Charger damper RCT3

[EMTBSEAN]

I have just bought a charger damper RCT3 for my Whyte e150rs, now I’m not sure if I’ve bought the wrong one, I’m wondering if I should have bought the RC2 instead, can anyone help me with some advice please

 

[Planemo]

The RCT3 doesn't have independently adjustable LSC and HSC. But it does have a lock out.

All depends what you want out of the damper really. I would prefer an RC2 as I never, ever use lockout.

 

[RustyMTB]

Start here, enter the serial number of your fork & check the part number of your charge damper against the listed upgrades, if your question is about fitment. If it's just buyer's remorse, you're on your own.

 

[EMTBSEAN]

Yeah I think based on both lots of advice I have made a mistake, the RCT3 will fit my forks but I think I’m going to contact the seller and see if they have the RC2 instead, thanks guys

 

[Planemo]

Bear in mind that I believe both versions have the same damping 'build quality', so they are both a very nice damper. It's just the range of adjustments that differs. If you're a fiddler and want to tune the fork to the absolute best it can be for your riding style, then yes the RC2 might give you that. But the RCT3 isn't a crappy 2nd best by any means, just different.

 

[RustyMTB]

Indeed & it's a big improvement over motion control in my experience. I upgraded a Yari this way & was very happy with it.

 

[EMTBSEAN]

Yeah I do like to tinker around with my suspension so I’m gonna send it back, I know it’s a good bit more expensive than the RCT3 but I definitely think it’s the better option for me and my style of riding, I’m more annoyed with myself more than anything and the fact I bought the wrong one which is going to cost me wasted time as well as the money, oh well I’ll learn to open my eyes wider next time and not use the painted on ones many thanks for all your feedback guys

 

[steve_sordy]

When deciding between the RCT3 and the RC2, I pondered long and hard, read reviews etc. In the end I chose the RCT3 because I decided that despite liking to mess about with suspension tuning, I didn't really need the extra tuning capability that the RC2 offered. The extra £100 cost was only a small factor.
My mate however opted for the RC2 for similar reasoning to me, except that he DID want the extra tuning capability. We were both delighted by our choices.

 

[EMTBSEAN]

Thanks for all your advice and feedback guys, in the end I sent the RCT3 back and bought the RC2 instead, I had to import it from world wide cyclery in the good old US of A at nearly £150 more than the RCT3 but even with import duties it was still cheaper than this country so happy days, all I need now is for my left shoulder pain to subside and I can get it fitted, thanks again guys

 

[Planemo]

Good stuff! Please do let us know how it compares in riding to the stick MC damper!

 

[RustyMTB]

You'll love it. It's a big improvement over motion control, especially on fast, techy sections where the oil & air mix heavily on MC forks, you should really notice the difference.

 

[EMTBSEAN]

Thanks guys, once I’ve fitted it I’ll be sure to do a bit of a report but I have every faith that it’ll be the difference between night and day especially the trails I ride in the Peak District, at the moment though I’m sat on my settee with what seems like Covid, I had my booster jab last Thursday and I’ve crap ever since

 

[steve_sordy]

Good stuff! Please do let us know how it compares in riding to the stick MC damper!

When I finally got my first opportunity to ride the RCT3, I could only ride locally. I took it to a public bridleway (rutted grass track for those outside the UK). To get there I had to ride down a pot-holed cinder covered farm track. I set the compression damper to "Open" and away I went. I thought this feels OK, but I was expecting a bit of a WOW! I was a bit disappointed to be honest; I was beginning to think that I had wasted my money. After a while I thought I might as well try the other two settings. then I realised that I had been in the "Firm" setting. My embarrassment was swiftly overtaken by joy as I realised just how good it could be.

 

[Planemo]

Interesting report steve, good to hear. From what I have read the Charger dampers only really come into their own with repeated hard hits so it's good to hear you felt a difference with 'just' some mildish hits. Hopefully EMTBSEAN can expand on his own experience when he manages to get out. I feel bad for you Sean, I'm awaiting my booster so I hope I don't feel as bad as you!

 

[EMTBSEAN]

Yeah thanks Steve, great response but then again you always give responses mate, and thanks Planemo, I hope you don’t have any side effects either mate, I had both the first and second jabs which were pfeizer and had no issues the last one was the Moderna jab with all the side effects apart from vomiting, fingers crossed you don’t suffer too.
Fingers crossed I’m fit enough to crack on and get it done this weekend

 

[steve_sordy]

Ref the jabs: I must be lucky because I never get any adverse reaction to jabs, flu, pneumonia, Covid... But I had some blood taken from the crook of my arm two weeks ago and where the tourniquet had been situated, I got a blood-filled lump. The following day I was lucky enough to be able to get 2 mins with the nurse that did it. "Never seen anything like that, are you sure it wasn't there before? Keep your eye on it!"

Two days later I pressed down on it and it popped and went flat. Bruising followed for an inch all around. The following day it came back and has stayed there. The GP said (during a telephone appointment for something else), "never heard of anything like that, are you sure it wasn't there before? Keep your eye on it!"

Two weeks later it is still there, but the GP said give it 4-6 weeks to re-incorporate. At least it's not dark blue anymore. It doesn't hurt, but I can feel it through two layers of clothing. (It'll be reet! Stop thy fussin' lad!)

 

[EMTBSEAN]

I’m normally like that too Steve, I’ve had god knows how many injections for flu, pneumonia, Covid over the years, even going through three strokes fifteen years ago I gave no end of blood samples and injections I never had any any kind of side effects, well nothing like what I’m feeling like now, what you’ve been through though sounds positively gross

 

[steve_sordy]

.............................. what you’ve been through though sounds positively gross

I hadn't considered it in those terms. I was concerned at first that it may be an aneurysm (a bulge in a blood vessel caused by a weakness in the blood vessel wall). But then I popped it (why....?). Now not concerned any more, other than it is a "blemish" that may go wrong on me at some time.

 

[EMTBSEAN]

Well I hope for your sake it doesn’t go wrong mate, I woke this morning still feeling bad but fortunately not as bad as yesterday, fingers crossed I can do something this weekend and get back to work next week too