[BRacing]

I recently got another SC Bullit, and finally the coveted "5th Element" rear shock. I've read the instruction manual several times and understand how the shock works and what the adjustments do. I'm still playing with an exact setting I'm happy with, but I'm getting close.

Anyways, I was out a couple days ago doing some urban freeriding, with lots of jumps and drops to flat landings. The 5th Element worked well, but i was more impressed with my new front fork! Anyways, on a particularly big landing I heard a loud "POP", and after close inspection, I couldn't figure out what it was.

Well, today I cleaned my bike and played with the 5th Element settings some more. I noticed that when both compression adjusters are at the maximum dampening setting, I don't feel any resistance in the shock movement. It almost feels the same as if they compression adjusters are at the minimum setting. I could barely tell the difference. Is it supposed to be like this?

I remember the FOX RC on my other Bullit would BARELY compress with the compression dampening maxed out.

I'm now wondering if the loud pop I heard when riding was the shock dampening breaking or something else. I know that the shock has a compression blow-off, and the pop may have been that. When the "pop" occurred, the compression setting were right in the middle of their adjustment, and the air was at 150psi.

The 5th Element is new to me, and I'm just trying to figure out if the compression dampening is really limited in adjustment, or something isn't right with my shock.

Thanks!
-Brad

 

[Echo]

Sounds like your 5th element is going back for service. However you shouldn't have to wait long, Progressive has excellent customer service from what I've heard.

You might consider having 2 shocks for your Bullit. The progressive for when you want great pedalling and awesome bump absorbtion, and a (cough) Fox or Avalanche or something like that for when you do the 10 footers to flat. Of course your frame, cranks, wheels, handlebars, and knees probably won't take many of those landings...

 

[DHS]

Or just get an Avalanche shock and never have problems again

 

[BRacing]

Well, I would be concerned if it was something more than just the compression adjustment. And i don't know the the compression adjustment was anything more than what I have now because the shock is still new to me.

Thanks.
-Brad

 

[stringcheese]

ummmmmmmmmmm...

The 2 "compression adjusters" make a HUGE difference in the ride, once you're actually riding. The compression is speed sensitive, so you won't feel a difference when compressing it on your driveway. Run it at the suggested settings. If you feel it bottom on a 4-5 foot(ish) drop turn the ending stroke adjuster 1/4 turn in and keep doing so until it doesn't bottom out.

The "pop" you heard was your compression spiking. That's what happens when you have the compression set too high, because it pretty much locks out the shock. So if you adjust those knobs according to what I said above you won't hear that "pop" anymore.

I really love my 5th element, and it performs awesome once set-up right.

BTW- I weigh 160 lbs., and I run my shock at 75-90 psi according to what I'm doing with it. If I were you I'd run a little less air.

 

[BRacing]

I had the shock set up according to the "quick setup" suggested settings. I'm a very large, heavy rider (220+lbs). I also have the 425lbs spring on there.

I thought that the "pop" would be the blow off, was that it?

-Brad

 

[Tweek]

Stringcheese's got yer answer. Keep playing with the settings. It'll take a while, but it's worth it.

BTW, don't give up the 5th for the Avy. Avalanches are nice, but I don't like the way the feel on the Bullit.