"Brain Shock"
- Thread starter stosh
- Start date
it's a Specialized design which is supposed to counteract any pedaling forces to the shock, but still keep it compliant to trail bumps. it's mounted in a funny (potentially vulnerable) position on the seatstays. i've never ridden one, personally.
Yes, it is different.
The Brain shock used a small weighted "stopper" on a spring that kept the damper closed until you hit a bump. When you hit a bump, it overcame the small force of the spring keeping the damper closed and the shock started functioning. When you stopped hitting bumps, the stopper settled back into place and shut the damper so you essentially had a hardtail again.
Cool idea, I think it's just a crutch for bad suspension design, though. An efficient suspension does more than just absorb bumps, it provides traction.
edit: actually, narlus, FYI it doesn't counteract pedalling forces at all. It just stays locked out until it hits enough of a bump to move the brass weight out of the way. I tried one in the shop and it was cool - you could bounce up and down on it as hard as you want and it was locked out, but if you slammed the rear end on the ground, the shock opened right up.
Lots of complaints regarding a delay (so the first bump doesn't get absorbed), and bunny hopping was funny since you didn't know if the shock was open or shut so you couldn't tell when to preload and when to hop it like a hardtail.
The Brain shock used a small weighted "stopper" on a spring that kept the damper closed until you hit a bump. When you hit a bump, it overcame the small force of the spring keeping the damper closed and the shock started functioning. When you stopped hitting bumps, the stopper settled back into place and shut the damper so you essentially had a hardtail again.
Cool idea, I think it's just a crutch for bad suspension design, though. An efficient suspension does more than just absorb bumps, it provides traction.
edit: actually, narlus, FYI it doesn't counteract pedalling forces at all. It just stays locked out until it hits enough of a bump to move the brass weight out of the way. I tried one in the shop and it was cool - you could bounce up and down on it as hard as you want and it was locked out, but if you slammed the rear end on the ground, the shock opened right up.
Lots of complaints regarding a delay (so the first bump doesn't get absorbed), and bunny hopping was funny since you didn't know if the shock was open or shut so you couldn't tell when to preload and when to hop it like a hardtail.
yeah but it sounds like it does the same thing as a Pro-pedal or SPV valved shock.narlus said:it's a Specialized design which is supposed to counteract any pedaling forces to the shock, but still keep it compliant to trail bumps. it's mounted in a funny (potentially vulnerable) position on the seatstays. i've never ridden one, personally.
The "Brain" is basically designed for riders who like hardtails alot. It only becomes active on hits, and does nothing for anything else..
Ive ridden one. I didnt care for it.
Ive ridden one. I didnt care for it.
Id say steer him toward a stumpjumper or something..stosh said:
J
JRB
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You can also read up about it in the Fox inertia valve. Racers like them. Julie rode one in Tahoe and really liked it. She has a K2 Razorback with a Fox Float now, and she likes it a ton better.
Is he just scared to move into full suspension?
I test rode an Epic with the "Brain" on Monarch Crest a few years back. This was my complaint. Once it opened up the ride was nice. It was a very capable bike, I just didn't like the way the brain worked.binary visions said:
Oh - and the BB was *way* too low.
J
JRB
Guest
He needs to go learn about pedal forces on the DW link, Maestro and VPP. They are all minimized and remain active all the time. No need for a lock out or SPV these days.stosh said:
does he race? If not, he needs to think less and ride more. If he races, then he would probably want something a bit "quicker" anyways. Your bike is definitely a trail bike... perhaps something more XCish would better suit his needs? I'm thinking a blur would be right up his alley.stosh said:
All though if he spends a lot of time hammering out of the saddle, then he's going to feel the suspension regardless.
SkaredShtles said:
A complaint I have with the Stumpjumper as well...
stosh said:
What's his budget?
J
JRB
Guest
Just tell him that the Brain is stupid and if he doesn't take that for an answer, he is too stupid to be friends with anyway.stosh said:
stosh said:
He wants a full squish?
pee on himstosh said:
Giant Trance.stosh said:
Some of the new brains come with the brain fade. Essentially this is a sensitivity control so you can set the shock not to "open up"on hits that are relatively big or you can make it super sensitive and the bike will go full squish on the tiniest of bumps.
I'm not a big cannondale guy, but the new Rushes look pretty nice.
Try eating asparagus next time.stosh said:
BurlyShirley said:
coffee pee is far worse than asparagus pee, IMO.
My coffee pee smells like "Honey Smacks" cereal, cause i put in like a cup of sugar in each mug. It doesnt smell so bad.
first pee of the day is always the worst... when it's thick like snot...
actually, that's called ghonnorhea. get that checkd out.jacksonpt said:
Dude......... drink more water.jacksonpt said:
that's what my kidney stones keep telling me.SkaredShtles said:Dude......... drink more water.
The Epic is what I learned to ride on. It worked great for me. Unfortunately recent purchases have put that frame on the block.
the first generation without the fade pretty much sucked. The adjustment in the new ones actually make it a pretty nice shock to ride. Rode about an hour on a stumpjumper with it and it worked pretty well. The bunny hop thing was still a little weird but the bike's owner said that after awhile you just got used to it.nixhexss said:
Not sure if its worth the trouble but it does work much better these days.
stosh said:
I would. If he has a small office with carpet, he'll never get the smell out. and it'll be muggy. like a coffee pee rainforest.
BurlyShirley said:
that must be nice. I don't sugar so mine, well, never mind. I don't know why i feel like being gross today.