.500

The spring numbers are rate (stiffness) and safe usable stroke. 1.6" gives you room for some preload on a 1.5" shock.

No-one makes coil 6.5x.1.5" shocks of any quality these days. If you were to go air, then the Manitou McLeod is my pick. Here is an 97 FSR I built up over Christmas with the McLeod in place of a Fox Vanilla R:

Nice!

Do you guys know the shock body length from eyelet to end of sealhead? Maybe there's just a travel limiter/spacer in there (which would allow increase eye to eye)

Have one of these van somewhere and pretty sure eye to eye is longer than 6.5"...I remember the spring od is much smaller than normal