dimwit Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 hi, dimwit here. I'm trying to figure out what the "best bang for ya buck" shock would be for me. I only ride trails, alot of rutted out and rocky type of stuff, no real techy tight woods, more flat out ridge lines and fire breaks, i spend alot of my time in 4th-5th gear band hoping not to hit a rim buster. I'm not into jumping or mx. I'm too old for that shit (36) and the last 15 years on DH mountain bikes, mainly banshee's, have my ancles and wrists floppy as fuck, if I sneeze without bracing i fall flat on my arse . because of that reason (no jumpijng) i'm thinking I dont need a rezzy shocks, opinions?. even though my standard shocks atm fade with the riding I do, is that cause it's a shit shock in general, or because of heat build up, or emulsion(frothy oil), considering this would rezzies be worth the extra $$$?. I've been looking at banshee shocks for a while, and have found most of my info lurking here, but living in oz this stuff is EXPENSIVE, I will most likely order from the states so I need to get this right as it's roughly 150p+h, so sending them back to get revalved ect would be prohibative to say the least. alot of stuff I see have a pretty broad weight range ie. 110-160lb mx or 130- 200lb rec trails for the one pr shocks. It would seem to be a pretty broad range, is this range all covered with preload? cause the shocks I've been looking at aren't adj comp + rebound. Or is this just ebay marketing, tryin' to flog as many as possible, to people that can't be fucked asking someone that knows? everthing I've learnt about mtn bike shocks tells me that preload can't cover that much weight range. the reason i ask is cause i dont want to cough for adj comp and rebound shocks if I don't have to. I was hoping to get my shock valved for my weight exactly, not a weight range. I've been 190lb for the last 10 years and that aint changing, so why should i bother with adj comp and rebound, it would only be handy for intial setup wouldn't it? once I had my mtn bike shock dialed in i didn't touch it. Am I missing something? only looking at front shocks for now. But are the std rears any good? I see they have adj comp and rebound, what can you do? rebuild revalve ect? or not worth it. I have seen revalve kit's online so if it's a matter of revalving it to my preference, I can do, I think, I don't mind fiddling around. I've done bike ones, 5th element's anyway, no nitrogen in them though. nitrogen charge doable for backyarder? last thing I'm on a fairly strict budget mid 30's=mortgage, ect ,not alone there I know. Not long (2wks) after i bought my shee I barrel rolled it down a hill (steep learning curve + steep hill = carnage) so have been replacing everthing i bent, not planned for upgrade$. So it was stock standard, now has a +2 rear axle and +2 +1 fullflight A-arms (i like hiem joints), it kind of worked out allright cause now I have to get my handling sorted first, rather than just go for bulk power upgrades as per usual. if I could get something that suited me for around $800 that would be good, what should I be looking at? brands? models? sellers? I think for shocks I would like to stick to new or rebuilt to new specs by a repped builder. any feedback is great, steer me in the right direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nastyracing Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Works dual rates would work perfect for you get the ones with ressi tho and pixk your self up a cheap stabilizer shee will feel like a cadilac. As long as ur not jumping big the works suck up some terrain nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dimwit Posted March 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 thanks, i've been looking at the works shocks. whats the difference between the steelers and the g series? which should i aim for. cheap steering stabilizer, yer, never even thought of that. they'd be a pretty good thing over rocky shit i'd imagine. what's a decent and/or cheap one, are they rebuildable or throw-away, how much $$. everyone seems to steer clear of triple rate springs cause a banshee is front heavy, that right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dimwit Posted March 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 If you have $800 to spend on shocks, skip the works and get a GOOD set of shocks like PEP, Ohlins, Axis or Elka. You can find a used pair on ebay for much less than $800, then send them to So Cal suspension systems and have them setup for your weight. yep, i hear what you are saying, thats the other option. and this is pretty much what I'm trying to figure out. whether it is worth it to buy s/h top of the line and rebuild, or new stage1/2 shocks, especially considering my riding is fast trail only. no jumps. i know the best shocks you can buy will always be better performers, but compared to mxer's, they are gonna have a easy life, kinda. the problem is I live in aus, so I'm going to buy seconhand racers shocks sight unseen, cross my fingers they aren't junked, and hopefully get the seller to send 'em away to socal. otherwise i'm looking at 150 shipping to oz, 150 shipping back to us for a rebuild, 150 shiping back to oz. all for shocks that could be rooted anyway. i have been looking for s/h elka pep axis ect shocks on the bay, but not to many come up and alot wont ship outside US. yfz450 shocks come up locally often. they are comp and rebound adj and rebuildable. whats your opinions on them? anyone? i think i read they were soft as on shee, but could you get them to work with a rebuild + higher rate spring or give a miss?, the fullflight a-arms i've ordered aren't the ones for the yzf450 shocks but i could mod the shock body if I only got 'em for $80 like the last pair that went off. So do SoCal actually sell shocks or just rebuild what you supply? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert.b.west Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 I had a set of yfz's on stock a arms and +2's and I did not like them. I got a used set of works on ebay and sent them to Matt at Socal. The ride is so much nicer. I think I payed like $250 for the shocks and the rebuild. It was well worth the money. I would love to ride on a set of elkas just to see what the ride is like tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dimwit Posted March 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 okay, I think I've narrowed it down to new shocks no s/h. I'm basically looking at stage 2 elkas, works g series, works steeler series or fox floats. steeler series is alot cheaper but is a fully welded shock that can't be rebuilt, is that right? i've been trying to find out the diff between the g series and steelers. is it worth the extra for g series. i'll keep looking around here it's probs been answered somewhere. thanks for the heads up on yzf450 shocks, i was pretty tempted for a bit $$$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dimwit Posted March 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 i hadn't read the latest in (yfz suspension fix), cause it seemed to turn into a shitfight. but now i've read it i understand 450 shocks no good for me. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
