Rear Shock Advice (Budget Full Sus).

Darkstalker420

Hi looking for a replacement rear shock for a Carrera Titan. It is 190 i2i x 75 but the one it comes with has NO damping what so ever. As the bike itself is only £299.99 i wouldn't be looking to spend a lot to be honest i only really care about rebound damping to be honest.

I have spotted a few "reasonably" priced units online (£130) in sales BUT can't seem to track down a 190 x 75 model. I have however found LOTS of 190 x 50's now i figure the 190 bit should always stay 190 but what will happen if the travel is reduced from 75mm to 50mm?? the Titan (allegedly) has 190mm of rear travel :shock: (nearly 7.5") now this to me is kind of "excessive" i don't jump or ride aggressive DH so i don't need all that boing! .

So i (guess?) if i put a shorter travel shock on the back this would also lower the available travel some what? (BONUS! 4.5 to 5" is still great). BUT would the reduced travel put more "pressure" on the shock itself? (banging on the bottom out bumper etc). Or would just winding on more preload (effectively not allowing the shock to bottom out) fix this?

Like i said the bike will become a bit of a "project" fun bike :roll: I know that a £299.99 full sus is going to have "issues" (and things like the mech disks can be changed/upgraded to hydro as they wear out) and i was going to upgrade to Alivio level components as stuff wears out but the rear shock is the only "sticking point" for me (190mm of un damped boing...... Could get scary ). Not bothered about how old the shock is or who makes it as long as it's cheap has rebound damping and fits!!

Thanks.

bennett_346

Darkstalker420 wrote:

Hi looking for a replacement rear shock for a Carrera Titan. It is 190 i2i x 75 but the one it comes with has NO damping what so ever. As the bike itself is only £299.99 i wouldn't be looking to spend a lot to be honest i only really care about rebound damping to be honest.

I have spotted a few "reasonably" priced units online (£130) in sales BUT can't seem to track down a 190 x 75 model. I have however found LOTS of 190 x 50's now i figure the 190 bit should always stay 190 but what will happen if the travel is reduced from 75mm to 50mm?? the Titan (allegedly) has 190mm of rear travel :shock: (nearly 7.5") now this to me is kind of "excessive" i don't jump or ride aggressive DH so i don't need all that boing! .

So i (guess?) if i put a shorter travel shock on the back this would also lower the available travel some what? (BONUS! 4.5 to 5" is still great). BUT would the reduced travel put more "pressure" on the shock itself? (banging on the bottom out bumper etc). Or would just winding on more preload (effectively not allowing the shock to bottom out) fix this?

Like i said the bike will become a bit of a "project" fun bike :roll: I know that a £299.99 full sus is going to have "issues" (and things like the mech disks can be changed/upgraded to hydro as they wear out) and i was going to upgrade to Alivio level components as stuff wears out but the rear shock is the only "sticking point" for me (190mm of un damped boing...... Could get scary ). Not bothered about how old the shock is or who makes it as long as it's cheap has rebound damping and fits!!

Thanks.

The travel isn't 190mm, that is the i2i measurement as you said. How much are you willing to spend? Coil or air? I don't think you'll find much of an improvement from anything under £100. Also, the i2i and stroke length must stay the same!

benpinnick

bennett_346 wrote:

The travel isn't 190mm, that is the i2i measurement as you said. How much are you willing to spend? Coil or air? I don't think you'll find much of an improvement from anything under £100. Also, the i2i and stroke length must stay the same!

Thats not actually true, most full suss bikes will be capable of taking different length / stroke shocks. What you need to consider is the compressed eye to eye. If that stays the same, then you are likely OK, as long as the shock length (when getting a longer shock) wont foul the frame. You can even change the stroke or eye to eye independently, but that can have adverse effects on the way the suspension works (or improvements, but normally its bad). Chopping the stroke length will limit travel and increase the spring rate enormously, while lengthening the stroke will increase travel (possibly causing issues with tyres rubbing on the frame etc.), and can leave the suspension lifeless. All are possibilities though.

Is it really a 190x75? That would explain why theres no damping, as you couldn't fit the circuits in! Are you sure on that spec? Seems more likely the stroke would be around 50mm.

benpinnick

Update: I quickly measures the relative length of eye to eye and stroke on a photo of a Titan, if you're saying its 190 length, then I dont think it can be a 75mm stroke. Best guess says its 50mm.

Darkstalker420

Hi thanks for the replies. hear is a link to the Titan on Halfords site: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65499#tab1

In the description it does say rear suspension 190mm travel HOWEVER it being £299.99 and it being Halfords im prepared to say the may be "mistakes" in the description but even as i said 4" or 5" is more than enough. There was a thread on here: viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=12836221&p=17447156&hilit=Carrera+Titan#p17447156 where Paul says the shock is 190 x 75 can't say for sure myself before i buy one :shock: .

I PM'ed Paul and asked him what he thought of it and he seemed impressed EXCEPT the rear shock which he said has no damping what so ever! and he was looking for a replacement also. Nice to know i COULD fit a 190 x 50 if it come to it.

Thanks.

benpinnick

I reckon Paul needs to check his tape measure... I just cannot believe thats a 75mm stroke. Anyway, you can check yours tonight and let us know. A decent air shock will totally transform the ride, and if your luck, could be had for as little as £100.

