[r1Gel]

All else being about equal (type of bike/amount of travel and wheel size; same shock settings, e.g., both in Trail or Descend mode), which would be considered the more efficient pedaler/better climber?

E.g., between a 130-mm travel Fuel EX and a 140-mm travel Stumpjumper FSR with shocks in Descend/fully open, which would pedal more efficiently (i.e., have less wallow/bob).

'appreciate inputs from those who have ridden both.

TIA

 

[b-kul]

first off drcv is a shock type not a suspension design, abp vs. fsr is what you are after. ive owned a fsr bike but only demoed an abp bike but from what i recall they felt similar. personally between the two fit and geo would be a much bigger factor.

 

[Cayenne_Pepa]

MTB suspension test.mp4 - YouTube

Pay attention to the last two tested. The one that activates the pivots LESS under stationary braking, is efficient. I ride all of them, and still prefer ABP and Giant's Maestro over FSR....even with the Brain.

 

[bulerias]

MTB suspension test.mp4 - YouTube

Pay attention to the last two tested. The one that activates the pivots LESS under stationary braking, is efficient. I ride all of them, and still prefer ABP and Giant's Maestro over FSR....even with the Brain.

Complete baloney. When are you ever pedaling against the braking system? This test is moronic. I'll give it some - only some - credit on the brake test, but both tests completely ignore the propulsive and retarding forces at the wheel.

If it were only that simple.

 

[T.W.O.]

Complete baloney. When are you ever pedaling against the braking system? This test is moronic. I'll give it some - only some - credit on the brake test, but both tests completely ignore the propulsive and retarding forces at the wheel.

If it were only that simple.

Switchback, trackstand, trail braking some of the example

 

[mimi1885]

first off drcv is a shock type not a suspension design, abp vs. fsr is what you are after. ive owned a fsr bike but only demoed an abp bike but from what i recall they felt similar. personally between the two fit and geo would be a much bigger factor.

I agree.

Both are quite similar, I'd say ABP would edge on the braking. I don't really care much about the brain shock but they do work well for some. If you want to compare different design, I'd look at ABP VS VPP VS DW Link. They are more pros and cons to prefer one over the other.

 

[b-kul]

Switchback, trackstand, trail braking some of the example

except for a trackstand your not actually on the gas while on the brake. likely braking and pedaling in very short increments but not doing both simulataniously.

 

[shiggy]

Switchback, trackstand, trail braking some of the example

I can not think of any case (other than screwing around) where I have ever pedaled with power and braked at the same time, uphill, downhill or flat.

 

[twowheelfunman]

I've owned both and currently have 3 ABP bikes. When coming into downhill corners with choppy conditions ABP feels like anti lock brakes. Big thumbs up from me!

 

[Deerhill]

IME on steep tech, the ABP suspension can get caught/stall on square edges a bit more than my FSR when grinding in granny, same trail. Both are good, FSR feels like it has more climbng traction to me.

Out of the box, the Trek suspension and the air shock are tuned very well together, where with other frames, you're more likely to need to send an air shock to get custom tuned to get it that close.

 

[r1Gel]

first off drcv is a shock type not a suspension design

I know that. Since Trek is the only one who has both ABP and DRCV I decided to lump them together as a system.
Thanks for the input though.

 

[Vespasianus]

Here are the anti-squat numbers for the Fuel EX:

Here is the Stump 140:

Again, the efficiency of a given bike is not defined by the pivot at the rear wheel. The EPIC is completely different than the Stumpy FSR. The same is true for the Trek models. Don't focus on the suspension type or even the numbers put out by a silly computer. Ride the bike. Enjoy the bike? Buy the bike.

 

[b-kul]

oh, i see. drcy consist of two chambers to make it more plush on the downs, really doesnt make a huge difference on the ups.