RockShox Suspension Test (Video)

AndreXTR · May 2007

Hello people!!
I'm Portuguese, so sorry for bad english.

Yesterday a make a on-board movie, testing my front and rear suspension. The rear shock is a RockShox ARIO 2.2 , and the front suspension is a RockShox Recon 351 U-Turn (85-130) @ 130mm

Who said that a Hardtail is better than a Fullsuspension?(just kidding, I respect the HT owners)

VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb_qHymSMGc

Anonymous · May 2007

Hi and welcome,

An intresting vid showing the different effects terrain and speed has on the front and rear suss, some may find it useful if considering a similar set up, although obviously the weight of the person has an effect too.

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Unklehomer · May 2007

thats a really interesting Vid. I always nearly have accidient trying to watch how my forks are responding to the terrain he-he just shows how delicate full suss riders are! [;)]

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gary_fisher3 · May 2007

Nice video.

Quite intresting just how much lateral movement you were getting at the rear when you sprinted. Virtually no bob though!

The Recons looked very plush. However, you nearly bottomed them out when hit a bump along the grass track so perhaps they're set a bit too soft.

Unknown · May 2007

Hi excuse my english i'm from Exeter[:D]

That really is a good vid. Not a sight we get to see often.

AndreXTR · May 2007

Thanks for the comments.

My weight is 75kg.
Recon is a soft suspension, but it rarely bottoms out. The section of the grass has a big bumps, so the suspension almost bottomed. But when I made a normal XC ride, in the final of the ride, if I look to suspension I can see the mark of the dust, and I see that it don't use much more than half of travel. So, it rarely bottomed out. Another day, I made a mini-dirt jump, and I landed hard with front wheel, and it was smooth... Recon is the component that I liked more in my bike! It is absolutly great!! But, remember, I use the Recon U-turn version, the one with Spring damping, not the air one. [:)]

Keep doing comments, and sorry for my english (it sucks, I know [:D])

Carbonjaws · May 2007

OOOOOk well at least we know its working ok.

Carbonjaws · May 2007

Prefer hardtail for the stifness and lightness. the rear end on a full sus flexes obv, which means slower! thats my opinion anyway

streako · May 2007

Cool video.

Nice terrain also. You cant beat a dry, dusty singletrack.

Interesting to note a bit of flex in the rear end during riding.

 Streako 
 Streakos Hardtail
 Streakos Full Susser

AndreXTR · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by streako
Interesting to note a bit of flex in the rear end during riding.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The flexing part is during sprinting in asfaltic road... In normal riding it don't flex so much.

Unknown · May 2007

Interesting. I thought there was a fair bit of bob there myself, could be seen to change in different gears. And that flex! Thats a lot.

<center>GT Zaskar LE
GT Ruckus
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cowan-king · May 2007

like alot of other people say there is alot of flex i have to agree! ht all the way! i personally would recomend a slightly more compression in the rear shock! but apart from that it looks super nice!

regards from:

The Cowan King AKA Pete!<center>(my sidekick2)</center>

Andy B · May 2007

No-one else noticed the subliminal piccy right at the end then [;)]

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AndreXTR · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Andy_B

No-one else noticed the subliminal piccy right at the end then [;)]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

What piccy?? [:D][:D]

Cannondale Scapel flex it's inferior tube of rear triangle too, and it don't break.
Like I say: "When it flex, it don't break" [:p]

I don't think that flexing is a bad think.. Remember, this is a XC bike, it don't need to be super-resistent to lateral flexing. Did you ever seen a carbon fork of a road-bike when It brakes the front wheel? It flex a lot...And usually it doesn't break.

Probably, we don't realize, because we don't see that everyday, the flexing of our bikes!! And when we see it, it surprise us!

Unknown · May 2007

Repeated flex will eventually prematurely fatigue the material, but it won't be for a long time. Its more than the strength factor, it will also wear bushings quicker and may even contribute to ghost shifting. I find the sensation to be quite disconcerting!

<center>GT Zaskar LE
GT Ruckus
Me!
MYSPACE<hr noshade size="1">Park Tools - help and instructions for all general bike fixes
Sheldon Brown - info about anything and everything</center>

futon river crossing · May 2007

The Trek Fuel have been criticised in the mags for being flexy (I mentioned this in a prevoius 'what bike to buy' thread) - now we can see it for real! - I'm wondering if this is an 06 or 07 model?

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kal-el · May 2007

futon river crossing, the start of the video tells you it's an '06 model [;)]

As for flex, well, with it having no chainstay/seatstay pivot, it's an inherent design characteristic. As there is no pivot at the rear, the chainstays/seatstays flex outwards. This is well renound, and creates a lot of flex. That's why they had carbon stays bonded to the rear swingarm - are now alloy, including a seatstay pivot on the Fuel EX (except the XC Fuel). However, what does worry me, was the amount of lateral flex. Scary!

An interesting video though.

