MingtheMerciless wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 7:18 pm
LBS had a Whyte in recently with a popped shock, they think Whytes have a weird/bad swingarm/shock action which means air shocks get packed with spacers to make them work properly and this compounded with the swingarm/shock interaction leads to failure (well that’s their theory and they seem to know their stuff).
The keep showing me EXT shocks and forks (as expensive as motorbike shocks!!!)
The EXT stuff is what Geometron rave about. Any idea why they are so special ?
Back to Weeksy’s shock , I am a good deal heavier than he is - and have never blown a shock ...
MingtheMerciless wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 7:18 pm
LBS had a Whyte in recently with a popped shock, they think Whytes have a weird/bad swingarm/shock action which means air shocks get packed with spacers to make them work properly and this compounded with the swingarm/shock interaction leads to failure (well that’s their theory and they seem to know their stuff).
The keep showing me EXT shocks and forks (as expensive as motorbike shocks!!!)
The EXT stuff is what Geometron rave about. Any idea why they are so special ?
Back to Weeksy’s shock , I am a good deal heavier than he is - and have never blown a shock ...
They don't blow, it's a common thing with an issue between positive and negative areas and it then dies.
I've not jumped it for over a month and only recently used out on the Ridgeway
Having looked at the EXT stuff it is exquisitely made(especially compared to MTB stuff). All the adjusters click nicely and the external finish is very good, as well made as Ohlins stuff I’ve had on Motorbikes. It’s a bit like comparing say a normal ratchet to one made by FACOM or Snap On. Not seen the guts but then I probably wouldn’t know a well made shim stack from a rubbish one. TBH not ridden it and don’t hold the sit on the bike in the shop bounce test in high regard. But LBS are selling a fair few.
"Of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?"
"My dear Doctor, they're all true."
"Even the lies?"
"Especially the lies."
"Of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?"
"My dear Doctor, they're all true."
"Even the lies?"
"Especially the lies."
It seems to be the way forward on big travel enduro type bikes. My Speccy Enduro will regular as clockwork blow the IFP chamber on my DHX Air and that’s only ridden a few times a year. Shock turns into Mr Squishy noises after a couple of big days out on Moor or Wales or a summer of Friston and I’m 11st. My heavier mates have all gone coil on their Kenevo’s or Nomads (which are obvs required for the South Downs Alpine descents.......somebody is faster on his Curtis HT)
"Of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?"
"My dear Doctor, they're all true."
"Even the lies?"
"Especially the lies."
I got a little carried away in the garage... I thought "lets just whip the shock out so it's all ready for the new one.."
I then whipped the cranks out for a clean and a grease and a check of the BB bearings.... Then i have a bit of a thought of "oh, better check the pivot bearings as they can only be accessed when the crank is out" and they were dead, so 2x KP6AX pivot bearings were whipped out and ready for replacing, i'm not doing them today and it's sodding freezing out there and my fingers are numb ! But i've got 2 in spares so i'm ready to go tomorrow. It's a fiddly job on the Whyte as they're a ridiculously tight fit and always seem to go in wonky. But we'll get there tomorrow.
Bottom bracket seems OK, but i did have a little drivetrain noise the other day so will potentially whip it out and throw in a new one.
It's a SRAM GXP which are renowned as being a bit rubbish, but for me, they've been OK really. So no biggy if i need a new one, well, i've got one in spares as you'd expect. So i just need another spare.
Well it was stil cold but i'd warmed up, so went back in again, fitted the new bearings and the new bottom bracket and then tidied up for the new shock to arrive Tues/Weds. Emailed my local Whyte dealer to get the bearings swapped for a new pair to put in spares and will order the GXP bottom bracket on payday.
So was thinking i may go for the coil over the RP23. I've never owned a coil shock, but hoping i'd have less issues than i am with the RS's. This is my 2nd one now and it's getting tiresome.
So, thoughts on coil shocks ? Thoughts on CC IL coils in particular ? Or even thoughts on the RP23.....
Ideally need this before the guy ships the RP23 and i can cancel it.
Correct spring for weight. A quick read of the interwebs and Rockshox and Fox suggest going a spring "heavier" if you are borderline between two springs. TF tuned have a spring rate calculator on their website. Have you tried emailing Whyte to see what they recommend?
"Of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?"
"My dear Doctor, they're all true."
"Even the lies?"
"Especially the lies."
