[pureslop]

I like my adjustable front so much I was wondering if an adjustable travel rear is currently or will be available in the near future? Raising the front for downhills is great, but it does raise the bottom bracket height (COG). It would be nice to drop the rear at the same time so as not to feel so top heavy.

Bionicon has one with the bar lever that adjusts both front and rear at the same time. I'm just not ready for a new bike. Cool concept though.

Alan

 

[William42]

Why dont you get a hardtail? You're using your travel for climbing, not for descending? There are so many things wrong with this, I don't even know where to start.

 

[el_chupo_]

Why dont you get a hardtail? You're using your travel for climbing, not for descending? There are so many things wrong with this, I don't even know where to start.

I guess this is new to you...

Like the OP said, he extends his fork(raising the front) for the downhills.
Most people find that the slack angles that are so fun going down are not the best for pedaling up. Generally speaking, most people with travel adjust forks drop them to a lower travel setting (or use ETA on Marz) for extended climbs, and then run full extension (longer travel setting) for the downhills.

OP: Fox used to make a TALAS shock, discontinued a few years back. Honestly, most bikes are designed in the longest travel settings, and the lower settings up front are for climbing only, with full extension meant to get you back to the bikes "feel" You may not be on the right bike for you

I think Specialized uses different shock "shuttles" to adjust geo, so its not an on the fly thing, but check them out.

 

[tomsmoto]

making your rear end have more travel steepens your head tube angle, making the bike more twitchy when you need it not to be.. any travel adjust function back there would have to be compensated for by frame design.

 

[Flystagg]

if you want a talas rear, fox already made them, so watch ebay, and you can get one cheap, but what we are trying to say is there is a reason they stopped making them, while they let you reduce travel for climbs, the result to your geometry is the opposite of what you want slacker lower geometry for climbs, steeper for decents, and if you drop your fork at the same time to compensate for the head angle, you will end up with a rediculously low bottom bracket, and you will smack your pedals on everything.

To do what you are describing just buy a bionicon, but I don't really think that's necessary

 

[Luigiugueto]

Talas rear shocks already exist, fox made them once.

 

[Maida7]

I ride a Titus switchblade with a FOX Float Talus rear shock. The frame was designed to be used with this shock. I can go from 3.5" of rear travel to 5.25" with the flick of a lever on the shock body. That plus an adjustable for (I have a minute 1) can vastly change the geometry and bike handling. For steep climbs I can extend the rear and lower the fork. For techy downhills I can drop the rear and raise the front.

On less technical rolling terrain I ride it with the fork all the way down to 100MM and the rear on the 4" travel setting. Gives it a XC feel.

On gnarly terrain I run both front and rear at full travel and I have a 5x5 AM type ride.

Titus no longer makes the switchblade and Fox no longer makes the rear Talus shock. Jamis also made frames designed around the rear Talus shock. If you like fiddling with your bikes geometry then the Talus is the way to go, I've lived with for several years and now rarely adjust the travel. My rear shock is starting to die and I think I will replace it soon with something that allows for platform adjustment rather than travel adjustments. I'd love an RP23 but with my limited funds I'm aiming for a swinger 3 for super cheap on ebay.

 

[pureslop]

For steep climbs I can extend the rear and lower the fork. For techy downhills I can drop the rear and raise the front.

On less technical rolling terrain I ride it with the fork all the way down to 100MM and the rear on the 4" travel setting. Gives it a XC feel.

On gnarly terrain I run both front and rear at full travel and I have a 5x5 AM type ride.

This was exactly what I was thinking. I currently have 09 RP23 rear and TALAS front. I don't mess with it too much. But on long steep climbs, it is definately easier to drop the front end. Don't need long travel when going 5 mph anyway.

What I am looking for with the rear is to drop it on long steep descents. I guess the problem is that you don't really want to reduce the travel at a time when you need full travel.......probably why it was discontinued.

Thanks for the responses.

Alan