Having doubts about suspensions

[Grichka]

Hey, so I recently bought my first E-MTB, a Specialized Turbo Levo Expert from 2019 and I'm thrilled !
Though I have a doubt about the "high level" components, mainly the suspensions it came with : a Rockshox Pike RC29 and a Rockshox Deluxe RT3.
Now if I look around, all the other "high level" bikes from Spe (and other brands) have Fox Factory suspensions. Knowing that the Expert is the second most expensive bike they offer, putting a "cheap" Rockshox set on it might be a mistake ?

I am definitely not an expert on suspensions, and I'm trying to check on the web what are the differences or get good explanations on how the things work. So I'm looking for advice, shall I not bother with that and the Rockshox will handle me and the bike good enough, or shall I consider upgrading to Fox Factory (like a Fox 36 Factory and a Fox Float DPS Factory) ?

Cheers!

 

[Waynetta]

A suspension specialist I spoke to said when asked “what 150mm travel fork should I go for“ he said “pick which ever is your favourite colour, they’re all excellent“.

 

[Martinintirol]

Hey, so I recently bought my first E-MTB, a Specialized Turbo Levo Expert from 2019 and I'm thrilled !
Though I have a doubt about the "high level" components, mainly the suspensions it came with : a Rockshox Pike RC29 and a Rockshox Deluxe RT3.
Now if I look around, all the other "high level" bikes from Spe (and other brands) have Fox Factory suspensions. Knowing that the Expert is the second most expensive bike they offer, putting a "cheap" Rockshox set on it might be a mistake ?

I am definitely not an expert on suspensions, and I'm trying to check on the web what are the differences or get good explanations on how the things work. So I'm looking for advice, shall I not bother with that and the Rockshox will handle me and the bike good enough, or shall I consider upgrading to Fox Factory (like a Fox 36 Factory and a Fox Float DPS Factory) ?

Cheers!

The question is 'Am I an elite level athelete that is racing? Do I know exactly what I need to achieve my optimum racing style?' If not, I reckon you will be fine. I think you will find that Rockshox products have satisfied many world champions over the years...

 

[steve_sordy]

There is a thread on here that looks at all the various bits of advice that members have judged to be good. This is one of them:

https://bikerumor.com/2014/10/30/bikerumor-suspension-setup-series-full-series-pdf-free-download/

The out-take is that pretty much any suspension can be made the best it can be with a few simple tweaks. Personally, i would not swap out any fork or shock of mine before I had made it the best it can be and still found it wanting. But then I would know exactly what it was lacking.

 

[Bryan Wells]

Here is what you will notice after many many many hours riding all kinds of nice full sus mtb and e-mtbs...

Yes the fancy factory stuff is pretty and given the massive adjustability really does allow for a WIDE RANGE of tuning, but if you are not a super huge suspension nerd you will likely never set it up to offer any benefit over a performance series or RS Pike and i mean this! I'm the lead suspension tech for Infinity Cyclery here in the USA and I deal with damping tuning all day 5 days a week.

That being said... Specialized... they really really know how make a mid spec bike feel like it's dialed, cream of the crop, right out of the box. The base valving used across the platform and balance the bikes are designed around really leave most people supersized, myself included. My point is that as long as you fit within a decent range of the bikes original rider weight and aggression design, you really have no gains but looks when slapping on factory kit. Think of it like an Apple device, Apple never specs to the T, but the overall use just works well, really well.

the exception to this is if you go coil shock. It's not really any better or worse running coil, just better at one thing than the other, small bump compliance mainly, resulting in extreme comfort and grip, but deadens the bike overall.

 

[Martinintirol]

Here is what you will notice after many many many hours riding all kinds of nice full sus mtb and e-mtbs...

Yes the fancy factory stuff is pretty and given the massive adjustability really does allow for a WIDE RANGE of tuning, but if you are not a super huge suspension nerd you will likely never set it up to offer any benefit over a performance series or RS Pike and i mean this! I'm the lead suspension tech for Infinity Cyclery here in the USA and I deal with damping tuning all day 5 days a week.

That being said... Specialized... they really really know how make a mid spec bike feel like it's dialed, creme of the crop, right out of the box. The base valving used across the platform and balance the bikes are designed around really leave most people supersized, myself included. My point is that as long as you fit within a decent range of the bikes original rider weight and aggression design, you really have no gains but looks when slapping on factory kit. Think of it like an Apple device, Apple never specs to the T, but the overall use just works well, really well.

the exception to this is if you go coil shock. It's not really any better or worse running coil, just better at one thing than the other, small bump compliance mainly, resulting in extreme comfort and grip, but deadens the bike overall.

