frames and shock positions

That is a massive can of worms. Those bikes are very different even 2 bikes like the Santa Cruz heckler and santa cruz blur are very different bikes (with similar shock "positions") Today in bicycles you tend to have 4 basic designs

Single Pivot

Santa cruz Heckler
Orange 224

Linkage Driven single pivot

Most Konas
Transition

Virtual Pivot

Giant Glory
Intense bikes
Santa cruz Nomad Blur V10 Driver 8

Split Pivot

Trek
Devinci


Then you have a design like the Horst link that Specialized Norco and some other smaller manufacturers use that was basically an inexpensive low maintenance (because it operates with the same or fewer number of pieces as a link driven SP bike) way of creating somewhat of a virtual pivot.

Which is the best one. Really hard to say, a well trained seasoned rider is able to jump on a bike properly set up and fully describe the bikes suspension characteristics. Bikes not only vary widely between categories but from bike to bike within a category they can range just as far if not further. some suspension designs deal really well with pedaling forces, some with braking forces, some with big bumps, some with small bumps, some with square bumps, some with round bumps.

The bottom line is really the only way to know is take some time look things over talk to sales reps and most importantly ride some bikes see if you can link up some bikes that YOU think feel similar then see if you can link up some characteristics..

MOBEONER said:

Hey fellas, I am a noob and I am trying to do some searching before buying a bike.
My question is: what are the target in designs between bikes that have the rear shock in different parts of the frame. For example let's take the trek fuel design and the Santa Cruz heckler.

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Insert joke here about using the word "fellas," on ridemonkey.

Allow me to turn that one over to the expert sarcastically inclined on here. Serial Midget, Jon Kranked, Westy, JDcamb, Demo9, you guys want field that one?

the actual physical placement of the shock itself has very little influence on how it will perform. What matters is how the shock is actuated (linkage, single pivot, etc as samnation indicated above).

what matters the most is how/where/what style of riding you intend to do. What kind of riding are you looking to get into?

jonKranked said:

the actual physical placement of the shock itself has very little influence on how it will perform. What matters is how the shock is actuated (linkage, single pivot, etc as samnation indicated above).

what matters the most is how/where/what style of riding you intend to do. What kind of riding are you looking to get into?

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WTHUH? What!!!? No humorous anecdotes, jabs or bash? Awe man, what a let down. That one was lobbed right out there...

What about diamondbacks bell crank design? It is a single pivot, faux bar, bell crank system. No brake jack, bob, and for some reason I don't get small bump sensitivity. I find some suspension works better then others. If you can just try different brands man.

If you are just getting into the sport, I'd suggest going with a sturdy hardtail. It will be more similar to the BMX bikes you used to ride, and it will get you out on the trail with other riders who have other kinds of bikes that you might try out. It will save you a whole heap of $ as well. Once you figure out exactly what you are after, then either sell the bike, or keep it as part of the quiver. If you are going to be doing urban riding, a HT is the way to go anyway. A solid frame with a Pike or an Argyle up front will take you far.

Fully suspended bikes are so different from each other that it can be overwhelming. Personally, I like single pivot and link activated single pivot bikes. What sells me is the simplicity and the predictability. Others will wholeheartedly disagree. The real trick is to get out and ride everything you can.