Retro Full Suss - The good, the bad and the ugly?

[andrewl]

Turner went Faux bar...

I thought Turner was licensing the FSR patent from Specialized at one point? What happened there?

They were up until 2005 when Ells started the ICT infringement buisness...

 

[DoctorRad]

They were up until 2005 when Ells started the ICT infringement buisness...

Right, so Turner licensed the FSR patent and modified the set-up in '97 and came up with an 'ICT' design. Ellsworth then get a patent on the ICT design despite Turner's prior art and start suing Turner over something which Turner basically invented?

Lovely :roll:

 

[dorsetbikeloving]

My head hurts.........

 

[shovelon]

This is hopefully what I'm picking up fingers crossed. I'm assuming these are RD springs??

Nope. They are genuine Proflex. The front shock is a noleen, the rear shock is a GDT(girvin damping technology), the system before the noleen and possibly built by noleen before Girvin bought out Noleen.

Both shocks are probably damped pretty stiff as the bike was sold as a high speed racing rig. If the Noleen is not blown, it soon will be, but I kinda like the action when blown.

This bike is the UK version of the 856 and was not cheap. :shock:

 

[dainesefreak]

Thanks for the info. I assumed they were replacements as I'd only seen the yellow Elastomers on a Proflex previously (admitedly I hadn't been looking too hard).

I assume that I can replace these with RD Springs if needed at some point?

 

[WD Pro]

Defo looks more modern / upgraded / higher speced than my version of a 856

 

[shovelon]

Thanks for the info. I assumed they were replacements as I'd only seen the yellow Elastomers on a Proflex previously (admitedly I hadn't been looking too hard).

I assume that I can replace these with RD Springs if needed at some point?

RDS should have an assortment of springs in different weights to fit those shocks. Usually his kits come with spring hats that you don't need obviously.

Try the spring preload first to adjust the ride height. Just don't let the strut get too loose, as it may buckle(been there). I had always liked to run my crosslink to top out on climbing, and REALLY get your bum moved rearward because of the J-path characteristics of the fork on the downhills. It kind of felt like I was going to be pitched over the bars when hitting the brakes. But once you figure it out you can use it to your advantage on cornering.

 

[detomaso]

Great thread to stumble across, I too had been looking at that bike but forgot (as I do most of the time) to bid. I'm keen to hear more about the handling characteristics of the Girvin's as I haven't ridden on them yet (the 757 is in pieces waiting to be sprayed) and I found the Chubbies on the Beast a tad flexy.

I was under the impression that you could only get the springs from RDS if you had originally had a elastomer set-up, as the Beast could really do with a stiffer rear-end.

 

[dorsetbikeloving]

Girvins are marmite, you really do love them or hate them!

I love them, they are super stiff, track very well and are great when climbing. After all that for me, they look great and really change the way a bike looks!

Just get rid of the elastomers and get a sping replacement from Rapid Descent, Scotland. They know their stuff.

 

[detomaso]

It's already got the spring replacement on it, I just haven't had a chance to ride it before it was all stripped.

Well ProFlex seem a bit marmite anyway, so that's all fine by me