|   Hey Brut... Stratos Helix ride report... | Ron B.
Oct 22, 2001 8:38 AM | | Here is the ride report I said I'd post on the Stratos Helix Expert.
The shock arrived on Friday as promised (a rarity with rear shocks). The first thing I noticed is that the shock is light for a coil over rear shock, lighter than expected. I don't know an exact weight as I don't have a good scale to weigh it on. My guess is it's only maybe 5 ounces more than the FOX Float and not much of a wieght penalty at all.
The person I ordered it from sent the wrong bushings with the shock though, but thankfully the original bushings fit the shock, though they were quite tight.
After installing the shock, I took it out for a test ride around the neighborhood. First impression was that the shock was a little on the harsh side, which I attribute to the very tight bushings. The damping range was very wide though, from fairly quick to molassas slow and this is with a 700 pound spring (I need an 800 to properly fit me though) compressed about 1/2 of an inch. Damping action did feel smooth through the entire range of travel that I was using. One thing I did notice right away is that the rear end of the bike wasn't nearly as bouncy on the flats. The damping was keeping the rear end under much better control than before.
On Saturday I took the bike out for a 20 mile ride, mostly fire roads and some single track. My initial impressions were much the same as Friday, a little harsh but good damping. As the ride progressed though the ride started to smooth out quite a bit. By mid way it was really smoothing out as the bushings started to seat and wear in. There is one big descent on this trail that drops about a 600 feet in a mile or so where speeds easily reach 30+ mph. On this descent the Helix felt great. The rear end of the bike no longer felt bouncy or like it was going to throw me, I was able to stay seated much longer and over more terrain than I was with the FOX Float (pre larger chamber and no damping adjustment). Damping felt smooth and controlled (set on the 2nd fastest setting). The stroke of the shock felt nice and progressive even though my Marin's rear end is a falling rate design. The air shock portion of the Helix adds a good deal of progressiveness to the shock (more air more progressive rate, less air more linear rate).
All in all I like the Stratos Helix Expert way more than I did the FOX float. The question that remains for me is whether or not it will hold up over time. I always expected my FOX to blow up on me and it lasted a two years. If I get the same duration out of the Helix I'll be happy. |
| re: Hey Brut... Stratos Helix ride report... | brut
Oct 23, 2001 7:30 AM | | Thanks for the post about the stratos.As for me I'm still deciding on a shock.So why did you go with the expert over the pro? do you not have a need for the lockout? Thanks again. |
| Well... | Ron B.
Oct 23, 2001 7:57 AM | | I went with the Expert for several reasons. First I got a great deal on it, 185.00 including shipping.
Second, no I didn't need the lock out. I've never used a lock out and even if I had access to one I doubt I would ever use it. I run the rear shock a little stiffer than what is recomended (15%-20% sag) which helps with the efficiency of the ride.
I was also just looking for a shock with adjustable rebound damping. I don't need the adjustable compression damping as stock compression damping generally works fine for me, its the rebound that I have problems with. There is a wide range of adjustment in the rebound damping on the Stratos and when adjusting the rebound damping it also has an effect on the compression damping.
Overall though I'm happy with the Helix Expert, it should be a great shock. |
| Well... | brut
Oct 23, 2001 2:40 PM | | $185 with shipping! Where? |
| Here actually... | Ron B.
Oct 23, 2001 3:00 PM | | I got it out of Marketplace. There is a guy there with a posting selling shocks (mostly Stratos). They are overstocked items according to him.
He can be reached at overstock101@hotmail.com
He had my shock here with in three days of ordering it. Of course the deals are limited to availability. |
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