Elka Stage 5 Review
- Thread starter Steve M
- Start date
It would be great to see some quantifiable testing between that and a Push MX tuned DHX. They seem like they'd be fairly close competitors - lower cost options to CCDB, BOS, RC4 with custom tuning.
Some special tools and a bleeding machine are required to service a shock to our factory specs...
This sucks, cause it seems to be a great shock but I like to be able to service my own suspensions...500 hours in Whistler's time is more like 20 days from my experience, if you add several days of riding in the valley, you've gotta be able to change the oil once or twice during the season IMO.
This sucks, cause it seems to be a great shock but I like to be able to service my own suspensions...500 hours in Whistler's time is more like 20 days from my experience, if you add several days of riding in the valley, you've gotta be able to change the oil once or twice during the season IMO.
A really good review.
Last year I was seeing alot of hype surrounding the Stage 5, Last winter I decided to buy a shock for my Giant Faith. Comming from a DHX 4 and having tried out a DHX 5, they dont even compare to how the Elka feels! The Product and Factory direct service are both amazing!
Ill be sending my shock back during the winter for a service and a re-valve for my new Flatline.
Last year I was seeing alot of hype surrounding the Stage 5, Last winter I decided to buy a shock for my Giant Faith. Comming from a DHX 4 and having tried out a DHX 5, they dont even compare to how the Elka feels! The Product and Factory direct service are both amazing!
Ill be sending my shock back during the winter for a service and a re-valve for my new Flatline.
You made me spend money again 
I was quite happy when I learned the Legend will go with rc4 instead of the avreage dhx but now I'm not sure if selling the rc4 and getting the elka wouldn't be a better idea. The differance between elka and rc4 is really that big? I'm also a bit worried about a bit less progresion on the mk2 legend than your preprod version.
Anyway thanks for the review, great as always.
I was quite happy when I learned the Legend will go with rc4 instead of the avreage dhx but now I'm not sure if selling the rc4 and getting the elka wouldn't be a better idea. The differance between elka and rc4 is really that big? I'm also a bit worried about a bit less progresion on the mk2 legend than your preprod version.Anyway thanks for the review, great as always.
Well written. This is exactly how i feel about the stage 5 on my Strange 225.
Perhaps I overlooked it, but what bike did you test it on? Also, do you do most of your testing on the same bike, or have you varied shocks and bikes?
It's the scientist in me coming out...
It's the scientist in me coming out...
Im pretty sure he said he tested it on a Banshee Legend and a Sunday.
I was under the impression the Elka doesn't fit on a Sunday due to interference with the compression adjusters. Was I misinformed?
Im also pretty sure he said some grinding of the bottom link was done.
Ahhh what constitutes a "big" difference... in my opinion the difference between an amazing shock and a bog-standard dhx/vivid is not all that big anyway. The RC4 isn't all that different to the Elka but I found the limits of the compression in the RC4 more easily than I could the Elka, and I don't think the rebound curve is as refined. However, the RC4 is stock valved, the Elka was valved for my bike. That is kind of an illumination of the issue with buying an expensive damper that isn't actually tuned for your bike.You made me spend money again
Anyway thanks for the review, great as always.
No, I ground the living hell out of my lower link. Not really "recommended" but I personally have no qualms doing it to my own bike.
Big = worth the hassle
I usualy notice all the small differances and play with my suspension way too much so I'm thinking if switching from rc4 to elka will make a noticable differance(for me not for my times).I think if you're lighter than me (90kg) and/or on a bike with a lower leverage ratio than the 2.83:1 of the Banshee, the RC4 is a great shock, and the differences between that and anything else will not be huge. However I found myself always running it with pretty well maximum compression settings, and while that was satisfactory 95% of the time I would have liked the option to increase it further still. On the Sunday for example it worked pretty well, as I was able to get that little bit more compression firmness out of it in both HSC and LSC. From what I've heard from Keith, the new Legends will have a slightly less progressive leverage rate with a lower leverage ratio (same as the Sunday apparently), so unless you're heavier than I am (or like REALLY heavy comp tunes), I really couldn't fault the RC4's performance in any significant way. I still don't think the rebound was quite as dialled as the Elka but seriously the difference is not enormous either.Big = worth the hassle
Socket - wow. You're really coming along with these reviews! Top-notch. Articulate, well-organized, and explained in laymen's terms when needed.
If memory serves me I'm pretty sure Dave Trump is doing some testing for Elka on his EVIL Revolt. After reading your review I'm now pretty stoked to see what came of that.
If memory serves me I'm pretty sure Dave Trump is doing some testing for Elka on his EVIL Revolt. After reading your review I'm now pretty stoked to see what came of that.
Yes, excellent review Socket.
I'm working on getting in some of these Elka shocks in as OEM kit so this is most useful,
Cheers matey.
I'm working on getting in some of these Elka shocks in as OEM kit so this is most useful,
Cheers matey.
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yup, Dave and I have both been running Elkas since mid summer. not because we wanted them or were 'sponsored' but because Pat asked us if we would test an evil-specific tuned shock based on our own preferences and the characteristics of the Revolt.Socket - wow. You're really coming along with these reviews! Top-notch. Articulate, well-organized, and explained in laymen's terms when needed.
