[golgiaparatus]

Time for a new rear shock. I ride a Giant AC with adjustable travel from 4.5"-5.5"-6". The fork is a Manitou Black 120mm. I plan to break this fork and cut a deal with my LBS for a Dorado SC (127mm).

Heres what Im looking at, why, and what thoughts I have on the shock.

1. Romic, I believe this would be a great shock for this rig. Pretty cut and dry, its suppose to be really adjustable and fairly reliable. Plus It would let me keep my adjustable travel. The only downside is that they are a little mushy and I think Id lose some climbing ability.

2. Progressive 5th Element. Id be able to keep the climbing ability even in the 6" setting. But I would lose my adjustable travel because they take several inches of sag. Which my 6" travel bike would be sagging 2-3" and I'd only have 4-3" left, plus that would mess up my geometry. Anyone know if they make a shock that requires less sag?

3. FOX Vanilla RC Standard stuff here, If I start feeling like the other 2 arent an option at all then this is what I will be getting.

4. I wish Avalanche made a shock for my ride

Input...Other suggestions? I ride everything from very difficult technical climbs to fast rough decents complete with 3-5' drops. Plus some urban in the wintertime which includes some really big drops like 6-8'.

- JB

 

[ChrisKring]

I have a Fifth Element on my 2002 AC2. It works great in all the settings. It sags less in the 4" setting due to less leverage.

That being said, I have it in 6" travel mode for anything but DS. Then I put it in 5" travel mode.

The bike pedals like a XC bike. It is such a big improvement.

Chris
www.highgearracing.com

 

[SKYWAYBUZZ]

don't like 5th because you can't bunny hop as well.

 

[golgiaparatus]

Originally posted by SKYWAYBUZZ
don't like 5th because you can't bunny hop as well.

So what... Its all about absorbtion if you ask me. I guess if your a big jumper then it might be bad.

 

[golgiaparatus]

Originally posted by ChrisKring
I have a Fifth Element on my 2002 AC2. It works great in all the settings. It sags less in the 4" setting due to less leverage.

That being said, I have it in 6" travel mode for anything but DS. Then I put it in 5" travel mode.

The bike pedals like a XC bike. It is such a big improvement.

Chris
www.highgearracing.com

It doesnt screw up your geometry? How much sag would you say you have with it in the 6" setting?

- JB

 

[mrbigisbudgood]

The 5th is so adjustable, you should be able to do whatever the hell you want with it. The manual says you can run 25% sag for XC, and every shock manual I've ever seen says to run more sag for DH. I think that after you get it dialed in, even if you loose 1/2" of travel, it would be exponentially better than a Rock Shox.

 

[mrbigisbudgood]

I have great interest in this topic now, I bought an AC2 last night!!!!!!!

 

[CTR]

anyone had much experence with the Dorado SC, i haven't seen many of the pros useing them (opting to use blacks instead), in australia they retail for A$2700 (Dorado DC are $3300), which i think is insane considering you can get a Fox vanilla RLC for $1100.

 

[Loopie]

I gotta be honest with ya......I have NEVER understood the concept of riding a bike with more travel on the rear than the front....at least when it's a XC/freeride(canadian style) bike.
But anyway...that's a whole 'nother issue.

For an AC...what you want are quick, easily accesable external adjustments on a decent shock. So you can wip the adjustments around according to what trail you are on.
The Fox will do that. The RockShox sucks-ass, the Avy OWNS ALL...but is probably overkill on an AC anyways...

Up here.....AC's feel like Shyte until fitted with a 6" or better fork
But thats up here

 

[mrbigisbudgood]

I just poked around looked at different stuff and I can sum it up like this.....

Cheapest way out to get a decent rear shock would be the Romic @ $360.

My preferred method would be to put a 5th on it, but your looking at 5 hundo for shock, spring, and bushing kits.

Avy would be nice, but I don't like the idea of having to have the shock recharged (N) all the time. And they do make a 7.5 X 2 to fit the AC. A little cheaper than the Progressive.

Screw Fox or RS.

I'll see what happens when I get the 650 lb spring for the RS. It should make the rear end feel alot better.

Now I have to ponder..... What would happen If I put a 7.5 x 2.25 shock on the bike? Other than gaining an inch of travel, what would stop me from doing this?

 

[Flipper]

Check out www.go-ride.com for shocks. I believe the romic is listed at 329 http://www.go-ride.com/prod_susp_romic.html and the 5th is 400 http://www.go-ride.com/prod_susp_progressive.html

 

[ohio]

I don't have any advice for the rear shock, but for the fork...

why the Dorado SC? It's super overpriced because it's basically a small production show fork. It's not especially light, and while it looks cool, I doubt it performs better than a vanilla, Shiver SC, '03 Z1, or sherman (which has the same damping system and a better chassis)...

Depending on what tires you run, I would personally get the '03 Z1 or a Sherman FireFly.

 

[Loopie]

Romics are that much? Holy ****!
Avy OWNS Romics all over the MOFO place ...and for only a couple bucks more then.

Who has to recharge an Avy all the time
I ride one on my RM7.....pure sweetness....no maintainence yet.