Darkstalker420

Hi ben. Unfortunately i don't own the Titan yet after seeing it in Pauls thread and looking at the spec on Halfords site i figured i could have some fun with this but the undamped rear shock is the sticking point as to if i actually purchase one.

I hope it is a 190 x 50 like you think as this will enable me to have a choice of a few. So you think an air shock would be best?? i can't say i know anything about rear shocks to be honest :oops: . I have spotted a few RockShox BAR units in a "fair" price range. My only other (minor) concern is the actual mounting bolts/nuts will this be the same size for all rear shocks or do i have to buy some with each shock?? I will PM Paul and ask if he would measure the shock again.

Thanks.

bennett_346

I was keeping it simple for the OP.

benpinnick

Darkstalker420 wrote:

Hi ben. Unfortunately i don't own the Titan yet after seeing it in Pauls thread and looking at the spec on Halfords site i figured i could have some fun with this but the undamped rear shock is the sticking point as to if i actually purchase one.

I hope it is a 190 x 50 like you think as this will enable me to have a choice of a few. So you think an air shock would be best?? i can't say i know anything about rear shocks to be honest :oops: . I have spotted a few RockShox BAR units in a "fair" price range. My only other (minor) concern is the actual mounting bolts/nuts will this be the same size for all rear shocks or do i have to buy some with each shock?? I will PM Paul and ask if he would measure the shock again.

Thanks.

The answers to your questions are hard without the bike in front of me. Starting at the top though:

Air shock - Yes. Unless this really is a 7.5" travel bike (in which case I would walk away, it will be terrible), then an air shock will be best. A decent, or lets be honest half decent air shock will _completely_ transform the ride, assuming it is as undamped as claimed. An undamped shock is basically worse than no shock, as a coil spring is effectively 100% efficient, it will return all the energy given to it right back to you at the speed it got it. The net effect being that the rock you just ran over is 'moved' from where to hit it to just further on down the trail. This is not a helpful thing.

A monarch or RP2 would be your best shots, but an ario would be ok too. I picked up and RP2 last year for £100 online, but they don't come around that cheap too often. You should budget an extra 20-30 incase the mounting hardware cannot be swapped from one to the other, but most have standardised on 1/2 inch now, so there is a good chance youll only need bushes, which are pretty cheap (<£10 for a pair).

I think the titan might be a great frame if given a good shock. Its a shame you don't own one as I have a list of questions/things you could do to check what shocks will suit and whether its worth the swap out.

Darkstalker420

Thanks for the reply. I to think that the Titan could be a bit of a winner and to be honest i will probably purchase one anyway . I figure that something can be done with it somehow and one way or the other i WILL get another superior (damped) shock on there!! 8)

I was looking for other bikes under £400 and lots of the hardtails came with the same mechanical disks and Suntour XCM V3's. So for £299.99 Im getting most of the stuff i was seeing on £400 bikes! Sure the mechs/shifters are inferior and im sure other components to BUT these can be upgraded as they wear. I'm thinking that the 190mm travel is the shock length NOT the "Actual" travel..... It just don't "look" like it has 7.5" of travel and to be honest im sure Halfords are capable of confusing the two. But the thoughts of "reasonable" trail full sus for under £450 sounds great.

Im hoping for about 100/120mm rear travel as i can pair this up with some "nicer" 100/120mm forks when the XCM's croak. I have PM'ed Paul to ask if he will measure his rear shock again to confirm stroke length. It will be a few weeks before i have saved up the rest of the money but soon a 17" Carrera Titan will be winging it's way home with me ....... And the fun can begin

Thanks for the help though as i said don't really know much about rear shocks/sus.

Thanks.

bennett_346

Darkstalker420 wrote:

Thanks for the reply. I to think that the Titan could be a bit of a winner and to be honest i will probably purchase one anyway . I figure that something can be done with it somehow and one way or the other i WILL get another superior (damped) shock on there!! 8)

I was looking for other bikes under £400 and lots of the hardtails came with the same mechanical disks and Suntour XCM V3's. So for £299.99 Im getting most of the stuff i was seeing on £400 bikes! Sure the mechs/shifters are inferior and im sure other components to BUT these can be upgraded as they wear. I'm thinking that the 190mm travel is the shock length NOT the "Actual" travel..... It just don't "look" like it has 7.5" of travel and to be honest im sure Halfords are capable of confusing the two. But the thoughts of "reasonable" trail full sus for under £450 sounds great.

Im hoping for about 100/120mm rear travel as i can pair this up with some "nicer" 100/120mm forks when the XCM's croak. I have PM'ed Paul to ask if he will measure his rear shock again to confirm stroke length. It will be a few weeks before i have saved up the rest of the money but soon a 17" Carrera Titan will be winging it's way home with me ....... And the fun can begin

Thanks for the help though as i said don't really know much about rear shocks/sus.

Thanks.

Enjoy it mate

PaulC7

benpinnick wrote:

Its a shame you don't own one as I have a list of questions/things you could do to check what shocks will suit and whether its worth the swap out.

Been a way for a while but back now... so if you want to share with me the list of things i will post the results.