I used to have a '99 FSRxc, but I just got a '03 SJ FSR frame as a warranty replacement. It came with a Float RL, but no manual was included.

I'd like to see some example "psi per rider weight" tuning-info charts like the ones found in the Specialized manual that came with my old '99 bike, just to get a general starting point. I called Specialized, but they just told me to go to Fox website, where I only saw "Application Guide" (where it notes length & travel, but no "psi/weight") and "Owners Manual" (PDF file) for my new shock (but not specific in use with this frame, per se).

According to the web info, my shock length is 6" and my shock travel is 1.25". All I saw is just the "recommended sag" of only .31" (or 7.9mm). (That seems to be pretty stiff...?) I suppose I'll just do the trial-and-error (or "get-on-and-get-off") method to reach this sag. (I'm 150lbs, by the way.)

I just think that a "psi per rider weight" chart could give a general starting point to make it easy for people (like me).

 

Thanks for your feedback, Brian, and I totally agree with your post about "not getting full travel" vs "pedal hitting rocks/roots". Since I was too lazy to change air pressure during the ride (trail ride, no racing), I went with the latter option by pumping 115~120psi in my old '99 Float on '99 SJ FSRxc with MRP link set at 90mm. It felt better this way (not so stiff), but my pedals sure hit lots of things. My ATAC alm's are beat-up (pins bent, etc) from all the banging (time for new pedals), but I've not gotten into Egg Beaters for this reason, either.

Even right out of the box (not even test-ridden yet), I noticed that '03 Float RL on '03 SJ FSR (not called FSRxc in '03?) is significantly smoother than my old one. I'm not sure if this attributes to the shock or the frame or both... What do you think? Anyway, I can't wait to finally ride it tomorrow!

 

By the way, as for '01 & '02 & '03 FSR(xc), BETD (in UK) makes an after-market shock linkage (about US$150).

On their homepage (the info on which has not been updated in a while, per BETD), the spec is posted as below...

1) Head angle 71 degrees, Travel 117mm
2) Head angle 73 degrees, Travel 120mm
3) Head angle 73 degrees, Travel 99mm
4) Head angle 71 degrees, Travel 106mm

However, per Dan at BETD, this linkage has since been updated/modified (and works for '03, in addition to '01/'02), and here's the new spec (assumed with a 100mm fork up front)...

Travel	Head Angle	BB
103mm	69.5	12 7/8
99mm	71	13.50
120mm	71	13 5/8
105mm	69.5	12 3/4

Dan at BETD also noted to pump 30psi more than usual with BETD link.

For now, I put my old 80mm fork ('00 Marz Z2 Atom 80) on my new '03 frame, while still trying to decide on a new fork. Vanilla R (set at 100mm) or Marathon S (105mm) for $320-ish. Or, if I *really* splurge, I suppose Talas R for $500-ish could be nice (though I still prefer/trust coil more). If I go with Talas, I could justify the BETD link to match the front/rear travel. If I go with Vanilla or Marathon, then I suppose the stock link at 90mm is "close enough" for a front/rear balance... What to do, what to do...

 

Just caleed them and ordered one this morning at 4:30AM (California time). *yawn*   :-p

Darn it, I didn't know about this "stronger bolt sleeve" thinggie. I wonder if it'll be a good idea for me (at 150lbs) to get one...? (I did crack the MRP link kit on my old '99 FSRxc, but never broke/bent bolts on it.)

All this added travel is certainly attractive, but it leads me to one last thought: Is the frame itself up to the task? It is - after all - just a XC rig, not FR. Right?   ;-p   At 180lbs/99mm/230psi, how big of a drop do you hit on this technically-XC-yet-BETD-enhanced rig?

Have you tried 120mm setting, by the way? Since both 99mm & 120mm are had at 71 HT angle, what are the reasons NOT to simply leave it at 120mm? Since the HT-geo remains constant, isn't more the better? Or does the small-bump sensitivity becomes less active, as more air pressure is needed for a longer travel setting? OK, so the BB height changes. Is that it, maybe?

Thanks again for all the helpful info.

 

Now that I found it on their website (under the Shock Bushes section), I guess it's a stronger replacement bolt/sleeve for the shock eyelet, not replacement bolts for attaching the link itself to the frame. (Correct?)

Unfortunately (or fortunately), my link kit had already been shipped out (as I missed your post about the bolt by just one day), so I guess I'm going to wait until my stock shock bushing wears out first. (I don't feel like paying shipping costs twice right now.)

By the way, with your "Strong Shock Bushes" (£15), did you get the teflon-soaked "Hulahoop Eyelet Bush" (£4), too? If so, could you tell any significant improvement(s)? Also, if I don't want to get bushing-swap done at LBS each time, I suppose I should get the Bush Extraction/Fitting Tool (£30) next time, too, eh?

Anyway, it's certainly good to know that "it's there" for when I need to change my shock bushing/bolt next time in the future. With my old MRP link on '99 FSRxc, I had to change my shock bushing every year. S-Works here is using a BETD link on his '99 FSRxc and yet to replace the shock bushing with it. So, I have high hopes for BETD stuff. Maybe my bushing will finally last longer now...

