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First impressions - Push Industries Nomad Link

ZHendo

ZHendo

Turbo Monkey
Oct 29, 2006
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I just picked up an RC4 rear shock and the new upper linkage by Push for my Nomad Carbon, and I wanted to share some first impressions.

I got the rear shock the day before leaving for a riding trip in California, so I only had time to bolt everything up and throw it in a box to be put on the plane. The link itself is an awesome piece of CNC'd goodness, with a nice shiny ano black finish and lots of CNC marks all over it (which I love). I don't have a precise scale, but the link adds a little less than 50 grams to the bike relative to the stock carbon piece. I'm no engineer, but it looks to me like Push could eventually shave a bit more weight from the part in some areas as it is pretty burly - either way, 50 grams is a weight penalty I can overlook.

I hadn't had the RC4 mounted to the carbon link, so I can't really offer any direct comparisons, but I can say that the rear suspension action is significantly improved over the stock link/RP23 combo I was riding before. While the carbon link and air shock seemed to climb a bit better, this new link and RC4 has improved the bike's handling in almost every situation. Pedaling efficiency is almost identical with a single 34T ring up front, and the bike has FAR better traction on the downs without sacrificing "pop". The bike still has a very level feel in the air, but small bump performance has improved significantly and the bike doesn't sit in the mid-stroke any more. The bike uses its travel much more efficiently, allowing me to power through rough sections without blowing through the travel or bottoming. The shock ramps up beautifully on bigger drops and jumps, and keeping the bike in control through braking bumps or a blown out landing takes much less effort than before.

I only have a couple full days in the saddle with this new setup and I definitely don't have the RC4 as dialed as I could, but so far I'm extremely impressed with this new setup. The link increases traction and lets me enter sketchy corners faster without having the rear end break loose as easily, and the bike tracks the ground much better. The 36 TALAS up front is no longer outperforming the rear suspension when the going gets nasty, and the bike feels more composed. There is a slight loss in pedaling efficiency and Push said that there is more pedal bob in the small ring (if you run one), but if you ride especially rough terrain or live for the ride back down, this is an extremely impressive upgrade that I wholeheartedly recommend. It makes a big difference.
 
ZHendo

ZHendo

Turbo Monkey
Oct 29, 2006
1,661
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After more ride time, it keeps feeling better and better. $214 isn't cheap, I know, but it really improves the ride of the bike. I personally think it's worth the $214 and there are lots of aggressive riders out there that would probably agree.
 
4130biker

4130biker

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May 24, 2007
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That is cool, and I'm sure it would help... But wouldn't this shock eye needle bearing kit accomplish the same thing for $170 less?

 
bullcrew

bullcrew

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Dec 8, 2004
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4130biker said:
That is cool, and I'm sure it would help... But wouldn't this shock eye needle bearing kit accomplish the same thing for $170 less?

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I think it changes the curve and if so then no. This would help with small bump for sure I run the needle bearings and love how smooth it makes it. Good upgrade and cheap too. I have one in the box going on the Sunday as soon as I find a couple small spacers.


Just looked again looks like you could use the rwc needle setup with it and if so it would be supr smooth.
 
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'size

'size

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May 30, 2007
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4130biker said:
That is cool, and I'm sure it would help... But wouldn't this shock eye needle bearing kit accomplish the same thing for $170 less?
Click to expand...
no. new bearings/bushings won't change the leverage curve in any way.
 
PUSHIND

PUSHIND

PUSH Industries (Duh)
Dec 5, 2003
221
251
Colorado
ZHendo,

Glad you like the setup. This project took far to long to get to market and the positive feedback we've been getting has been awesome! :thumb:

As for the price, I wish it could be lower but we squeezed out as much as we could. All of the pieces are machined from billet here at PUSH and it takes just under an hour to make one set. Add in anodize, bearings, fastener, assembly and inspection by someone who understands the product, overhead, development and R&D costs, dealer and distributor margins....:D

The link actually changes the leverage rate curve on the shock, so it's completely different than pressing in a needle bearing assembly. Many hours of computer kinematic simulations as well as several months of prototyping and ride testing went into making our little "mini-dh" link.

Darren
 

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bullcrew

bullcrew

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PUSHIND said:
ZHendo,

Glad you like the setup. This project took far to long to get to market and the positive feedback we've been getting has been awesome! :thumb:

As for the price, I wish it could be lower but we squeezed out as much as we could. All of the pieces are machined from billet here at PUSH and it takes just under an hour to make one set. Add in anodize, bearings, fastener, assembly and inspection by someone who understands the product, overhead, development and R&D costs, dealer and distributor margins....:D

The link actually changes the leverage rate curve on the shock, so it's completely different than pressing in a needle bearing assembly. Many hours of computer kinematic simulations as well as several months of prototyping and ride testing went into making our little "mini-dh" link.

