Looking to upgrade my Fox Float evo ctd rear shock on my Zesty but on a budget (as near to £100 as possible)

Options seem to be a better second hand Fox CTD / RS Monarch Debonair RL3 (what I’d really like but hard to find).

Also seen a few new Monarch Debonairs on ebay which have been removed from new bikes. These are coming in on budget but are the R model so not even lockout. I’m tempted but worried that I’ll miss the ability to adjust/lockout.

The ‘but’ is that I have set up my existing shock to work effectively in the trail setting (run full recommended sag in this setting rather than Descend as I never remember to flick the switch), the bike climbs better off-road without lockout, so I only use this winching on fire roads. So am I over worrying about having too much adjustment? Does anyone have experience of the basic monarch debonair? Should I just throw my lot in with a bit more spendy upgraded fox?

You’ll want to get a higher tune than normal if you don’t have a compression lever. Which will make the bike a little less compliant on the descents .

Basically, you’ll compromise because you can’t choose to change the low speed damping on the trail.

That said… My Zesty worked really well with the stock Fox, without a lockout.

get the shock you have tuned, better than buying something cheap.

you can get a monarch rt debonair for close to £100 secondhand

Has platform lever and I think would be great on a zesty if you can get the m/m tune

I’ll be looking for a M/M tune. This is what has ben recommended by Mojo.

I’m looking out for the RL3 but nowt around at the moment. A factory CTD is around £150 or Jtech a re doing one on ebay for 170 with a tune

Bump for the day crowd. Any other input?

Have a look at a Vorsprung Corset. Added one to my RP2 and love it.

http://vorsprungsuspension.com/products/vorsprung-corset-air-sleeve
http://j-techsuspension.co.uk/pages/products/vorsprung-corset-air-sleeves.php

Plenty of Monarch RTs on Pinkbike as people take them off Reigns to upgrade.

Cracking little shock though, it’s got a platform lever and IME you don’t need a “mid” mode on the Zesty as it’s quite a taut suspension setup anyway.

Leku – Member
Have a look at a Vorsprung Corset. Added one to my RP2 and love it.

Good idea, but my shock is the Evo version with the ultra basic damper/internals – not even tunable, I want to upgrade that first, I think that the Corset would be like rolling a turd in glitter.

[/quote]Plenty of Monarch RTs on Pinkbike as people take them off Reigns to upgrade.

Cracking little shock though, it’s got a platform lever and IME you don’t need a “mid” mode on the Zesty as it’s quite a taut suspension setup anyway.

Keeping an eye out, one on there at the moment but over budget.

Any views on a better Fox (Factory Kashima)?