Chris

<hr noshade size="1">cove stiffee fr frame | magura phaon 125mm forks | raceface deus lr xc bars | raceface deus xc stem | odi rogue lock-on grips | chris king nothreadset | m-part carbon spacers | shimano xtr m970 xtr rapidfire plus shifter pods | wtb rocket v saddle | raceface deus xc seatpost | hope qr seatclamp | shimano xt m760 ht2 chainset | shimano pd-m647 spd pedals | shimano xtr m971 f/mech | shimano xt m760 cassette | shimano xtr m970 gs rear mech | sram pc971 chain | magura louise fr (f&r) disc brakes | magura pro wheelset | hutchinson python 2.3" tyres | continental butyl inner tubes<hr noshade size="1"><center>Sarah's Bike | Specialized Rockhopper Women's | now with added upgrades</center><hr noshade size="1"><center>4 weeks and counting until I move house, town and life in general. Eek!</center><hr noshade size="1">

Bighead · May 2007

futon river crossing · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by kal-el

futon river crossing, the start of the video tells you it's an '06 model [;)]

As for flex, well, with it having no chainstay/seatstay pivot, it's an inherent design characteristic. As there is no pivot at the rear, the chainstays/seatstays flex outwards. This is well renound, and creates a lot of flex. That's why they had carbon stays bonded to the rear swingarm - are now alloy, including a seatstay pivot on the Fuel EX (except the XC Fuel). However, what does worry me, was the amount of lateral flex. Scary!

An interesting video though.

Chris

<hr noshade size="1">cove stiffee fr frame | magura phaon 125mm forks | raceface deus lr xc bars | raceface deus xc stem | odi rogue lock-on grips | chris king nothreadset | m-part carbon spacers | shimano xtr m970 xtr rapidfire plus shifter pods | wtb rocket v saddle | raceface deus xc seatpost | hope qr seatclamp | shimano xt m760 ht2 chainset | shimano pd-m647 spd pedals | shimano xtr m971 f/mech | shimano xt m760 cassette | shimano xtr m970 gs rear mech | sram pc971 chain | magura louise fr (f&r) disc brakes | magura pro wheelset | hutchinson python 2.3" tyres | continental butyl inner tubes<hr noshade size="1"><center>Sarah's Bike | Specialized Rockhopper Women's | now with added upgrades</center><hr noshade size="1"><center>4 weeks and counting until I move house, town and life in general. Eek!</center><hr noshade size="1">
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Ah missed that! hehe - it was the lateral flex I saw.

My Bike

http://angelafung.net/my_bike.jpg

alpinelines · May 2007

Hey Andre,

very nice video, really good to see how the suspension performs over different speeds and terrain.

AndreXTR · May 2007

Yes, it's the 2006 model.. Honestly I'm not very scary with the flexing! I have all tight in the bike, the rear triangle don't show any mechanical problem, it's all ok. Yes, the Four-bar linkage system of Treks don't use that pivot near rear axle. The Engineers said that it is not necessary because the material "flexness" (not sure if that word exists lol)

I've put the bike in much more stressful situation and I never lost the rear triangle while downhilling [:D]

Cannondale Scapel it doesn't have pivot point. It flex the donwtube of rear triangle, and it don't break!!
So..Like I said, when it bends it won't break [:p]

AndreXTR · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Bighead

Hi nice video what type of camera set up did you use?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This one: http://www.billigdrucker.de/images/hardware/digitalkamera/micromaxx-mm40539.jpg

It cost 25? (aprox. 25 USA dolars, I think)... I grab it with that:
http://www.opticut.pt/imag_prod/fita_cola.jpg

So, why wasting money in high end expensive digital cams?? [:D]

Unknown · May 2007

true it wont break if designed that way, but its supposed to only flex in one plane and the system acts as an additional spring too. Its horseds for courses, some don't mind flex, others prefer a stiffer set up, albeit usually more heavy.

<center>GT Zaskar LE
GT Ruckus
Me!
MYSPACE<hr noshade size="1">Park Tools - help and instructions for all general bike fixes
Sheldon Brown - info about anything and everything</center>

Carbonjaws · May 2007

Can i just add, i own a trek and think that the flex in the rear stay it wheeery too much. its basicly taking the job of the suspension

Aux1 · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by AndreXTR

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Bighead

Hi nice video what type of camera set up did you use?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This one: http://www.billigdrucker.de/images/hardware/digitalkamera/micromaxx-mm40539.jpg

It cost 25? (aprox. 25 USA dolars, I think)... I grab it with that:
http://www.opticut.pt/imag_prod/fita_cola.jpg

So, why wasting money in high end expensive digital cams?? [:D]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

THAT cheap? Wait, is that an analog cam?
I'd sure like to tape myself riding and show it to mom [:D]

Btw, I have a question... The hardtail part of a bike seems the weakest part to me, other tubes are so fatter. It also absorbs a lot of shocks since the rear wheel goes over bumps too (although I think the front, suspended one takes much more punishment). Or does the thinness of the tail add to it's flexyness?

To clip or not to clip, that is the question. Whether tis nobler in the mind of men to suffer the dings and contusions of unclipp'd riding, or to bind thy feet against a sea of gnarly singletrack and by these contraptions, ride o'er them with ease. To clip... to slip no more, and by clipping to end the buttache and the thousand natural shocks that ryders are heir to; tis a consummation devoutly to be honed. No clip - to slip perchance to be thrashed most heinously...

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AndreXTR · June 2007

I don't know. The rear tubes are thinner than front tubes, but I don't know what about thickness. The rear tubes can be thinner but more thick. BTW, the rear triangle has the necessary resistance for the intent use of the bike (XC - AM light) and it's lightweight.

RockShox Suspension Test (Video)

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