Darren
Click to expand...

Thats pretty bad @$$! :thumb:

Part of the reason my littler bike is a sx trail versus a nomad was the fact its now a mini ripper and the nomad seemed a bit too AM. This would have swayed the choice im sure if were around several months ago.
 
4130biker

4130biker

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Now I'm curious, how does it change the leverage rate without changing geometry on the frame? Does it increase or decrease travel? (serious question, thanks for any info)
 
ZHendo

ZHendo

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Oct 29, 2006
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no change to geometry or travel, just a change in the leverage that helps the bike accommodate a coil by offering a softer initial feel with nice progression toward the end.
 
4130biker

4130biker

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ZHendo said:
no change to geometry or travel, just a change in the leverage that helps the bike accommodate a coil by offering a softer initial feel with nice progression toward the end.
Click to expand...
You're right- that's the part I missed before. I'm just curious how it does that without changing geometry or travel when only swapping out one link.

Is the increased effective eye to eye length of the shock what acheives a different leverage rate?
 
saruti

saruti

Turbo Monkey
Oct 29, 2006
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bullcrew.

sorry to take this thread to another direction...
can you please tell more about the needle bearing for the sunday?

thanks
 
bullcrew

bullcrew

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saruti said:
bullcrew.

sorry to take this thread to another direction...
can you please tell more about the needle bearing for the sunday?

thanks
Click to expand...
It reduces pivotal drag on the link when the shock rotates and helps with response. I thought a buddy messed with my settings when I stuck it on the Jedi, it moved so freely.
I have a new one sitting in the box and can't find my spacrs but I'm going to slap it on the sunday .
 
dan-o

dan-o

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Jun 30, 2004
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The link changes the leverage curve, the small adaptor piece allows for the stock length shock/geo to be maintained.
 
Chaingangster

Chaingangster

Chimp
Nov 11, 2007
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norcal
I know Push designed everything very specifically, but it looks like you could sub in a longer i2i shock in place of the "eyelet adapter link". I'm sure I'm talking out of my @ss, but it would be neat to have better initial leverage along with a touch more travel for the ultimate "mini-D"! Or remove the little link and run a stock i2i for slacker geometry?
 
DirtyMike

DirtyMike

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Aug 8, 2005
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I think something like this is absolutly wort 214 dollars. Its a simple modification that has been well planned out. 50 grams difference is nothing, if thats a problem take a good crap before your ride.

Knowing the quailty from push in the past, I am sure that Darren broke and remade this more than a few times to get it right before releasing it.
 
PUSHIND

PUSHIND

PUSH Industries (Duh)
Dec 5, 2003
221
251
Colorado
The link changes the leverage curve, the small adaptor piece allows for the stock length shock/geo to be maintained.
Click to expand...
Exactly
I know Push designed everything very specifically, but it looks like you could sub in a longer i2i shock in place of the "eyelet adapter link". I'm sure I'm talking out of my @ss, but it would be neat to have better initial leverage along with a touch more travel for the ultimate "mini-D"! Or remove the little link and run a stock i2i for slacker geometry?
Click to expand...
With the adapter in place the eye to eye of the shock ends up being an oddball size, not an off the shelf size. The initial prototypes all ran custom length shocks that we made here at PUSH. The link won't work with a longer eye to eye/stroke shock.

Darren
 
D

dropmachine

Turbo Monkey
Sep 7, 2001
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Your face.
Love the fact that somebody would buy a link from a company known for suspension brilliant and engineered beyond words to improve the suspension action of their bike, then try and jam in a longer shock.

"I've got a sweet ECU upgrade for my Nissan GTR, but first I am going to swap out the engine from one from a 1973 Plymouth."


:D
 
davec113

davec113

Monkey
May 24, 2009
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0
I'm guessing the PUSH link makes for a more progressive sus curve?... and combined with a dh shock makes for a more dh-like bike... hence the reduction in pedaling efficiency (which should be minimized due to the vpp linkage) and increase in traction when bombing down rough terrain.