MingtheMerciless wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 8:34 am
Correct spring for weight. A quick read of the interwebs and Rockshox and Fox suggest going a spring "heavier" if you are borderline between two springs. TF tuned have a spring rate calculator on their website. Have you tried emailing Whyte to see what they recommend?
I'm not honestly sure Whyte are that open to emailing as with all bigger companies.... even if they are, i ideally need some sort of an answer/plan sooner rather than later as i can't be sitting here in weeks/months time without a shock. Which may make the decision really simple of "buy the RP23 for now and look into it from there once back up and riding"
MingtheMerciless wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 8:34 am
Correct spring for weight. A quick read of the interwebs and Rockshox and Fox suggest going a spring "heavier" if you are borderline between two springs. TF tuned have a spring rate calculator on their website. Have you tried emailing Whyte to see what they recommend?
I'm not honestly sure Whyte are that open to emailing as with all bigger companies.... even if they are, i ideally need some sort of an answer/plan sooner rather than later as i can't be sitting here in weeks/months time without a shock. Which may make the decision really simple of "buy the RP23 for now and look into it from there once back up and riding"
I would have thought Whyte would have been happy to advise, TBH. Your issues would appear to be good R&D for them. If you rang Cotic ( and owned a Cotic) you may actually get to talk to the designer as well. Same with Bird. Try ringing them?
MingtheMerciless wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 8:34 am
Correct spring for weight. A quick read of the interwebs and Rockshox and Fox suggest going a spring "heavier" if you are borderline between two springs. TF tuned have a spring rate calculator on their website. Have you tried emailing Whyte to see what they recommend?
I'm not honestly sure Whyte are that open to emailing as with all bigger companies.... even if they are, i ideally need some sort of an answer/plan sooner rather than later as i can't be sitting here in weeks/months time without a shock. Which may make the decision really simple of "buy the RP23 for now and look into it from there once back up and riding"
I would have thought Whyte would have been happy to advise, TBH. Your issues would appear to be good R&D for them. If you rang Cotic ( and owned a Cotic) you may actually get to talk to the designer as well. Same with Bird. Try ringing them?
I dropped them a mail yeah.
Bird and Cotic are far easier in that context without doubt yes... but i don't see that being an easy option here.
There are of course timescales on this too, with the weather turning to warmer and hopefully drier at the weekend, i'm thinking just a quick solution of the RP23 for now is the best option.
They seem to have a great reputation for a fairly new company, It's the right length/stroke, right adjustment and i just fancied giving it a go really.
Oh LBS are a service centre for them. Keep us updated on what you think of it.
"Of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?"
"My dear Doctor, they're all true."
"Even the lies?"
"Especially the lies."
Well that was what we shall call, a bit of an afternoon.
The DVO Topaz shock arrived this at 2:30 and i spent about a year fitting it. Firstly, the mounts on the SRAM are a tiny bit different to the others, so the 'yoke' (Y shaped bracket) needs some filing, it's nothing major and doesn't affect the integrity of it etc, but anyway, that was taken care of and the fitting was then sorted.
Test riding it, the rebound was CRAZY.... Spoke to the guy and he'd deflated the second air chamber, which is conveniently completely hidden. 2021-02-18_05-44-34 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr
So that was inflated and i used the setup procedure to get the chambers equalized, then refitted it. 2021-02-18_05-44-49 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr
Have to say, it's a LOVELY looking thing...
But...
It's insanely squelchy !!!! I tried re-doing the chambers and pressures etc, but it's still exactly the same...
Long chat with the guy i bought it from and the conclusion is, the shock is on it's way back to him and he's refunded me.
Doubt it'll get shipped today, but i may see it Sat, may see it Monday.
Funny thing is though, the Rockshock Monarch RC3 worked fine after i forced some air through the holes that separate the negative and positive... but that's still going back to SRAM or Germany depending on how that's being Warrantied.
Good luck with that shock, my Enduro had it fitted as stock. It’s about as reliable as an AE35 antenna control unit (though CC say it’s early teething problem have been fixed).
"Of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?"
"My dear Doctor, they're all true."
"Even the lies?"
"Especially the lies."
MingtheMerciless wrote: ↑Thu Feb 18, 2021 6:31 pm
Good luck with that shock, my Enduro had it fitted as stock. It’s about as reliable as an AE35 antenna control unit (though CC say it’s early teething problem have been fixed).
Mine ( but a CC DB CS) has been great. And I am not light ..
)
