Advances in suspension technology and design has allowed more and more riders to benefit off of the advantages that shock-absorbing rear suspension provides. One of the key parts of any full-suspension frame is the rear shock absorber, which plays a key role in getting the best from your bike when driving over rough terrain. Here's all you need to know about getting brand new bicycle rear suspension shocks.
Rear shocks are made out of two telescoping tubes that slide into one another, a spring some sort, and an eye at both ends through which the entire mechanism is affixed to the frame. A small bearing in both eyes allows the shock to rotate smoothly when the suspension is active. Every bicycle rear suspension shock features some kind of a spring mechanism that is compressed under force, and most shocks feature some sort of damping system that regulates the compression rate of the spring and how it rebounds.
When deciding on a rear shock replacement or upgrade, your choice will be determined by two factors - spring type (coil-sprung or air sprung), and sizing (the eye-to-eye length of the shock and the stroke, to ensure a proper fit). Both these things depend and interrelate on the riding discipline.
Coil-sprung shocks are the more affordable option, and they're generally found on most budget-bikes. Air-sprung shocks are the preferred upgrade option due to the fact that they're lighter and more versatile. Adjusting a coil-sprung shock involves replacing the entire spring for a spring with a different compression rate. Air-sprung shocks, on the other hand, are adjusted by changing the air pressure in the shock using a shock pump.
When replacing your rear shocks, you need to make sure that the new ones you buy are compatible with your frame. If you're replacing a blown shock with the same model replacement, it's a pretty straight-forward swap, but if you're upgrading from one model to another, you need to take a few factors into consideration.
Shocks are measured by eye-to-eye measurement and stroke length. The stroke length represents the amount by which the shock compresses when placed under a full load. Worth noting is that stroke length isn't the amount of travel available, as you can probably fit a shock with a 2" stroke length on a bike with 5" travel, depending on suspension design. And the eye-to-eye measurement represents the length of the shock from the center of one mounting eye to the center of the other mounting eye.
Rear shocks are made out of two telescoping tubes that slide into one another, a spring some sort, and an eye at both ends through which the entire mechanism is affixed to the frame. A small bearing in both eyes allows the shock to rotate smoothly when the suspension is active. Every bicycle rear suspension shock features some kind of a spring mechanism that is compressed under force, and most shocks feature some sort of damping system that regulates the compression rate of the spring and how it rebounds.
When deciding on a rear shock replacement or upgrade, your choice will be determined by two factors - spring type (coil-sprung or air sprung), and sizing (the eye-to-eye length of the shock and the stroke, to ensure a proper fit). Both these things depend and interrelate on the riding discipline.
Coil-sprung shocks are the more affordable option, and they're generally found on most budget-bikes. Air-sprung shocks are the preferred upgrade option due to the fact that they're lighter and more versatile. Adjusting a coil-sprung shock involves replacing the entire spring for a spring with a different compression rate. Air-sprung shocks, on the other hand, are adjusted by changing the air pressure in the shock using a shock pump.
When replacing your rear shocks, you need to make sure that the new ones you buy are compatible with your frame. If you're replacing a blown shock with the same model replacement, it's a pretty straight-forward swap, but if you're upgrading from one model to another, you need to take a few factors into consideration.
Shocks are measured by eye-to-eye measurement and stroke length. The stroke length represents the amount by which the shock compresses when placed under a full load. Worth noting is that stroke length isn't the amount of travel available, as you can probably fit a shock with a 2" stroke length on a bike with 5" travel, depending on suspension design. And the eye-to-eye measurement represents the length of the shock from the center of one mounting eye to the center of the other mounting eye.
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