[scottdavis]

Hey yall! Im looking at getting on a mojo HD this season and am wondering which rear shock would be better. Currently im riding a Blur LT2, which is great, but i find my self wanting more on chunkier trails. I currently dont ride a lot of park type terrain, but would like to do more of that type riding with the HD. I do like to bomb down rough terrain. Any input on if the DHX is overkill?
Thanks,
SD

 

[CasinoKiD]

I'm in the same boat. I'm having a tough time trying to decide. :madman:

 

[morandi]

Depending on how big you are and how aggressive you ride you can overwhelm the RP23 really easily in its stock form. I'm 220 and have to run my RP23 at 245psi, propedal at 2 or 3, and I shimmed the air chamber to reduce the volume. Otherwise I would blow through the travel on bigger hits. With these mods though the RP23 feels really good on the bike.
That being said, I am getting a Push tuned monarch for the bike with a low volume canister.

 

[pedsdoc]

Maybe the suspension designer for the Mojo HD can chime in? DW?

I remember a similar discussion a couple of years ago with the Mojo/Mojo SL and he recommended then a small volume air shock.

 

[morandi]

I think the stock RP23 would be fine for a lot of people, but when you get into the 200lb and over category, or are hitting big stuff on it, or a combo of both, I think you will need the extra ramp up at the end of the lower volume canister.
I think the bottom line with air shocks, on all bike designs I have ridden, is that they require some tweaking to get them to perform for people and or purposes that are outside of the "middle range".

 

[CasinoKiD]

I had a 2010 Reign X w/DHX Air and loved it. I weigh in at about 200-205lbs with my gear. I decided I'm gonna roll with the DHX Air. Maybe get something down the road from Push. Thx for the advice. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[scottdavis]

im about 185...on a large HD. I like to ride it all. I would like to ride more terrain with drops and bigger hits than i have been on my blur lt2. when you guys mention the monarch from push, is that the monarch plus? thanks again!

 

[lifeis11]

im debating between the 2012 dhx air and the push tuned monarch. truth be told, ive never been a fan of RS air shox. coil, sure, but the air always felt a little - unstable?

anyway - with the number of people going RS from push - it has me reconsidering my original plan of the dhx. esp because im around 280 with gear....

 

[humdinger]

Spoke with PUSH on this very question; whether to PUSH my RP23 or get a Fox DHX Air, or a RS Monarch RC3, and they said no question, the Monarch Plus RC3 hands down. barely heavier than the std Monarch, but near coil-like feel. They reckoned perfect for the HD. There's some other threads on mtbr about the wicked performance of the PUSH'd Monarch RC3....
Easy question if you ask me, just ordered my RC3, can't wait to get it out on the trails.

 

[dacarbon]

Hah humdinger, that's pretty funny, I talked to Eric at Push on Thursday and had the same conversation; it was more RT3 vs Plus RC3. I ended up placing an order for the Plus RC3 just cause I wanted max performance out of it; some of the longer downhill runs my shock gets pretty hot and the suspension starts feeling... different.

It'll be interesting to hear your thoughts once you get it; I will post mine as well. I'll be putting it on an HD140 running a Push'd Revelation 150 in the front.

 

[mentawais]

I can´t understand guys whos pick-up a HD-140 with concernig about downhills performance anyone has tried a 160mm plus a 36 or lirycs in front knows it can´t compare to 140 fork spageth feeling!!!

 

[dacarbon]

Well, when you are 5'5, weigh 130 lbs, and live in Eastern NC . . . you'll find that 160mm of travel and 36 stanchions are totally overkill. It's much more useful to ME in the 140mm travel mode w/an overall lighter build kit. Your mileage may vary.

 

[lifeis11]

Spoke with PUSH on this very question; whether to PUSH my RP23 or get a Fox DHX Air, or a RS Monarch RC3, and they said no question, the Monarch Plus RC3 hands down. barely heavier than the std Monarch, but near coil-like feel. They reckoned perfect for the HD. There's some other threads on mtbr about the wicked performance of the PUSH'd Monarch RC3....
Easy question if you ask me, just ordered my RC3, can't wait to get it out on the trails.

yeah - this is the way im leaning as well. honestly, i need to stop building new bikes and finish the ones i have lol!

i also want a pushed monarch for my tallboy. mo' bikes, mo' money.