Thanks again.

 

Just received BETD link now.

It certainly looks great - beefy & promissing. But they sent me a wrong color. I ordered a black one, but they sent me a red one. If they sent me a silver one by mistake, I'd just kept it. But, not red. I know, I know, it's just a color, but I really don't like red.

Let's see how BETD deals with this silly mess-up, as I've already sent email to them. I hope they're pretty good about it, but I've never dealt with them before, so I guess I'll find out...

I suppose I should hold off on mounting this thing onto my bike, too. I was really looking forward to going on a test ride soon, though! Bummer...

 


The BETD link is huge! The size (or leverage) difference is quite significant, especially putting it next to the stock one (pic below).

As in the pic, the unit (& bolts, etc) is 215g (half a pound).

Too bad for the wrong color (hideous red) they sent me by mistake. I hope they can swap it quickly painlessly for me...

 

I just had the 1st test ride with the red "loaner" BETD link over the weekend (my 'black' one isn't here yet), and - "WOW!!" - what a difference in the ride performance! It not only makes the rear-end laterally stiffer, but the shock operation is so much smoother (especially on landing, etc). I don't know if it's the link's design/production quality or the needle bearings or both, but it's such a nice feel.

Brian:
It certainly wasn't cheap for me, either, but, just after one good ride, I know it was worth the money (& the extra 100g), making my harsher XC rig a bit more like a smoother trail-ride rig. (It depends on what one personally intends the bike/shock/link to do, of course.) A bit of skepticism that I had (as to how much of a difference this would actually make) is now gone-gone-gone.   ;-)

Derek:
For my 150lbs (plus a few more pounds w/ gear), I ended up having to pump 195psi (yikes!) to get the 'recommended sag' (0.31" or 7.9mm), when put on the "105mm" setting (I'm not sure if that's supposed to be "115mm" per typo - I'm double-checking w/ BETD) mainly because that gives me the lowest BB height of the 4 positions at 12 3/4". The stock for my frame is 12.5", and I have short legs. When I tried the 99mm or 120mm positions with 13"+ BB height, I just felt like I was on a XL-size bike (scary). With 195psi, I'm still getting a full travel (1.25" or 31.8mm) on a harsh stuff, so I must have set it right, more or less. I really feels very smooth on mid- to bigger stuff. When pumping that much air, maybe the small stuff feels a bit harsher, but that may just be up in my head, conceptually...? What do you think?

Again, below pic shows the significant difference between BETD link & stock link...

 

Sherm:
Coming from an do-it-all 80mm fork (Z2 Atom 80 on '99 FSRxc), a 100mm is plenty enough "do-it-all" for me. Although I have different travel options with a Talas fork (got it from Larry/MtnHghCyclry), I most always set it at 100mm and don't touch it at all (except for this one really sketchy bumpy loose babyhead-rock infested downhill run where I put it up to 125mm). Pretty much anything in-between (relaxed or technical, up or down) is nicely handled at 100mm. In fact, just for fun, whenever I put it up to 125mm on other 'regular' fun/technical downhills, I keep ending up off-course! (Steerling seems a bit slower with 125mm...?)

I think that '03 FSR must've been really spec'ed with a 100mm fork, but probably not much more. Generally, 125mm is overkill for me & this bike & its use. The extra travel may be nice occasionally, but the same quick control just isn't there on fast twisty runs, in my opinion. Well, at least for me (aka ex-80mm user) and/or for this bike, anyway. Also, I still like to climb, and 100mm still lets me climb without any prob's (I never use a lockout). I don't think that'd be the case with a 125mm fork. I pretty much consider my 125mm-fork setting as an 'emergency' button, when/where needed on rare really-scary occasions.

I guess it depends on what you want to do. I know that you know that you shouldn't be making a true FR/DH bike out of this light-duty XC rig, of course. ;-)

Also, while the stock link gives a 71' headangle, assumed with a 100mm fork, my BETD is set at 105mm which gives 69.5' headangle and (more importanly) 12 3/4" BB height (for my short legs) which seems to be perfect for me, personally. With 100mm, I think it's a good balance/match.

Anyway, since I just got Talas & BETD, pls take my feedback with a grain of salt.

Oh, also, I just got my "black" link in the mail today (& Strong Shock Bushes & Hula Hoop Bush --- BETD totally hooked me up, thanks to Rob). I can send the red 'loaner' one back to BETD now...
With all these stronger bolts/bush, the whole thing is 310g (the link itself was about 200g or so, I think), so my whole bike must be close to 31lbs now.

 
It breaks down to US$150/link + US$30/shipping. I bought mine in October, and that's the price I got. (The exchange rate fluctuates, of course.)

BETD threw in Strong Shock Bush and stuff as 'freebie' for me, because they initially messed up and sent me the link in the wrong color. The prices for these bolts/bushes are listed (in UK-£) on their website, and there's also a "Currency Converter" there at the bottom of the left-side/vertical frame/window.