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New Trail Bike - Odd size shock and offset bushings

mattmatt86

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2005
5,347
10
Bleedmore, Murderland
My new trail bike, Kona Process 111DL is due to arrive in March so I'm planning the build right now. The frame comes with a Monarch RT3 in a weird size: 184x44mm (7.25x1.75). I was hoping to upgrade the shock to the Cane Creek Double Barrel Air but quickly discovered that this size shock is only available OE on a couple frames(giant Trance is another frame that has this size).

When looking at the closest DB air sizing I found 190x50mm (7.5x2), I don't want to screw up the geometry so I don't want to run a longer shock just so I can run a DB air. But I also figured out that using two offset bushings, each with 3mm of offset, I can theoretically bring the geometry back to stock.

I know the longer stroke will result in more wheel travel, I calculated that it will get 15mm more wheel travel from the 6mm increase in stroke. So as long as there's no frame contact at bottom out I should be Ok (can't check that until I get the bike).

Is there anything else I'm overlooking? Could the longer shock/stroke have any other adverse affects other than tire and frame contact? Anyone done something similar? Am I going through too much trouble just to have the DB Air?
 

jackalope

Mental acuity - 1%
Jan 9, 2004
7,596
5,894
in a single wide, cooking meth...
First, congrats on the new ride. The whole Process model range is titties. The only thing I would wonder about the offset bushings is if they would change the shock rate in a noticeable way. Even slight changes in shock location can have a measurable impact on suspension behavior, but it may not be a big deal. The polish bushings aren't too expensive, so it may be worth a shot (even if you only use one, it would still get it closer to the stock geo). No experience with the Monarch, but I know firsthand the ccdb air is sublime...

Post pix when you get the bike built up.
 
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bengxe

Monkey
Dec 19, 2011
211
30
upstate NY
Does the process use 6mm shock hardware? That's the only way you'd get 3mm of offset. It might be simpler to shorten the ccdb 1/4"
 

rollertoaster

Monkey
Aug 7, 2007
730
179
Douglassville , PA
I think you'll only be able to get one offset bushing in the front. The rear end of the shock inserts into a joke with the use of a large diameter bolt through the shock eyelet.
 

mattmatt86

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2005
5,347
10
Bleedmore, Murderland
I think you'll only be able to get one offset bushing in the front. The rear end of the shock inserts into a joke with the use of a large diameter bolt through the shock eyelet.
Well damn. Maybe I'll give the Monarch a try for a bit and see if there's any shot of an aftermarket shock coming out in that size. I'm planning on this being my do everything bike so I was hoping to get a slightly burlier shock on there for bike mountain rides and the occasional park day.
 

Freeridin'

Monkey
Oct 23, 2006
316
2
Colorado
Have you contacted Cane Creek?

Cane Creek is really good about keeping spare parts available (damper body, shaft, air can). If the size you need is offered as OE there's a good chance of having either Cane Creek or more likely one their service centers being able to build one up for you.
 
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EVIL JN

Monkey
Jul 24, 2009
491
24
Plastic spacer on the shaft plus one offset bushingplus an angle set should make it close to stock again.

Personally I think I would have gone with a shorther stroke and an offset bushing to lower and slack it out a little further, since then I wouldnt have to worry about trouble at bottom out etc (although I would carefully check so I have calcuated what will happen with the geo first, like travel, ha, bb height and reach).
 

Dogboy

Turbo Monkey
Apr 12, 2004
3,208
581
Durham, NC
Have you contacted Cane Creek?

Cane Creek is really good about keeping spare parts available (damper body, shaft, air can). If the size you need is offered as OE there's a good chance of having either Cane Creek or more likely one their service centers being able to build one up for you.
^^^This. You should contact Cane Creek and see if they can hook you up with a shock in the correct size.
 

Jeremy R

<b>x</b>
Nov 15, 2001
9,698
1,053
behind you with a snap pop
^^^This. You should contact Cane Creek and see if they can hook you up with a shock in the correct size.
And if Cane Creek can't, I am sure that Suspension Experts can get you sorted. I once got them to convert a 7.5 x 2.00 double barrel into a 9.5 x 3 for my DH bike. They do the rebuild work on the DB's anyway.
 

mattmatt86

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2005
5,347
10
Bleedmore, Murderland
I did contact Cane Creek and the response I got was very brief and to the point, "We do not make a shock in that size."

I've had Suspension Experts do my rebuilds a couple times, I'll reach out to them.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
yeah, that yoke is tricky. I'm getting real tired of the proprietary stuff. The shock on my rush is a funky size, but thankfully most shocks just need a spacer.
 

mattmatt86

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2005
5,347
10
Bleedmore, Murderland
yeah, that yoke is tricky. I'm getting real tired of the proprietary stuff. The shock on my rush is a funky size, but thankfully most shocks just need a spacer.
The Kona yoke is at least universal unlike the Specialized one. But I didn't realize until after I ordered the bike that it had a funky size shock. I want to keep the geometry stock since that's one of the things all the reviews have raved about.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
I wouldn't worry about it too much. I'm guessing that cane creek will eventually come around, otherwise give the new fox or monarch with the piggy a shot, if they come in your size. Shortening stroke on a fox is easy, but they eye to eye would be a challenge.
 

rollertoaster

Monkey
Aug 7, 2007
730
179
Douglassville , PA
Just to confirm, I swapped the monarch from my 134 today and put on a pushed rp23, the yoke should work with any shock but like I said before you'll only be able to fit one offset bushing on the front hardware.
 

TGR

Monkey
Jan 9, 2006
263
3
I have the same bike, process 111 and it is indeed impossible to fit offset bushings (only on the front, which would give not even -0.25 deg change). It is indeed hard to find a fitting shock, the stock monarch ain't that bad but better options are out there. I've been toying with the idea of getting a float x with a shorter shaft (doable, if you know the right persons or have a wee bit too much time on your hands) but I think I'll just end up keeping the stock monarch
 

troy

Turbo Monkey
Dec 3, 2008
1,006
739
For the 2nd time... just buy 7.5x2" shock and put a 0.25" plastic spacer behind the piston. How hard is it ffs?
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
Won't that ruin top out and screw up the negative spring function? You can reduce stroke via a spacer below the bottom out bumper, but unless you're going coil, and even then, that sounds like a butt turrible idea
 

troy

Turbo Monkey
Dec 3, 2008
1,006
739
You will enlarge neg. chamber so i guess it won't mess anything due to auto equalization of pressure between positive and negative chamber. Anyway, CCDB Air has top out bumper behind the main piston, so You will just make it sit a little further. Can You explain why is it a bad idea then?
 
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4130biker

PM me about Tantrum Cycles!
May 24, 2007
3,884
448
I vote try the RS with careful attention to dialing it in for you. You may pleasantly suprised, and won't really know without trying. Some frame/shock combos can really get along well, even without a top of the line damper IMO.
 

mattmatt86

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2005
5,347
10
Bleedmore, Murderland
:ban:

But seriously, as big as my boner is for the CCDBa, the Monarch may work great with the Process.
Yea, I'm going to just ride the Monarch when it arrives. I know when Kona was designing the process bikes they weren't focused on getting specific travel amounts like 120/140/160 but were more concerned with getting the right leverage curves, suspension characteristics etc and the suspension travel was secondary. So there's a chance the monarch could perform great.