 

[humdinger]

Well, when you are 5'5, weigh 130 lbs, and live in Eastern NC . . . you'll find that 160mm of travel and 36 stanchions are totally overkill. It's much more useful to ME in the 140mm travel mode w/an overall lighter build kit. Your mileage may vary.

If you're that light on your bike, arguably you don't even need an HD, the SLR will be fine for you if 140 setup is all you're ever gonna use...

 

[dacarbon]

Yea, if only there had been an SL-R out when I bought my HD140 last fall, I prolly would have picked it up. But the HD140 is great in a lot of other ways; I can beat the snot out of it without worrying about it breaking, and when I eventually move to the mountains . . . I'll rock a totem in the front and a coil in the back in 160 mode and it'll be a downhill machine!

 

[Iwan]

Bought my HD with a RP-23 and was never quite happy with it. Replaced it with a Monarch Plus and the bike is transformed! Feels a lot more balanced (with a Lyrik Solo Air DH up front), tracks better, pedals the same, descents like the monster it is.

The RP23 was overwhelmed, lost a lot of performance on extended AM runs.

(BTW, went with the RP23 based on recommendation)

 

[lifeis11]

Bought my HD with a RP-23 and was never quite happy with it. Replaced it with a Monarch Plus and the bike is transformed! Feels a lot more balanced (with a Lyrik Solo Air DH up front), tracks better, pedals the same, descents like the monster it is.

The RP23 was overwhelmed, lost a lot of performance on extended AM runs.

(BTW, went with the RP23 based on recommendation)

PUSH'd or no?

 

[robnow]

Anyone rockin' a Monarch RT-AM? Want to order something from PUSH this week and seems like most on HDs are going for the RT-3 first, and Plus second. Basically I'm trying to decide between the AM and the Plus but thats a $250 difference and I have only heard one review on an AM(excellent report being used on a Reign).

The only way I like the RP23 is to run it with low air (175 at 190 lbs naked) but of course I'm bottoming out (and with Hans Dampf hitting seat tube) and on extended downhills losing performance.

Good review on the RT-3 from Yody but otherwise minimal reports from others on the Plus. Lets hear MORE!!!

 

[dacarbon]

Hey robnow - I am getting my Push'd Monarch Plus RC3 tomorrow, and will be taking to the NC mountains this weekend. I'll have a detailed review for you on Monday. It's going to be put on an HD140, and I'm a lightweight rider at 130lbs in the buff. The riding is going to be pretty mountainous; my buddies and I are doing the Offroad Assault on Mt. Mitchell course, so many thousands of feet of climbing and many heinous, rocky, rooty descents to test it on. I'm stoked!

I think the main decision between RT3 and AM is whether or not you use propedal switch a lot. If you're the kind of person who flicks it on and off a lot for climbs, then RT3 is prolly more the answer. If you're a set-and-forget person, then AM. The bigger decision is between getting the RT3/AM or coughing up the extra cash to get the Plus. Or, you know, getting a vivid air or a coil. Decisions, decisions.

After talking to Eric at Push, I sprung for the Plus because I wanted more downhill performance for jumping and extended downhill runs, while not sacrificing the ability to have a propedal-like switch. I'm hoping the shock lives up to my expectations. I'll let you know in a few days!

 

[robnow]

I am leaning towards the AM just because I don't really use the PP but I'm mostly curious why other HD riders are going RT-3 for a bike that doesn't really require it and can gain the small bump sensitivity of the AM.

I really don't notice a lot of difference with the RP23 PP on/off. I suppose it sits a little higher in its travel when climbing but IMO its a fairly negligible difference. BTW, also added an extra 5cc of oil to the canister to make it more progressive to help with bottoming out but no difference detected.

Question to the suspension gurus: When you reduce volume of an air shock, do you generally keep the same, raise, or lower pressure?