Really pleased to read this. Having dumped a load of cash on a 2020 Turbo Levo Comp which is to be delivered next week, I read the threads on this forum relating to their products and I was also getting a little nervous... But seriously, having used their road products in the past I have always been more than satisfied with the all round performance vs my meagre talents. So, I am very excited to share my Emtb stories and pics here at some time in the very near future!

 

[R120]

Personally I would take RS over Fox any day of the week, but it really is apples vs oranges.

 

[Bryan Wells]

Personally I would take RS over Fox any day of the week, but it really is apples vs oranges.

and there is nothing wrong with that, internally they all are very similar.

 

[Grichka]

Thank you for your answers guys, I feel much better knowing all that now, and you are all right. Thank you @Bryan Wells for your feedback as a pro, appreciate that. I guess you just saved me some money and hassle! Now I guess I just need to understand correctly how those things work and set them up nicely for my weight, then play a bit with the settings to see the difference.

 

[Mikerb]

Here is what you will notice after many many many hours riding all kinds of nice full sus mtb and e-mtbs...

Yes the fancy factory stuff is pretty and given the massive adjustability really does allow for a WIDE RANGE of tuning, but if you are not a super huge suspension nerd you will likely never set it up to offer any benefit over a performance series or RS Pike and i mean this! I'm the lead suspension tech for Infinity Cyclery here in the USA and I deal with damping tuning all day 5 days a week.

That being said... Specialized... they really really know how make a mid spec bike feel like it's dialed, cream of the crop, right out of the box. The base valving used across the platform and balance the bikes are designed around really leave most people supersized, myself included. My point is that as long as you fit within a decent range of the bikes original rider weight and aggression design, you really have no gains but looks when slapping on factory kit. Think of it like an Apple device, Apple never specs to the T, but the overall use just works well, really well.

the exception to this is if you go coil shock. It's not really any better or worse running coil, just better at one thing than the other, small bump compliance mainly, resulting in extreme comfort and grip, but deadens the bike overall.

Really well said! My own experience has been exactly that. Setting whatever suspension you have to suit your level of riding aggression and your weight is 90% of the job for any suspension over say 500$/£400 ( fork) IMHO. The main issue I think for some is that they may be much lighter or much heavier.....or ride more or less aggressively, than the suspension on the bike was designed for; and this possibly applies more on EMTBs than analogue bikes due to the difference in weight of the bike. That weight difference applies not only from a static ( sag) point of view but also dynamically. My mate at 65kg has the same front fork as me, the RS Rev but it was standard from RS. My RS Rev on a Levo Comp was of course set up by Specialised. Set up for an EMTB, largely for trail use and probably for an average rider weight of 85 to 90kg. I am 77kg so it was not right for me. I took both spacers out and run it as 68psi and it is perfect. My mate on his standard RS REV is running 1 spacer and 80psi. We do the same runs, drops and jumps and invariable use the same amount of travel. Same fork different set ups and different tuning.

 

[Intermtb]

those are not cheap suspension, pretty expensive (not the most).

RS Pike is one of the best fork out there, it is also my fav.
I put debonair shaft on both of my pike, and leave 1 token inside.
your levo probably already has debonair shaft in the fork.
I am no suspension expert either, but been riding pike for over 5 years, and just for basic setting, rebound (on right fork at the bottom) 4-7 clicks from fastest, pressure about -20psi from the chart on the fork, I found the chart is too harsh for my liking, more for hardcore rider who jump a lot, IMO.

Rockshox Deluxe RT3, rebound at the middle or 1-2 click from middle toward slowest. sag 25%, should be good as starting point.

have fun.

 

[Grichka]

Thanks @Intermtb, I had already set my fork almost like you suggested, I have 7 clicks out, and 110 PSI. For the shock I have to tune the rebound, but the sag is at 25%. I am 6'5, 85kg, so maybe 93kg with riding gears.

 

[Jdog]

I was a lifelong Fox fan boy until I got a YT Capra that came with Rockshox suspension. It was brilliant, absolutely faultless in 2 years of regular hard riding and so much so that I now have don't have a preference as I think they're too close to call.

@Waynetta hit the nail on the head with just choosing the colour you like

 

[Gary]

Personally I would take RS over Fox any day of the week

THIS

Especially if you don't actually have a clue what the differences between RS and Fox are.
It might well be tempting to splash your cash on lots of knobs... but kinda pointless if you barely know what you're doing with just the one