noleen nr2 shock query

[martin]

im buying well mortgaging the cottages, selling house in Leeds and parents are selling one of their holiday cottages in Windermere to help finance it. Eventually will be converting a barn next to the cottages to live in, but that will be at least 12 months or more down the line, in the meantime will be living in one of the 3 bedroomed cottages and renting the other 3.

Simon if you avoid the school holiday weeks and were to book a week i would take 20% off the normal advertised price, or if you fancy riding in possible snow in January 3 nights for £99 (total not per person) in the two bedroomed cottage.

Will be hard work and a good few years before its paid off but it will be our pension.

Have run a holiday cottage agency for about 7 years where i take commission on bookings taken for the owners, but it was a far better feeling last week when i took our first booking for Christmas.

Due to exchange contracts about 14th December and current owners have allowed us to market them early.

There will be bike storage and there a some good rides from the doorstep

http://www.tomowen.dsl.pipex.com/biking/england/kentmere.htm

You can see Kentmere from the cottages, some great downhills

Theres also Ullswater, Claiffe Heights, Skiddaw, Helvellyn if brave and fit and loads more spoilt for choice, and some decent rides within an hour or so drive around North Yorks, and Kielder forest.

[jeffhop]

hi martin, i think i may have what your looking for on my xpx. i have a nr4 rear shock with a NB2-450  coil spring on it that is too stiff for me. im looking for a lighter shock as i weigh 14 stone. if you have the original spring and its too soft for you how about a swap? i live in durham so im not a million miles from you, might have to pop over sometime and have a ride out over the lakes.

[Colin]

Doh! My mistake! (Thanks Frankd3000)
Correct! An ODS shock is 196mm (7 3/4") Long which I thought I had measured to the fat end of the cone, i.e. the distance between the strut and the seat post pivot centre.
Sorry, I was thinking an NR2 on a 856 type frame would be the same length as an NR2 (8 1/4" ) on a 4000 frame, obviously not!
Given the choice, I would actually go with a slightly longer shock and then have increased sag to compensate the ride angles. my XP-X sits at the top end of it's travel and "tops" out too much even though the spring should be the right weight for me.

Wow, Jeffhop, you've got an NR-4 on an XP-X? is it a cone ended one? I guess some x57's came with these? and so it was available as an AM part?

Martin, those cottages look great!
Fri-Mon Lets in January, How much?
What's the maximum number of people they will take if I rent them all?
Is there a pub at the bottom of the road on the A591 in Ings and does it do food?

Thanks
Col.

[martin]

Hi Jeff

Im guessing the 450lb should fit a 1997 noleen nr2 shock?

If so assuming the shock is ok and just needs a heavier spring (can check on Friday when get the bike back) i would be happy to swop and can always do it by post if you like.

[martin]

Hi Colin

In January we plan to put a new kitchen in Fellview and we will be living in Kentmere therefore only the two, two bedroomed cottages next to each other would be available, if renting both they would sleep upto 8 (cant over occupy as voids liability insurance and dining table and lounge only having seating for 4), and a 3 night break in January either the weekend of 20th or 27th would be £99 per cottage. Includes bedding just towels to bring. Electric for night storage heating included, rest by £1 meter which is things like tv, lighting, cooker etc. No smoking but pooches are aloud.

The pub at Ings which i think is the watermill inn does food, also pubs and takeaways in Windermere which is about 1 mile, and in Staveley which is a couple of miles.

[jeffhop]

here is the spring and shock in situ on my spare xpx as you can see its a cone fitting. martin posting will be fine as long as the spring is ok for you.

[martin]

Hi Ian

Either the spring is shorter or the shock is longer or there is alot of preload,think ive only about 2 or 3 threads turned down on mine.

I will have a look at my shock over the next couple of days and let you know.

Are all the springs the same across the proflex range and then the difference is between the shocks ie nr2 nr4 and the length of the pushrod determines the amount of travel? Think the beast has 3 1/2 inches at the rear and 4 at the front as standard.

Cant for the life of me remember what the xpx looked like spec wise etc, i know its the same frame  design as the beast. Where i used to work a few lads had proflex's and one of them was in the proflex downhill team (this is about 8 years ago)

[Colin]

Martin,
An XP-X is an 856 frame (i.e pivot behind the BB)
They were a limited edition in the UK in '97 (probably to use up the old '86 frames) but they were a good spec. Supposedly  with structural changes that eliminated alleged frame failures on early 856's. Mine has Magura 33's on it with XT mainly and some LX, Gripshift, and ODS shocks with either MCU's or Coils as original.

I'll look into your coil/shock questions and make some measurements........

But initially from K2 supplied info, there are 2" compression springs (NB2) used on NR1's NR2's and NR4's. And 1.75" compression springs (NB175) , which confusingly are also used on NR4's and the NR5 shocks.......

Theoretically if you use the the 175 on a 2" compression shock, the coils might "bind" before full compression of the shock is achieved, but I don't think this is actually a valid concern in the real world.
i.e.
1997
957, 857, 757, Animal, Beast, Beast GDT, 657 (all sizes)
Spring                   Shock Compatibility
NB2-(weight)          NR1-PRO97, NR2-PRO97, NR4-PRO97

Spring length varies quite a bit, I've got springs from 80 to 95 mm long and they all seem to work OK, an NR4 appears to take up to a 110mm spring, whilst an NR5 will only take up to a 91mm, front NR1's will take up to 95mm.

I have a theory (unproven) that longer springs are more "plush" and so I always go for the longest spring that will fit.

Blimey! well that's my findings and opinions, maybe someone else knows better?
<GRIN>
Col

[martin]

all i wanted was a spring  [smiley=laughing.gif]

Complicated stuff these bikes and you still have to bloody peddle them!

[rapiddescent]

I've got boxes of springs up here in Stirling, Scotland - all shapes and sizes.  The COR spring might even fit.

Whats the internal diameter of the spring and roughy what length range?

I haven't measured the lbs/inch for our COR springs - anyone know the best way of doing this?

callum
rds

[martin]

Hi Callum

I will measure up and get back to you.

If the length, diameter, number of coil turns and weight is correct can you stick any spring on any shock?

[rapiddescent]

only if you have the right batteries...

:-)

yes, should work.  All bike springs have bevelled top loops to make them sit flat and are springy enough to work in a shock.  I've got some old test springs in a box that I don't mind giving away for postage/packing because they're just using up space on the shelf now.  most of the old noleen springs have lost their markings so I calc hardness using vernier calipers and bit of guesswork.

I didn't realise springs could be so complex until I made the COR springs.  Still to make some for the subaru impreza wrx though!

callum

[jeffhop]

callum do you have any springs that would suit me? seeing as the spring ive got on my xpx is a 450lb and i only get about 30mm travel on it i thought i was a porker but even i cant shift it  lol  i always wondered why it climbed like a hardtail  lol

[martin]

Had a quick bounce about on my beast this afternoon, had to up the air pressure on the forks as bottomed them out right away, the shock moves but seems abit stiff and sluggish, is this from lack of use or a sure sign of needing a service?