Mountain Biking - RP2 or RP23 on a Superlight (VVP)?

I currently have a Float r on the bike. Its great and just fine with the compression and rebound "factory" set a the lowest. Im fine on uphill sections and singletrack w/ some techy stuff.

I just wish there was a way to turn off propedal for some added plush on the descents.

I found an rp2 with a compression setting set at the highest (Im not sure how much of a difference, compared to my lowest setting).
Will this shock be too firm and have a significant change in characteristics as my Float R? Im just looking to have the ability to switch propedal off. But if the added stiffness on the Rp2 is too much, i might just go with an RP23. I just feel its a waste of money, cause as soon as I figure out the best setting, im just going to leave it.

Any input from users with the shock and a VVp designed frame would be great. Didnt these some "stock" on the Superlights? I could be wrong. I bought the frame second hand.

Get a Rock Shox Monarch or MC3.3 (I just blew mine, but it was 5 months of awesome before that. it's getting rebuilt now). The Rock Shox Motion Control and Floodgate work so much better than Fox's propedal. You can go from fully locked out to a variable firmness/threshold pedaling platform (Floodgate) or fully active suspension with the flick of a switch.

Humm.. where can I get a 3.3? I cant seem to find it for sale anywhere online.

FYI, the Santa Cruz Superlight is, from what I understand, a single-pivot design not a VPP design. Given that, I would think you'd want a shock with some sort of pedaling platform. Most people love the RP23, but the RPL might also be an option...

ohh..sorry wrong suspension..thanks.:thumb:

I think the MC3.3 is OEM, maybe that's why it's hard to find new. The Monarch 4.2 is basically an RP23, but I like the adjustable Floodgate mechanism more than Fox's propedal because it can be completely disabled.

EDIT: Here's an MC3.3
http://peloton-cycles.com/itemdetails.cfm?LibId=34296

+1 for the RP23
I have it on a faux bar (seat stay pivot four bar) and it works GREAT - you can set it up if you want it to be super active (open) or 3 levels of platform damping. great shock.

It is perfect for climbing you can switch on the Propedal. I choose level 1 or 2 for our trails around here. Then when you point it down hill you can flip the pro pedal off for a completely active buttery plush downhill bombing.
I give this shock two thumbs up and 5 stars review ***** !

i've got an rp2 and i can't say i've ever cared about having a diff propedal, I use it with propedal off 90% of the time, and when i do remember to use it yeah its nice and effecient, but i wouldn't need to adjust how stiff the propedal is, its just never bothered me since its just for hill climbin. Thats not to say of course that the rp2 is better than the rp23, the 23 would be better, i've just never missed the difference

that being said, fox no longer makes the rp2, its now the rpl, so its a lockout instead of propedal right? so if you don't want that get the rp23, or find a used or nos rp2, rp2 was also oem only so...

kmart why are you recommending a MC3.3 you just blew yours out and it's pretty much not user servicable. I'm still trying to find a damper assembly to order.. maybe I'm just mad that mine blew up, but I certainly wouldn't recommend them.

i've got an rp2 and i can't say i've ever cared about having a diff propedal, I use it with propedal off 90% of the time, and when i do remember to use it yeah its nice and effecient, but i wouldn't need to adjust how stiff the propedal is, its just never bothered me since its just for hill climbin. Thats not to say of course that the rp2 is better than the rp23, the 23 would be better, i've just never missed the difference

that being said, fox no longer makes the rp2, its now the rpl, so its a lockout instead of propedal right? so if you don't want that get the rp23, or find a used or nos rp2, rp2 was also oem only so...

How stiff is the factory setting for your rp2 with propedal on? Is it too much like a hardtail? Do you have a single pivot suspension like my SC Superlight? (I understand different suspensions would react differently to different propedal settings).

I can get an new RP2 for about $100 cheaper than the RP23 on ebay. The ebay one is set at the highest compression.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=180348950318

Im leaning more towards the RP2.
I would do the same thing as you and may not even use all the 3 settings, if I have already found a perfect pro pedal setting to suit normal trail riding while switching it off for the descent. I just dont really know how the highest compression on a "factory set" RP2 is compared to the lowest compression on a "factory set" Float R on a single pivot suspension.( Since in doing fine with my Floart R already, although a little more stiffness would be nice, ie. medium compression).

Thanks guys for the help so far, im just trying to save a little money and figure out the best shock between the two for my frame.:thumb:

yeah its a single pivot suspension, but idk what stiffness level it goes to with propedal on, it gets pretty stiff, not a hartail for sure, i've ridden down hills with it on, but i definatly get way less pedal bob when crankin up a hill with pp on, I only use it for really long climbs. I like that i have the propedal option but i wouldn't think the 23 is worth and xtra 100 bucks, basically if i have propedal on it helps soak up the bigger stuff, but i feel all teh little stuff (i've forgotten to turn it off a few times)

I feel that if i have to be bothered to take my hand off the bars and reach down find the little lever and flick it, it better do somthin signifigant, if it only made a little differance then i wouldn't bother to do it, i'm sure if i had the rp23 i'd put it on the firmest setting, and then just use it open most of the time

oh and yeah my bike is a single pivot cannondale rush

kmart why are you recommending a MC3.3 you just blew yours out and it's pretty much not user servicable. I'm still trying to find a damper assembly to order.. maybe I'm just mad that mine blew up, but I certainly wouldn't recommend them.

Well, I guess I would recommend the Monarch 4.2, which is the same thing as the MC but user serviceable. However, shocks do fail from time to time, and my MC was reliable (no air leaks or any hiccups) until the point of death. Having test an RP23, I can say that I liked the MC3.3 pedaling platform more (just my opinion) - it's fully adjustable and you don't have to care about which "factory setting" you purchased, it's all in your hands. The Monarch delivers the same performance I think (although its air can is smaller).

you dont' have to worry about factory settings with the rp23,


kmart: how heavy are you? did you jump off somthin and blow the shock? did it just die randomly? i'm ~160lbs, runnin and rp2 on a frame with 110mm of travel, had it for prolly 10 months, its had lots of xc, been worked out in slow and super fast rock gardens, and been off 4ft drops, the things def been bottomed out. I've had 0 problems so far

I'm 160 lbs. I've taken the bike off a few small jumps but the MC3.3 on blew flat, slightly bumpy terrain. It may have done that because it was mounted slightly off center on one of the mounting rods. It definitely seems like a fluke, as it was working wonderfully before that.

RP2 it is!! Thanks alot for you help gents!