rear shock upgrade

[jkardos]

I have a 1998 Gary Fisher Joshua Z0. It has the stock Rock Shox Coupe Deluxe SL rear shock, and it has to go. My problem is I'm not sure what I can replace it with. I searched Google and I think the shock has 4" of travel and I measured it on the bike and it is 6.75" from eye to eye. I have been told that any replacement shock has to have the same stroke, travel, and eye to eye length as the Rock Shox currently on the bike. I have read many reviews of this shock on mtbr.com and most people said they replaced theirs with something newer/better. I'm not sure what my options are as far as replacement shocks go. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[xtrememtbkr]

i never had an issue with a 5th element shock....EVER

http://www.progressivesuspension.com/mountain-bike.html

send these guys an email with your bikes make, name and size. i
am sure they can fix you up. they sell reconditioned shocks as well.

for what it may cost you to purchase a shock you may look into
buying a replacement frame and swapping out your componentents
from frame to frame.there are several online shops selling nice frames
for about 150 dollars more than a shock will likely cost.


hope that helped

[jkardos]

I need to correct my original post about upgrading my rear shock. I have a Rock Shox Super Deluxe, not a Coupe Deluxe SL as I originally stated.

Thanks for the reply xtrememtbkr, I will look into a 5th element shock. I have also been thinking about buying a "new" frame and swapping my components, like you mentioned.

[Drew Persson]

Or you could buy my good-condition Giant AC1 frame with a brand-new Manitou Swinger 4-way coil shock (with anti-bob SPV chamber), new FSA headset, and slightly used XT front deraileur for $375. You can set it to 4.5, 5.25 or 6" of rear travel, disc brake only.

Swap over old parts onto this frame and you're in business, takes a common 27.2mm seatpost and 68mm bottom bracket.

:D

[xtrememtbkr]

here is the link to a new frame. i bet if you look you can find other new frames for 300 or less.

here are a couple

http://wheelworld.com/site/itemdetails.cfm?ID=3424

http://wheelworld.com/site/itemdetails.cfm?sort=Price&itemdsn=wheelworld.com_SB2&ID=3326

[SEAN_at_TLT]

Your frame probably has 6.5x1.5" shock. That is the most common size for an XC bike. You might have a 6.75 though since it's not uncommon for a given frame to have a custom shock made for it from the factory.

Mountain bike shocks are measured first by their eye-to-eye length uncompressed and then by the amount of stroke they have. To determine the amount of stroke, remove the shock from the bike and if it's an air shock let the air out of it or if it's a coil shock take the coil off of it, and then compress it by hand and measure the compressed eye-to-eye. Then subtract the compressed length from the extended length to get the stroke.

If in fact your bike has a 6.75" eye-to-eye shock but the stroke is only 1.5" then you can most likely install a 6.5x1.5" shock and still keep all your travel buy lower your center of gravity and slacken the head-tube angle for a more comfortable controlled ride. Just check to be sure that there is at least .25" of clearance between the frame and rear tire at full compression.

If you need a decent 6.5x1.5 shock let me know, I have a few lying around I'll sell for cheap such as a Rock Shox SID dual-air rear and maybe some others.

[Greg_Canada]

You prob have a 6.5x1.5 or 6.75x1.75 rear shock.
I'd replace it with a fox vanilla r, you dont have a fancy bike and this shock would be fine on it.
check ridemonkey.com there are always shorter shocks for sale there...