K2 / Proflex Riders Group
General => Tech Forum => Topic started by: sammydog on April 04, 2010, 04:51:28 am
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Now that Rapid Descent is closing down, people will need to obviously look elsewhere for spares. Does anyone have any experience with Suspension Fork Parts?
There website http://www.suspensionforkparts.net/eshop/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=11 seems to have elastomers for most proflex. I'm interested to know as I was about to order some Vector 1 and 854 Elastomers (waiting to actually see the condition of the bike next week before I order) from RDS, but its probably too late now.
So, any experience with this place and the quality of their elastomers? How long they would likely last compared to the ones coming out of RDS?
Just noticed I can also get new internals for my old Manitou Comps as well.
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I have seen thier site. What I can see is that the material they use is not MCU as Callum used. The clear amber color is solid Polyurethane ,which has fast springback and is heavy.
I have bought Polyurethane tube in longer lengths in black from McmasterCarr for my short travel stuff and works ok, but has no damping effect.
Given the present circumstances, I would try them out. I do like the black sleeves they sell.
Terry
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Sounds like a fine time to switch to coil springs. Why would anyone want to use MCUs if any other option exists? They're so temperamental. Coil springs work in all weather conditions and never need to be boiled or greased to make them work right.
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I've upgraded my 856 and 955 to a rear fox float shock and my crosslinks have a noleen.
I want elastomers for my 855 (which will get the rebuilt manitou comps now I can get internals) and I really want to run the 854 and vector1 as close to original as I can, so I want elastmers. Not sure that an ODS unit exists for this bike anyway.
The rear shocks originally on my 955 and 855 are non ODS and the 856 came without a shock. That's pretty much why I am interested in elastomers, I'm sure others would have different reasons.
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You can run any of the 855/856/857 cone fitting shocks in an 855. I currently have a Noleen NR4. ODS works just fine equally.
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You can run any of the 855/856/857 cone fitting shocks in an 855. I currently have a Noleen NR4. ODS works just fine equally.
I realise that I can get any of the cone end shocks top fit, but as I have two bikes built up with a modern air shock (fox float), I want the other two to be pretty much original which is why I want to go down the elastomer path.
The bikes will only be used in the odd race with a vintage class. So basically they are to keep things as retro as I can. That and I think it would be cool to be able to ride and remember what these things were like when they came out with canti's and elastomers.
I'll just take a punt on the elastomers for the 854 and vector1's in the next few weeks.
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Hey sammydog keep us posted on how thing's go with the elastomer's....
I have an 862 which is basically your 854's garandad ;D
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You can run any of the 855/856/857 cone fitting shocks in an 855. I currently have a Noleen NR4. ODS works just fine equally.
I thought the 855 strut doesn't have the cone collet recess in it?
I thought it was flat?
Any thoughts/ piccies to correct me?
Colin S
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I've upgraded my 856 and 955 to a rear fox float shock and my crosslinks have a noleen.
I want elastomers for my 855 (which will get the rebuilt manitou comps now I can get internals) and I really want to run the 854 and vector1 as close to original as I can, so I want elastmers. Not sure that an ODS unit exists for this bike anyway.
The rear shocks originally on my 955 and 855 are non ODS and the 856 came without a shock. That's pretty much why I am interested in elastomers, I'm sure others would have different reasons.
I have to admit this line of thinking never made much sense to me, but I guess I'm not a "vintage" guy. There's a reason every (halfway-decent) MTB/ATB/VTT on Earth uses coil or air springs nowadays -- because elastomers suck by comparison. I see no reason to subject myself to suckage just to maintain originality -- but hey, it's your bike, I'm not going to judge; God knows I've done some stuff to my bike that makes most people look at me crosseyed.
Maybe someday I should sell the elastomer shock my 756 came with; get a little cash out of it. God knows I'm never going to use it again.
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You can run any of the 855/856/857 cone fitting shocks in an 855. I currently have a Noleen NR4. ODS works just fine equally.
I thought the 855 strut doesn't have the cone collet recess in it?
I thought it was flat?
Any thoughts/ piccies to correct me?
Colin S
good point - I seem to recall discussing a while ago the fact that my 855 might have an 856 strut.. I'd forgotten about that.
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I still have my 855 strut. Yep, flat top for the elastomer stack.
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You can run any of the 855/856/857 cone fitting shocks in an 855. I currently have a Noleen NR4. ODS works just fine equally.
I thought the 855 strut doesn't have the cone collet recess in it?
I thought it was flat?
Any thoughts/ piccies to correct me?
Colin S
the 855 was flat, but towards the end of the run the x55 started coming with the x56 rear end.
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I have to admit this line of thinking never made much sense to me, but I guess I'm not a "vintage" guy. There's a reason every (halfway-decent) MTB/ATB/VTT on Earth uses coil or air springs nowadays -- because elastomers suck by comparison. I see no reason to subject myself to suckage just to maintain originality -- but hey, it's your bike, I'm not going to judge; God knows I've done some stuff to my bike that makes most people look at me crosseyed.
Maybe someday I should sell the elastomer shock my 756 came with; get a little cash out of it. God knows I'm never going to use it again.
I can understand where your coming from, but I have modernised and upgraded an 856 about as far as you can. See this thread (http://idriders.com/proflex/smf/index.php?topic=3443.30).
I've got a 955 which is a mix of new and old, so I want to have the other bikes original. I don't see the point of upgrading the 854 anyway as it will make a nice softtail and it won't get ridden any more if it were upgraded.
I don't ride the original elastomer bikes are only really going to come out on special occasions and for vintage racing. Each to their own I guess.
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Ah, I see, very nice. But I guess I would've stopped (and did stop) after putting the one bike together. Guess I'm just not much of a retro enthusiast. :-\ Or rather, the fun part for me would be trying to find ways to modernize the even older bikes too.
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Ah, I see, very nice. But I guess I would've stopped (and did stop) after putting the one bike together. Guess I'm just not much of a retro enthusiast. :-\ Or rather, the fun part for me would be trying to find ways to modernize the even older bikes too.
I am with ya there. I like to buy a bike and see how far I can improve it. Astounds me how good the original designs are. Apart from my Offroad(which is pristine and will stay that way), the others I like to tinker with.
I still find that my elastomer Offroad funtions as good as new, after replacing the elastomers. Gives me an idea what it was like in 1990.
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I've always hankered after riding that Offroad just to see what it's like. You just don't see them over here in the UK :(
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I've always hankered after riding that Offroad just to see what it's like. You just don't see them over here in the UK :(
It's pretty cool. The flexstem is simple but effective. It The Girvin engineers got Serotta to fashion a unified strut swingarm using reworked Serotta fork legs.(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-6/1036595/Offroadrear.JPG)
This was the origination of the suspension configuration that Proflex carried through the years.
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Sounds like a fine time to switch to coil springs. Why would anyone want to use MCUs if any other option exists? They're so temperamental. Coil springs work in all weather conditions and never need to be boiled or greased to make them work right.
So, if Callum is out, Where might I aquire a spring for my 856?