Risse rear shock on 856

[DugB]

Hello all,

So I think I'm about to get a decent deal on a set of slightly used Risses from a guy's 855...I'd like to install them on an 856, but if you lok at the Risse website they say that the X56 bikes require the "Freedom Plate" adapter. My question is: anyone know why it's required on the X56 bikes and not the X55 bikes? Isn't the rear geometry and strut/swingarm configuration on these essentially the same?

Thanks in advance!

- Doug

[orange]

I think the struts were slightly different at the top? Kiwi knows more about this I think.

[Willie_B]

You sure do seem to find some good stuff. Must be all the time you have while staying up with the new baby, you can cruise the web.

[DugB]

You sure do seem to find some good stuff. Must be all the time you have while staying up with the new baby, you can cruise the web.

LOL...this is a bit sad, but I pretty much start off my day with a few searches of "proflex craigslist" and related keywords on Google, just to see what new items are out there. I also subscribe to some of the topics on this forum, just so I know when there are new posts (that's how I was able to jump on the LTK, for which I happened to find a perfect 6000 lb spring on eBay, though I'm hoping to try it with the set of Risse's I may have found).

If there are rear geometry differences between the 855 and 856 then it's extremely difficult to see what they are from the side. the parts look exactly the same. Plus, both bikes depended on the strut & shock being a single, rigid unit...wonder why Risse would want that to be different on the 856 (if I understand correctly what this "freedom plate" is).

- Doug

[Colin]

I believe, (correct me if I'm wrong someone) that the only difference for fitting purposes between an 855 strut and an 856 strut is that on the 856 there is a recess for the Cone shaped split collet that the ODS and NR shocks use to more securely locate the shock into the strut.
Part #6 in this diagram:
http://idriders.com/proflex/coppermine/albums/userpics/10284/97_spc657_strut.pdf

The 855 strut is flat across this face.
So I guess that the "freedom plate" is a flat plate to bridge across the recess.

Between the x55 and x56, PRO~FLEX also changed the strut material from 6061 to 7075 T-6 aluminum, which is supposedly twice as strong, and beefed up the U-clamps and strut bridge.

Col.

[DugB]

Colin, I think you hit the nail on the head. I called Risse yesterday (they answered almost immediately...they do seem more on the ball) and whoever it was (Kevin?) confirmed what you said. So I have a Freedom Plate on its way, and the shocks are coming from another direction. I'm wondering what the rear end will be like on this bike if I used the LTK and a Risse Astro 5 on the rear...you know, aside from looking pretty fugly :-)

More to come...have great weekends, all!

- Doug :-)

[shovelon]

Fugly is AWESOME! 

With all that leverage, you won't have to redamp the shock.

[DugB]

Haha, you don't think it's going to be too much leverage even for an air shock, do you? At the very least I'll try it out :-)

[shovelon]

Haha, you don't think it's going to be too much leverage even for an air shock, do you? At the very least I'll try it out :-)

Cane creek would say that. Don't think I tried to get them to sell me a Cloud nine for the rear of my Oz.

[DugB]

Aha, I know that feeling. I had to jump through a bunch of hoops just to get crappy Universal Cycles to sell me a Fox Float R for the rear of my 4000. I had to send pics and measurements for Fox to be comfortable enough with the arrangement to honor the shock's warranty.