So Cal Suspension Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 okay, I think I've narrowed it down to new shocks no s/h. I'm basically looking at stage 2 elkas, works g series, works steeler series or fox floats. steeler series is alot cheaper but is a fully welded shock that can't be rebuilt, is that right? i've been trying to find out the diff between the g series and steelers. is it worth the extra for g series. i'll keep looking around here it's probs been answered somewhere. thanks for the heads up on yzf450 shocks, i was pretty tempted for a bit $$$. Keep in mind, when ordering ANY new shock, they will most likely not be right the first time around. Manufacturers plan for this, and is usually why they offer a 30, 60, or 90 day Ride Quality Gaurantee. It gives you an opportunity to mount them up, see how you like them, and give them some feedback on what they can do differently for your shocks. Steelers ARE fully rebuildable. The main difference, function-wise, with the steelers vs the G-Series: Steelers use cast rod ends, and a powder pressed piston, with progressive valving. G-Series use all billet components, with a machined piston that utilizes static valving. What that means, to the average person, is that you will have much better quality components with the g-series, vs the Steelers. It is much easier to fine tune static valving, than it is to fine tune progressive. Elka and Axis both use static valving on all of their shocks. I would avoid floats, as they require quite a bit of maintenance. You have to constantly monitor, what Fox calls "Float Fluid". Basically it is an oil that does nothing but keep the shaft lubed. If that runs out, and you don't notice, serious damage WILL be done. For the average recreational rider, works steelers would be a good choice. If you are concerned with fading, go ahead and get the remote reservoir ones. In conclusion, don't EXPECT that your shocks will be right the first time from the manufacturer. They will do what they can to get it CLOSE, but a quality ride is all relative to the rider. Some people prefer stiff suspension, some prefer soft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dimwit Posted March 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 thanks matt. that all makes sense. I had a fox float on my mtn bike and wasn't that impressed compared to a coil over so I will steer clear of them. if I can expect the valving to be close but not right, then just another thought. If I saved my pennies until I could afford a shock with adj rebound and comp, set-up to my weight 190lb, would there be enough adjustability in them to get a firm>>soft ride without having to revalve them, hence not having to freight them around the world 3-4 times. dollar wise cheaper shock + shitload of freight = expensive shock + no freight. yes, no, maybe? cheers, thanks for ya time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
So Cal Suspension Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Haha, you Aussie's crack me up. I've yet to meet one who doesn't have a good attitude about everything. Anyways, Yes, for the most part, aftermarket shock's compression/rebound adjustment do a good job at controlling the movement of the shock. Keep in mind, Valving controls the motion of the shock, the spring supports the weight. Here's my advice, I would order a shock with a slightly HEAVIER spring, than you would like. You can ride a bike and "deal with it" with a little stiffer suspension, than suspension that is too soft and un rideable. Knowmesayin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dimwit Posted March 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 yep cool, good advise. I liked my bikes sprung really stiff compared to my mates bikes, they were like" shitman, why dont ya just ride a hardtail". I'd jump on theirs and think "fuck this, this is like a pogo stick". I could land short on road gaps and ride out, they land short and snap frames thats what i'll do then, order a shock with slightly heavier spring and just learn to ride it. and decide whether I need adjustables or not, gotta be tons better than stocko's. I wish my gf new about the wonders of decent suspension,and why I NEEDED it. all I know is there's gunna be a shitstorm coming my way shortly. Shes still spewing about the set of ITP bajas, razr2's, gforce axle. and the +2+1 a-arms haven't arrived yet If she doesn't leave after the shocks, I reckon I'm good to move onto the motor, pipes, cool head, ect with only minor repercusions. haha,haha what a total bastard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webb_4 Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 yep cool, good advise. I wish my gf new about the wonders of decent suspension,and why I NEEDED it. all I know is there's gunna be a shitstorm coming my way shortly. Shes still spewing about the set of ITP bajas, razr2's, gforce axle. and the +2+1 a-arms haven't arrived yet If she doesn't leave after the shocks, I reckon I'm good to move onto the motor, pipes, cool head, ect with only minor repercusions. haha,haha what a total bastard Haha funniest most true thing ive heard in awhile I feel the same way about my girl sometimes, thanks for the thread and everyone posted in it, learned alot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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