If memory serves me I'm pretty sure Dave Trump is doing some testing for Elka on his EVIL Revolt. After reading your review I'm now pretty stoked to see what came of that.
With the option of also running a Fox or a Vivid, and no obligation to anyone, we've both gone with the Elka hands down. of course that comes with a bit of a disclaimer since neither of the former offer custom tuning options, but since that doesn't seem likely to change any time in the near future it's rather irrelevant
2 thumbs up for Elka
Nice review Steve. Very interesting stuff and you explain it quite well.
I am curious about one thing. The compression compared to the RC4. I think I remember you saying in the RC4 review that you didn't run max air pressure in the piggyback, so, there was more firmness to be had? I end up running 200psi. in the piggyback most of the time and like to ride with a lot of compression. I feel like there was plenty in the RC4 with the piggyback air pressure at max. Was the Elka at max air pressure or did you keep them both at 150 psi for comparison's sake?
I am curious because I do a bit of testing with Fox on the RC4 and have tried various levels of compression in the 9" and 10.5" shocks. In the stock tune I thought that with 200 psi. and LSC cranked there was plenty and you really have to charge to get any advantage out of that much compression. What I mean to say is that if the Elka has more firmness and doesn't kickback/spike, whatever you want to call it, then I am impressed. Sounds like a very cool unit.
I am curious about one thing. The compression compared to the RC4. I think I remember you saying in the RC4 review that you didn't run max air pressure in the piggyback, so, there was more firmness to be had? I end up running 200psi. in the piggyback most of the time and like to ride with a lot of compression. I feel like there was plenty in the RC4 with the piggyback air pressure at max. Was the Elka at max air pressure or did you keep them both at 150 psi for comparison's sake?
I am curious because I do a bit of testing with Fox on the RC4 and have tried various levels of compression in the 9" and 10.5" shocks. In the stock tune I thought that with 200 psi. and LSC cranked there was plenty and you really have to charge to get any advantage out of that much compression. What I mean to say is that if the Elka has more firmness and doesn't kickback/spike, whatever you want to call it, then I am impressed. Sounds like a very cool unit.
Great write up!!!!! I just finished up my N* season yesterday while running the Elka. All I can say is, it's amazing. One of the best feeling shocks out there. What's great is, when you order it, it's set up for your bikes leverage ratio. Plus you get tons of adjustment to fine tune it to perfection. Patrick @ Elka is awesome to work with & definitely knows his stuff.
Hopefully Patrick, Tony (Elka west coast rep) & I will be working together for the 2010 season to include Elka's as an upgrade (if not OEM) for the Karpiel Disco's & Armageddon (when available next summer). If anyone is in the market for a new shock, you should definitely consider an Elka!
Hopefully Patrick, Tony (Elka west coast rep) & I will be working together for the 2010 season to include Elka's as an upgrade (if not OEM) for the Karpiel Disco's & Armageddon (when available next summer). If anyone is in the market for a new shock, you should definitely consider an Elka!I have since tried running max pressure in the RC4 (I own one now) and it helped, gave it a fair bit better bottom-out resistance, but it still didn't have quite as much as I'd have liked to be able to pull at the top of the travel. Like I said though, 95% of the time it was sufficient, just now and then on certain tracks that really work the suspension I wanted to feel like I was being "caught" a bit earlier in the travel. The Elka gave me that ability. Changing the air pressure in the Elka doesn't actually change the compression characteristic since there is no position sensitive component to the damper, so I ran it at 150psi all the time.
Awesome review!
I want this shock
I want this shock
Ok, cool. Thanks for that. I want to try one.
You guys probably know all this, but still good info.
Elka at IB from pinkbike:
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Elka-Suspension-Interbike-2009.html
Elka at IB from pinkbike:
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Elka-Suspension-Interbike-2009.html
I Neeed iiiit!
I think Socket's review was pretty good, but I've been waiting for a while for you to compare the Elka against the Avalanche, as I know you are familiar with that product. "Consider" the shock is just to vague, a lot of us would like to know (according to opinion) how it stacks up to things like the RC4, CCDB, etc. Not just that it's "competative", but why you think it's better or not.Great write up!!!!! I just finished up my N* season yesterday while running the Elka. All I can say is, it's amazing. One of the best feeling shocks out there. What's great is, when you order it, it's set up for your bikes leverage ratio. Plus you get tons of adjustment to fine tune it to perfection. Patrick @ Elka is awesome to work with & definitely knows his stuff.
Nice, my elka5 is in production for my cove std since one week, achieved me i 2-3 weeks
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James @ Suspension Werx in North Van is a service dealer for Elka, just FYI
I thought about trying an Avalanche on the Disco, however since I've been working with Elka I won't be able to compare a DHS against the Stage 5. I can make the fair comparison to the Roco, which the Elka blows it away. One thing I really like about the Elka over the Avalanche (don't get me wrong, I still think Avalanche makes one of the best shocks on the market) is the ability to really fine tune the shock. The biggest problem I had with the DHS is it has a very narrow window for adjustments, Craig has them pretty dialed in initially, but if you need a little bit more adjustment, most of the time it wasn't available. Since the new Disco and old Armageddon are two entirely different performing bikes, I just can't give it a fair comparison. I always loved and still run the DHS on the Armageddon, most likely I'll keep it on that bike.