AIR SHOX

[IMO]

Hi I am looking to change my rear shock on my OZ. It currently has a Manitou swinger SPV  coil unit. It has been TF tuned and works well, but its very heavy. At a guess, with a 350lb/in spring its around 1kg. This seems a touch daft given the amount of lightweight carbon fibre on the bike.
I think with the latest air shocks better design should come through to make a shock that works, without the weight penalty.
I like the SPV , its well set up , appears bullet proof and built for a more aggressive riding style than simple cross country. Much more of a downhill/ jump shock.
CRC have these DT Swiss SSD 225 Air Shock
at £149, on sale at the moment. I have no experience of any air shocks, on a n other forum posters rave about Fox Float range, but these are nearly twice the cash, and get indifferent reviews.
Any thought /suggestions??
Many Thanks Rob

c +p     http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=9733

[Matno]

Hard to go wrong with a Swinger Air. I've been beating the snot out of mine for a couple of years now with great results. Soaks up big hits beautifully and pedals like a champ on the climbs. Sacrifices a touch in the small bump absorption department, but I don't miss it because the overall ride is so good. A lot of "freeride" and "all-mountain" bikes now come with air shocks like the Swinger 3-way, so they must be pretty durable...

[shovelon]

Hard to go wrong with a Swinger Air....

I would have to agree. I looked at the DT Swiss, and it looks like it has no platform chamber. A little platform pressure added to the pivot location on the OZ, and any bob it had went away.

The weight factor of the DT Swiss is atractive though. And a little tuning could make it even lighter.

Terry

[IMO]

CRC have the swinger air 3 way spv at £99. I reckon i would get most of that back selling my TF'd swinger coil, with2 springs.
However, crc also sell a newer design of Rock Shox Pearl 3.3. Its more cash £189, but is a newer design, a little heavier has 'motion control', and  more importantly ' lock out', plus 'floodgate' .
looking at piccys it may be able to make this handlebar adjustable.
wondering if anyone has any experience of these?
Also what length , the 8.5 x 2.5 ?

[IMO]

On ebay.usa, brand new spv 3 way air, $73, plus $39 so £60, plus some tax , say £70. 8.125 eye to eye, although the advert reads external spring , the pictures used are deffo  air, not coil. will mail em tbc.
rob

[Matno]

Stroke length depends on how much travel you want. Figure approximately 2.7 times whatever the stroke length. (So 2.5 = 6.75 inches of travel at the wheel! Might be a bit much, although I know some have used that...)

I've been very happy with stroke lengths in the 2.0 to 2.1" range.

As for the Rockshox, don't base your decision on whether it has a lockout. I had a Stratos with lockout, and I almost NEVER used the lockout. Even on the road, I didn't like it, and I never felt like it increased my efficiency all that much. The Swinger's SPV helps more in that department, in my opinion.

[IMO]

Bit the bullet and purchased from fleabay a Rock Shox  (SRAM) Pearl3.1 215mm long 63mm stroke length.
$179 shipped.
might/will have to find an extra £20 ish VAT plus import tax, and wait for about a month......
reveiws very well on mtbr, CRC are offering 07 models for £169, so if i hate it i'll fleabay it off, should get most , if not all of my money back.
Will report when test ridden.
600gm's lighter...and thats just my wallet.

[Colin]

Ooooh errrrr.....note of caution.......

a 215mmm shock with a 63mm stroke leaves 152mm when fully compressed.
The frame hit limit on the Oz is 157mm.......? (it is on my ones)
i.e. if you bottom out that shock, the swing arm will hit the frame before the shock bottoms out.........
Might want to measure the travel etc when you get it to be safe......

A 4000 style frame has a bit more stroke travel, 230mm to 140mm minimum and in fact that's when the rear wheel hits the seat post tube.

Col.

[IMO]

Right, surely bottoming out the shock is akin to hitting the hardstop? i think the Pearl has an elastomer bump stop on the end of the stroke tho.
It wont be an issue  in reality as i only ever ride cross country , and never take big hits. i will running a high level of air in the can, so it would take a massive amount of force to bottom out the shock.
There will be an engeering answer too. new mounting plate ever so slightly nearerthe frame, or longer shaft elastomer in the Pearl.This would limit the travel.
Will mail sram now for a closed length.
As I say ,  for what its cost me ,  if i take a £10 hit on selling it on , i dont mind.. Thanks for the advice   Rob

[IMO]

goes out to garage. dismantles bike. measures arm travel.
155mm minimum eye to eye before swing arm hits frame.
235mm maximum eye to eye before swing arm hits front mech.
It would appear Im 3mm long, I could engineer 3mm travel out of the arm from somewhere.
Or fit a rubber plate to the frame.
I cant seem to find a contact address for R/S.
will keep looking.
Rob

[shovelon]

Put it on and move the swingarm up and down. My Swinger coil, 8.5"x2.5" stroke worked fine.

I too went with air, currently with lengthening block is 8.625"x2.25" stroke.

Yeah, 900 grams for a rear shock is insane.

Terry