#!markdown
Good review. I have the same bike, and experienced the same issues with the
Monarch. I'm 6'5″, 208 lbs, riding an XL and prefer to run the shock around
240 PSI. I found 2.5 bottomless tokens in the stock Pike works well with this
pressure in the shock.
Like you I'm in the 'steep' setting for trails around Edmonton. (the N.Sask
river valley doesn't have enough relief for sustained descents to warrant the
'slack' setting). I was really surprised to find that it rides well for a wide
range of pressures. Even with almost no pressure in the shock, it bottomed out
rarely on the SS course at the Hinton mtn bike park, and when it did bottom it
wasn't a harsh 'thunk'. I guess you could say it's not sensitive to an ideal
set-up like many other bikes are. Starting to get frustrated with the Monarch
though. I've re-greased it several times with varied results. Might be sending
that back on warranty soon. Still not sure exactly which compression damper
setting is best. Toying with flipping from full-open to full-closed, or just
leaving it on the mid-setting. Riding full-closed does keep it noticeably
higher for climbs which is nice. I would not recommend adding bottomless bands
to this shock - the suspension kinematics look after that duty very well
already.
My Wilson is what piqued my interest in the Spartan. The Wilson pedals so well
for a DH bike I thought the Spartan must be great too. I know what you mean
about 'inch-worming'. Doing my smoothest pedal strokes on pavement I look down
and see the shock osculating a milometer or two.
Next tuning experiementation with the Spartan will be gradually lowering the
shock pressure while keeping compression damping in medium to firm and seeing
how that compares with higher shock pressure and less compression damping.
Thanks for the detailed review. Nice to see someone else had similar
experience and I'm not too out-to-lunch in my findings. I wonder if DeVinci
has plans to lengthen the frame (like they did to the Troy) and go to boost
(gasp) spacing. I'd be curios to try that!
Kurt
July 27, 2016, 9:33 a.m. - kurtm
#!markdown Good review. I have the same bike, and experienced the same issues with the Monarch. I'm 6'5″, 208 lbs, riding an XL and prefer to run the shock around 240 PSI. I found 2.5 bottomless tokens in the stock Pike works well with this pressure in the shock. Like you I'm in the 'steep' setting for trails around Edmonton. (the N.Sask river valley doesn't have enough relief for sustained descents to warrant the 'slack' setting). I was really surprised to find that it rides well for a wide range of pressures. Even with almost no pressure in the shock, it bottomed out rarely on the SS course at the Hinton mtn bike park, and when it did bottom it wasn't a harsh 'thunk'. I guess you could say it's not sensitive to an ideal set-up like many other bikes are. Starting to get frustrated with the Monarch though. I've re-greased it several times with varied results. Might be sending that back on warranty soon. Still not sure exactly which compression damper setting is best. Toying with flipping from full-open to full-closed, or just leaving it on the mid-setting. Riding full-closed does keep it noticeably higher for climbs which is nice. I would not recommend adding bottomless bands to this shock - the suspension kinematics look after that duty very well already. My Wilson is what piqued my interest in the Spartan. The Wilson pedals so well for a DH bike I thought the Spartan must be great too. I know what you mean about 'inch-worming'. Doing my smoothest pedal strokes on pavement I look down and see the shock osculating a milometer or two. Next tuning experiementation with the Spartan will be gradually lowering the shock pressure while keeping compression damping in medium to firm and seeing how that compares with higher shock pressure and less compression damping. Thanks for the detailed review. Nice to see someone else had similar experience and I'm not too out-to-lunch in my findings. I wonder if DeVinci has plans to lengthen the frame (like they did to the Troy) and go to boost (gasp) spacing. I'd be curios to try that! Kurt