Lapierre Zesty Rear Shock

ZestyPete

I am looking at buying a Zesty 314 which comes with a Fox Float R rear shock. This is not adjustable other than to alter the rebound, therefore it cannot be set to soft or firm. Reading the reviews, the bike seems to work perfectly fine and is highly rated with this setup. However I am thinking of upgrading the shock to an RP23 but was wondering whether from anyone's experience if this is worthwhile, or even if doing this would affect the performance to its detriment. The 514 has an RP2 shock fitted so it seems it would be fine with an adjustable shock. I would appreciate anyone's advice or thoughts on this. Cheers. Pete

nicklouse

not quite sure what you are trying to do.

other than add a 350 shock to a 2299 bike when you could by the 514 for 2799 and get more upgrades.

I would keep saving.

ZestyPete

I can get a good deal on the 314 and the supplier is willing to charge £150 for the upgrade. I just like the idea of having a shock I can have more control over. Most of my riding is on single track in Kent (so not the most hilly or testing) but occasionally I go to Afan in Wales where the soft setting would be useful and the firm for the climbing.

Anonymous

Test ride the bike, see if it's needed.
My argument is that if a bike needs lockout to climb well, then it's either a badly designed bike, or a bike that was not intended for climbing.

cooldad

Surely the Float R has adjustable compression as it is air. The RP2 and 23 just have Propedal as well.

Anonymous

cooldad wrote:

Surely the Float R has adjustable compression as it is air. The RP2 and 23 just have Propedal as well.

Nope, it has adjustable spring stiffness (preload, although technically, I guess it's not "pre"load on an air shock, but I digress...) and rebound.
Float RL has lockout too.

cooldad

The Propedal is useful on long fireroad climbs or road links but I never use mine when actually riding, so 99% of the time.
Don't really notice one way or the other but get minimal pedal bob anyway.

Sometimes I only put it on because it's there and I figure I should use it, ditto lockout on the forks.

And normally forget it's on and only notice after a mile or two of singletrack. Rode a hardtail with sh1t forks for too long.

cooldad

All too high tech for me. I thought compression and 'spring stiffness' were the same thing. Makes it firmer or softer. Adding air is like putting in a chunkier spring?

Anonymous

Adding air is like putting a stiffer spring. which sets the ride height, or sag.
Compression damping is the amount of resistance to movement that the damper offers, when the shock is being squashed.
Rebound damping is the same as compression damping, but in the opposite direction, when the shock is returning to it's rest length.

The spring has no inherent damping worth mentioning, and it's function is separate to the damper - even though in something like the FloatR, it's the same physical object that is both your spring and your damper, this is not always the case. On some vehicles, notably off road buggies and the like, the springs are physically separate from the damper.

popstar

OP if most of your riding would be around Kent, Float R will serve you well. It performs ok in Welsh trail centres too, but it won't be as plush as RP2 or RP23. Obviously it will depend on your riding style too, Float R has got propedal preset allready so you can't turn it on/off. All you can do is play with rebound and air pressures. But little upgrade as you mentioned could be the best of both worlds and that again depends on your riding style and technicality of terrain you ride most.

Anonymous

popstar, give it a rest, will you?
YOU prefer the newer shocks, but can;t give a solid reason why. Adjustability does not necessarily make a better shock. Now unless you're willing to divulge your reasoning with us properly, which you've previously flat out refused to, keep your trap shut :roll:

ZestyPete

My question seems to have put a cat among the pigeons. Thanks to all for replying. The point that comes out of all this is it probably won't make too much difference given where I ride most of the time but for the odd week in Wales it'll allow that extra bit of flexibility. Popstar you summed it up well. I think for the extra £150 I've been quoted it's worth going for.
Cheers all.
Happy Trails!

frogrocket

Just to stick my 2 peneth into the mix;

I've got a 2010 zesty 214. The way the suspension platform is set up, you don't need anything adjustable at the back, this is just extra faff when you should just keep on riding. The bike nails up fire roads and technical climbing with equal power and then turns round and takes just about anything on the way down.

I've used it in the peak district, the lakes, wales and have just come back from a trip to Wolftrax in Scotland. It has never at any point felt let like it needed to be tinkered with, either up or down.

btw I ride with a mate who has the pro pedal option on his commencal and never bothers to use it. If the frame is designed correctly, as both Lappy's and Commies are, there's no need to continuously fiddle with something that just works any way.