Ask the experts

[Eluder]

Seems like I could get away with a Super Deluxe coil, but after seeing the pictures and hearing what you are saying… I’m going to keep an air shock on.

One more reason I want to sell the Status 160. Just bought it 6 weeks ago and I want it gone

The DHX2 had a known problem here, but people kept buying them and putting them in bad configurations. Are there people breaking other shocks on that bike?

Maybe get a big volume air shock if you are really concerned.

[Eluder]

https://www.ridefox.com/fox17/help.php?m=bike&id=1138

Just dug this up. Note that It doesn’t mention the DHX. Seems a little incomplete.

[Dantheman]

Riddle me this one:

12 sp SLX on a Stumpy EVO shifts perfect with the clutch off. With the clutch on it shifts perfect in gears 2-12, will shift onto 1 perfect, but won't shift off of 1. Serviced clutch and replaced shifter cable and housing to no effect.

[toast2266]

Riddle me this one:

12 sp SLX on a Stumpy EVO shifts perfect with the clutch off. With the clutch on it shifts perfect in gears 2-12, will shift onto 1 perfect, but won't shift off of 1. Serviced clutch and replaced shifter cable and housing to no effect.

I had similar issues with a couple of xt derailleurs. After much fiddling and swearing, I just switched back to sram.

That said, a turn or two on the b-screw might help.

[Dantheman]

I gave it one turn to no effect. It feels pretty cranked already. Here's pics of the b-gap and the b screw.

[Velomayniac]

The DHX2 had a known problem here, but people kept buying them and putting them in bad configurations. Are there people breaking other shocks on that bike?

Maybe get a big volume air shock if you are really concerned.

I’m just going to move the bike. I have other issues with it as well.

I did some deeper google investigatory work the other day and I found 4 examples. Quick googling shows two examples of the DHX2 snapping on the status, with pictures, although I forget if they were status 160 or 140. On pinkbike someone said that the 140 has a longer clevis or whatever, and is more prone. I believe all four examples I read about the other day were all the DHX2. If I recall correctly, one of the posts with pics said all his buddies were snapping their Status’ w/ coils as well, but I don’t know how to confirm that one. Doesn’t seem rare though

https://www.ridefox.com/fox17/help.php?m=bike&id=1138

Just dug this up. Note that It doesn’t mention the DHX. Seems a little incomplete.

definitely incomplete as it does not even mention the Status. Spesh was secretive and weird about the Status for the first two years (like Rossi with their first black ops), so I wonder if that has something do to with that.

[climberevan]

I had an XT whose main pivot spring had become so rusty that it would barely move. It's a real bitch to get apart, but you could check it. Def check the B screw too-- they need to be perfect.

Or just send it back to Shimano. They just warrantied an Ultegra Di2 front for for me after it became noisy. It came on a bike I bought used, so obviously I had no receipt.

[g_man80]

Riddle me this one:

12 sp SLX on a Stumpy EVO shifts perfect with the clutch off. With the clutch on it shifts perfect in gears 2-12, will shift onto 1 perfect, but won't shift off of 1. Serviced clutch and replaced shifter cable and housing to no effect.

Did you use the specific Shimano shadow rd+ grease? In my experience with the 12sp shim derailleurs, once the clutch goes south no amount of servicing bring them back to ideal operation. With the cover off might be worth backing of the tension on the clutch.

[Eluder]

I gave it one turn to no effect. It feels pretty cranked already. Here's pics of the b-gap and the b screw.

That looks like too much b tension.

[Dantheman]

I had similar issues with a couple of xt derailleurs. After much fiddling and swearing, I just switched back to sram.

In 2019 I bought a used bike with an 11 sp X1 RD. I figured I'd just run it until it wore out and then replace. It's still on my bike and shifts dead nuts perfect. I'll also take SRAM's cage lock over Shimano's on/off switch all day every day

That looks like too much b tension.

Her derailleur doesn't have the handy B-tension indicator on the back, but it seems you're onto something here. I took it back to where I started, backed it off two full turns, then added about a quarter turn. It will shift off the 51t now, though with several seconds of hesitation. Not perfect but good enough. Hopefully it still works out of the stand.

In a classic bike maintenance circular loop, the chain is now so slack in the 10t that I need to take a link out.

[Dantheman]

Did you use the specific Shimano shadow rd+ grease? In my experience with the 12sp shim derailleurs, once the clutch goes south no amount of servicing bring them back to ideal operation. With the cover off might be worth backing of the tension on the clutch.

I read on here that you could use Dumonde Tech freehub grease, which I had already so I used that. Honestly though the clutch seemed to be perfectly fine.

[Dee Hubbs]

Did you use the specific Shimano shadow rd+ grease? In my experience with the 12sp shim derailleurs, once the clutch goes south no amount of servicing bring them back to ideal operation. With the cover off might be worth backing of the tension on the clutch.

Or you can just replace the clutch mechanism for less than $10.00.

[g_man80]

Or you can just replace the clutch mechanism for less than $10.00

Excellent information! Thanks

[sf]

At a quick glance, the spectral 125 has a traditionally mounted shock, so the concern from above isn't present here. That being said, I know of 3 people that have successfully run that shock on clevis mounted bikes, 2 of those were Specialized. IME Cane Creek is actually pretty forthright on compatibility.

Thing is, Canyon says they use a clevis, and on the Spectral 29 they are specific about not recommending clevis/coil.

On the 125 they don’t mention clevis, just says coil is not recommended. «Made for air».

The 125 has something like 27% progression so trying out a coil could be interesting.

