Rear Shock Position

mikeyj28

Just a sounding out from a lot of different opinions

What is the best place for a rear shock?
Is it:
1. in line with the top tube
2. Parallel with the downtube (either facing the wheel or on the other side of the downtube away from the weheel)
3. Midway between the toptube and the crosstube

Your advice & opinions are valued.

Thanks

ride_whenever

doesn't really matter, all about pivot placement and leverage ratios. You can easily move the shock around using linkages so just about anywhere is possible.

mikeyj28

So you are saying that there is no difference in performance regarding where the rear shock is placed?

supersonic

It depends on the rest of the design. It will be in the optimum position for how the sus was designed for each model.

ride_whenever

or at least you'd hope it would be.

Look at something like the commi hatchet design, they could presumably have used a linkage like an FSR one to achieve a different shock position. Would that have changed the characteristics?

MacAndCheese

supersonic wrote:

It depends on the rest of the design. It will be in the optimum position for how the sus was designed for each model.

Or in a way they can get around another brands patent protection

Only one other point that might make a slight deference - Mud clearance. seen a few designs with the shock between the seat tube and the rear wheel - getting constantly pounded with mud must have an effect on the shock surely?

supersonic

The shock needs to be in a set position within a few mm to get the best out of the sus design and linkages - a bit either way could alter travel, angles, rate etc. In fact some take advantage of this with multiple position holes for the shock.

The Commencal design is a linkage actuated single pivot.

Mud clearance can be a factor in the design, as can a low COG.

Some designs do ramp up more than others.

It is quite possible to have the shock in a position that looks wildly different from another design, but they will act more or less the same depending on the linkages and pivots.

You can't sum a design up on shock position alone, far more to it than that.

nicklouse

mikeyj28 wrote:

So you are saying that there is no difference in performance regarding where the rear shock is placed?

none other than weight distribution.

as mentioned it all comes down to design of the frame and then the sus linkages.

then the suspension "rate" and the shock "rate" and the angle of actuation etc....