TLDR - What base level shock in 165x40mm trunnion to send off for a custom tune for v.light kid.
I've just bought my eldest a new to us Vitus Mythique in 24" flavor. It's got the same excellent kids specific Manitou fork as her cub-scout but an X-fusion 02 Pro R shock that sounds rather squelchy. Rather than pay to have that serviced, I'd prefer to upgrade to something that's available second hand reasonably priced and can be tuned for a very light rider. This is intended long term for one of her tiny sisters, who's currently turning 8 and still in 5-6 size clothes and light as a feather. Struggling to find much in the right size - 165x40 trunnion, plenty of RockShox Deluxe on the bay in the wrong size for £30-80. Alternatively how easy would it be to service the X-fusion and stick a thinner damper oil in?
I wouldn't get too excited about custom tunes for kids, or bugger about with the damper oil, can you get enough / as little amount of air in it to get 25% sag with the rebound set at fully fast? It'll be more than sufficient at that.
I realize this is STW and I'm not supposed to like the correct answer, but I like fettling bikes and the eventual recipient of the bike will likely run it into her mid teens and still weigh almost nothing - she's tiny. No point in having a FS if the suspension doesn't actually do anything.
There seems to be some Rock Shox Deluxe Select R, DebonAir, 165/45 on the bay, that look like the travel can be reduced with the addition of a 5mm spacer on the damper. Anyone know about the LNLC or PRLC tunes and if it's relatively low stiction?
Fox list all the shims for their various tunes on the servicing page for each shock and you can buy them from silverfish for 15 quid if you want to do it yourself.
Eg Scroll down on here
https://tech.ridefox.com/bike/parts-drawings/3053/float-part-information
Shims at silverfish...
Given the size of the rider, I suspect there would be very little to be done to get an active suspension action out it...probably needs to be a bit heavier for any real benefit...I guess as long as it doesn't act like a pogo stick then it will be beneficial.
Would it not be a better use of time/funds asking whoever you get to tune shocks what they can do with the bogo X-fusion before spunking more money on a posher shock and then even more on tuning.
A simpler (cheaper) shock might actually be easier to tune for a lighter rider, lighter oil and wind off the rebound as a start. Will you achieve that much more ‘performance’ re-shimming a float DHX?
I get the urge to tweak and optimise, but TBH I would save it for when they’re a bit more like adult sized…
If it helps, my daughter is light and always has been, she is 12 now and still only 37 kg. At 8 years old, she was a featherweight and riding a Kona Process 24 with the RockShox Deluxe Select Solo Air which apparently came with a custom tune from the factory / new. That was perfect for her doing everything from jumps to black tech trails. I am guessing if you contact RockShox they will know the tune? The Kona lasted ages and we just added more air as she got heavier, it always worked well.
If you are interested in the future, she then moved onto a Canyon Neuron Young Hero, which we still have, Manitou shock again custom tuned from new and she also has a Merida EoneSixty with a RS Deluxe Select +, interestingly, that’s a standard adult trim that we run at 25% ish sag and that works brilliantly, I had expected to look at custom tuning it but no need! 🙂
I bought a deluxe select R in the end, with the LC tune which I believe is the lightest as standard. Will see how we get on, and then look at a lighter oil or tube if she isn't getting much compliance.