But yeah, I’ll check with CC

[Eluder]

Thing is, Canyon says they use a clevis, and on the Spectral 29 they are specific about not recommending clevis/coil.

On the 125 they don’t mention clevis, just says coil is not recommended. «Made for air».

The 125 has something like 27% progression so trying out a coil could be interesting.

But yeah, I’ll check with CC

I am far from a Canyon expert but these picks tell some sort of story. The first is a 2023 Spectral Mullet. The second shows the axis of the shock shaft on a Spectral 125.

Fox calls out the 20/21 Spectral as not compatible. I cant see a difference in the shock mounting, but there must be something...
2023 mullet has a DHX so maybe that is the factor.




Weather it performs well on the suspension design is a different conversation.

I personally really like air shocks for their tunability. Coils are nice as a smaller rider but at the same time the spring weight gaps are often too large when you are small and you have to compromise.

[Peyto]

I gave it one turn to no effect. It feels pretty cranked already. Here's pics of the b-gap and the b screw.

If a turn on b-tension didn't work, try backing off the barrel adjuster at the shifter one turn.

[smmokan]

Anyone use the Fox Baseframe sleeveless chest guard (or something light and comparable)? I've had a few friends with close calls lately and it's made me wonder if I should start wearing chest protection on certain rides... and as a follow-up, anyone have a hookup so I don't have to pay $180?

[Andeh]

While all clevis mounts are inherently harder on shocks, I think one of the main factors on the Levo is the added weight of the bike contorting things. I have a Kitsuma air I need to tune for mine to avoid the concern.

I am considering the Cascade long stoke kit though and would likely go coil if I decide to do that.

Yeah, so I'm running my Levo with the regular Cascade link (which still increases travel to ~162mm). That's what I'm having issues with the rear-most bearings shifting sideways in. I just pulled apart the link and reinstalled the bearings with Loctite bearing assembly compound, fingers crossed that does it. I suspect that it's mostly a tolerance thing on Cascade's part because when I was reassembling the whole thing, one of the fucking bearings shifted twice while I was torquing the whole thing up before the compound had dried.

The bike does ride better IMO with the link but you have to add a lot of spring rate / pressure to compensate. I'm running a 575# spring and weigh 170 lbs ready to ride. Cascade flat out does not recommend running coil with the link on this bike, even with the added progressivity. I'm going to get one of the new RS big can air shocks (Vivid 2?) whenever that's released to try, because the weight and high starting LR of the Cascade should still make it track really nicely like a coil. I don't get any harsh bottom outs with the Arma and maxed out HBO, but even with the link, it's still not terribly hard to go really deep in the travel. In comparison, I haven't bottomed out my Nomad 6 yet, running similar sag, and it's SD Coil set to have minimal HBO. When I rode my buddy's Levo before I bought mine, it had an X2 on and I had no issue bottoming that out too. I think it's just a moderately progressive bike, and coupled with the weight, it's just not a great candidate for coil.

[Andeh]

Anyone use the Fox Baseframe sleeveless chest guard (or something light and comparable)? I've had a few friends with close calls lately and it's made me wonder if I should start wearing chest protection on certain rides... and as a follow-up, anyone have a hookup so I don't have to pay $180?

I got one in the off season sales intending to wear it at the bike park. (Found it on sale at some moto website.) Haven't ridden it to ride yet, but it seems like it will breath pretty well and not feel too constricting. That particular chest guard is definitely baselayer fit, as opposed to some of the other ones you see people wearing over jerseys. I may take off the velcro strap, but will try it with first. I think that's mostly there to hold a plastic strip in place which may act as additional puncture protection.

[ClarkleberryFinn]

Anyone use the Fox Baseframe sleeveless chest guard (or something light and comparable)? I've had a few friends with close calls lately and it's made me wonder if I should start wearing chest protection on certain rides... and as a follow-up, anyone have a hookup so I don't have to pay $180?

Tried one on in a shop and it felt great - until I took it off. HUGE pita to get it off and almost thought I was going to rip the seams. The thought of that while sweaty and dirty after a day in the bike park put me off totally.

I bought a POC Oseus VPD Torso instead and v happy with it. Much easier on and off, and the padding is a bit thicker and feels like it reduces impact more (scientifically tested against a few others by slamming my back against a concrete pillar in the shop haha). Used it for a few days in Finale recently and very quickly forgot I was wearing it. A few climbs up to around ~500-600m were totally fine but obviously still a bit warmer than just wearing a bike Tshirt. I like it and would buy again, but will use it primarily for park/shuttle days and leave it at home for long pedal days.

[smmokan]

Tried one on in a shop and it felt great - until I took it off. HUGE pita to get it off and almost thought I was going to rip the seams. The thought of that while sweaty and dirty after a day in the bike park put me off totally.

This is the one thing I read on almost every review that really turns me off. It’s too bad they couldn’t have put a zipper down the side.

[Andeh]

This is the one thing I read on almost every review that really turns me off. It’s too bad they couldn’t have put a zipper down the side.

I meant to add the zipper thing. There is a new version (Baseframe Pro with D30 Vest) with a zipper down the side. Even with the zipper, it's not quick to put it on / take it off. I absolutely would NOT get one without a zipper. Leatt makes another similar product that looked good. I just got the Fox because I found it on sale.

[east or bust]

Any love for the over-jersey hard guards? I’m going to get some chest protection for park/shuttle days and am heavily leaning toward something from the TLD Rockfight line.

eta: I guess one of them is designed for under jersey use too


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[toast2266]

If anyone wants a hardshell pressure suit sort of thing, I've got a couple of them that you can have for the price of shipping. Size medium. One is a THE, one is azonic.

[Jtlange]

whoops