Mountain Biking - Full Suspension Effeciency Question

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA
Shadesy
12-13-07, 07:31 AM
I am currently riding a 2005 Schwinn Rocket Pro full suspension bike. The rear shock is a Manitou Radium R Air with no lockout. Yesterday I decided to hop on my friends Specialized hardtail and ride it for a few minutes. I could really tell a difference in how much more energy I was getting per pedal push on the hardtail. I have read where people call this pedal bob, but I really don't feel any bobbing. My question is, are there full suspension bikes out there that have the same pedal effeciency as a hardtail? If so, which rear shock settings work the best?

Thanks

Cypress
12-13-07, 08:58 AM
You could get a rear shock with lockout.
Fable
12-13-07, 09:45 AM
Not to be a d*ck but maybe try a better bike. I believe the Rocket is a very low end machine and probably is not the pinacle of suspension design. Maybe a shock with a platform or a lock out but that might be a large percentage of the original price of the bike. Better to enjoy the ride, live with the suspension limitations and save for a better bike.

RIC0
12-13-07, 10:28 AM
****can the crappy radium and get a fox float RP or RP23 that has options to reduce bob.
Maelstrom
12-13-07, 11:30 AM
Yes, full suspensions suck...don't buy one :)
acroy
12-13-07, 01:53 PM
difference is probably more from the bike weight than anything.
pro x-counrty racers use duall suspension on rough courses. A good design is very efficient. It will not eat your energy. it may "feel" like it, but it will not.
gattm99
12-16-07, 09:59 PM
I've got a 26 pound hardtail and a 37 pound dually. I usually ride the heavy full suspension because it climbs better and decends better.

Anyway the last time I rode it felt really slow, everything was wearing me out. I got home and put the shock pump on and found it with about half the pressure I usually ride with. Maybe that could be your problem?