I'm about to go to a coil shock on my Remedy mostly so I can have adjustable bottom out control, but nothing is going to be able to fix the flat leverage curve, and the single pivot sus will suffer more than vpp on climbing with a coil shock. Wish I could afford a NomadC, sounds like my ideal am bike if my assumptions about the leverage curve are correct. I rode a stock NomadC around a little last night and was surprised at how efficient it pedals, I bet it pedals far better than my Remedy even with the PUSH link, and kills it on the dh. Now I want a new bike, dammit. :mad:
 
ZHendo

ZHendo

Turbo Monkey
Oct 29, 2006
1,661
147
PNW
Impressions are still good, I need a little bit more time to tune my shock. Rode the bike in some really loose conditions and was amazed at how much better tractions was overall, especially in the initial part of the travel.
 
Chaingangster

Chaingangster

Chimp
Nov 11, 2007
64
0
norcal
Love the fact that somebody would buy a link from a company known for suspension brilliant and engineered beyond words to improve the suspension action of their bike, then try and jam in a longer shock.
Click to expand...
Whoa, slow your roll buddy. I know what Push is capable of as I pointed out in my post. Was just thinking of possibilities, thats all. Evidently Darren was too, hence the custom shock lengths he experimented with.
 
S

SoCalNomadRider

Chimp
Sep 13, 2011
4
0
I am ready to order this and am currently running a dhx5.0 air and was wanting to go to a coil any way so which one should i order with this link ? Thanks
 
PUSHIND

PUSHIND

PUSH Industries (Duh)
Dec 5, 2003
221
251
Colorado
We are working on a Monarch Plus fit but I don't have a timeline on it.

The link retro's to all bikes that came with the carbon upper link. I'm not sure exactly when that occurred.

Darren
 
K

kramster

Chimp
Mar 16, 2005
6
0
Squamish
Installed my link last week and WOW! What a massive difference. I was expecting the difference to be kinda subtle, but it is certainly not. I have raked out the HA to 65.5 with an angleset, and combined with a 55RC3Ti, this bike really feels like like a mini V10 now. If you are on the fence about it, and you are a DH rider at heart, I'd say you're missing out if you don't get this.
 
E

EM-EFER

Monkey
May 29, 2007
311
0
PUSHIND

951 riders are unable to utilize the 8.5in setting on our bikes due to the aggressive rising and instant falling curve.
Have you considered making a link for the 951 so we can utilize the 8.5 setting?
 
Demomonkey

Demomonkey

Monkey
Apr 27, 2005
857
0
Auckland New Zealand
kramster said:
Installed my link last week and WOW! What a massive difference. I was expecting the difference to be kinda subtle, but it is certainly not. I have raked out the HA to 65.5 with an angleset, and combined with a 55RC3Ti, this bike really feels like like a mini V10 now. If you are on the fence about it, and you are a DH rider at heart, I'd say you're missing out if you don't get this.
Click to expand...
I see you're in OZ. Does Push have a local distributor over there?
 
ZHendo

ZHendo

Turbo Monkey
Oct 29, 2006
1,661
147
PNW
Another quick report after more time on the link. I just got back from my last weekend in Whistler for the year and the link absolutely blew my mind up there. The back end of the bike is so much more forgiving and finds traction everywhere. My last time in Whistler was just before I got rid of my RP23, so this trip was a direct comparison to that. At the end of the day my body felt much less rattled and I was riding faster than I ever have up there. In fact, the back end of the bike felt so good it was making my 36 TALAS feel a little inadequate in some sections. Overall, the link paired with the RC4 has been the most noticeable and beneficial upgrade I have made to the bike. Its easy to be skeptical of how much of a difference the link could really make, but I think its safe to say that any aggressive rider will benefit massively from the upgrade.
 
D

dropmachine

Turbo Monkey
Sep 7, 2001
2,922
10
Your face.
if you have the alloy link nomad, you don't need the new linkage. Yours will take a coil already. Just send the coil in to PUSH to get it turned to get maximum advantage.
 
rockofullr

rockofullr

confused
Jun 11, 2009
7,342
924
East Bay, Cali
dropmachine.com said:
if you have the alloy link nomad, you don't need the new linkage. Yours will take a coil already. Just send the coil in to PUSH to get it turned to get maximum advantage.
Click to expand...
Alrightythen!

Did not know that the new Nomads had issues with coil shocks. Was the issue clearance or just that the leverage curve didn't play well with coil shocks?

I've got a DHX 5 Coil on and I think this winter will be time to finialy pull the trigger on a PUSH tune.
 
Racerx7734

Racerx7734

Monkey
Mar 4, 2002
616
0
Hostile Sausage
I'm not saying the link isn't a big improvement, I love PUSH stuff.

With that being said, it sounds to me like the plush small bump sensitivity and overall great feeling, could just be the result of switching from a RP23 to a coil shock?
 
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