Replacement shock for 2019 Levo – essential specs?

So it looks like I could get a spare shock for not a lot more than a service will cost on my Deluxe RT. That one is 210x55mm, not bearings, not trunnion. Don’t know the stock tune but it works v well for me (with max volume spacers). A Super Deluxe is the obvious upgrade, better for big descents. Think a small bottle will still fit despite the piggyback but for big rides I’ll have a pack anyway. And the Deluxe can go on for commuting, save the wear on the newer shock.

Can a bearing mount shock fit in a bike which currently has bushing mounts? The Levo has an eccentric mount thing for the flip-chip (always in low/slack). Any idea how to find out factory shock tunes, is it on serial numbers?

Depends.
Mate has a Stumpjumper with (I think) that kind of mount. He bought a second hand shock that turned out to have a bearing eyelet. As it was a Fox Float X it could be removed.

I think Rock Shox you need to replace the whole stanchion.

No idea if would fit as is… Unlikely, I’d think.

I think it depends on the size of the bolt and the gap between where it bolts into the frame. You can get shocks that either have bearing eyelets on them already, or there are press in bearing mounts – I had the former on my Bird Aeris and the latter on my Bird Aether. I can’t say I noticed any performance increase from moving from bushing to bearing but I was replacing bushings periodically and never had to replace the bearing.

It’s quite a minefield isn’t it?! Much easier with a Cane Creek where you just need the right dimensions and then turn the four damping knobs until it works!

Couple here with the Specialized tune

Ours are Fox with a RX tune for the Levo

https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3557565/

https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3529211/

So my bargain Deluxe off Pinkbike (cheers Tracey!) arrived! This is off a 2022 Levo and is going onto my 2019 Levo.

So I looked up the serial numbers on both and the differences are as follows:

Old Deluxe vs New Deluxe
Debonair vs Debonair Linear (the new shock’s air can looks smaller)
L vs Linear rebound tune (is this the same?)
H vs LC compression tune (these look to be opposite ends of the scale!)

The 2022 Levo has a slightly lower leverage ratio and slightly more progression, so a bit less damping makes more sense. Also the smaller air can should ramp up more.
And higher anti-squat also means less need for damping to reduce pedal bob. But it’s really not that different to the 2019 version.

I’ve ordered a bushing kit for the new shock so I can easily swap between the two. If nothing else, I might learn something so I can get a good custom tune at the next service.

I have noticed that me being about 7-10kg lighter than pre-pandemic means that I don’t bottom out the shock very often when it used to happen all the time (with the same sag %) which would suggest it needs less HSC or a bigger air spring.

👍

Air can – Debonair Linear is ‘the same’ as the one you have. It’s not quite, its actually slightly more linear I would say as well as offering negative and positive tuning, but its close.

L vs Linear – L is a digressive tune, Linear is well that, linear. You can get linear Low rebound too, but straight Linear is actually a good replacement for Low.

H vs LC – This is the killer. Specialized used to rely heavily on damping with very little anti squat. Now they tend to have more AS and need therefore less compression damping. LC may feel very soft as its the lowest option for compression damping – a full 4 tunes from H.

Bearings are only viable if you have 8*30 hardware mounts.

Thanks Ben, that’s very useful!

These are the leverage curves of the two different models (blue and olive green):

And these are the anti-squat curves:

So although the newer Levo has about 20% more anti-squat for a given ratio it’s not like they’re worlds apart, like say a 2015 Knolly vs a Banshee of the same era. And I run a 32 tooth chain ring so will have a bit more anti-squat than that.

My local trails are South Downs woodland, a mix of swoopy, jumpy and rooty. I’m off to Wales next weekend and I prefer the more natural stuff, like the BPW reds and easier blacks. My brain struggles to not get scared as jumps get bigger and berms get faster, give me a mess of roots and rocks and flat loose corners! Maybe the light compression tune will work well on the uplift stuff? Could use the firmer tune for the pedalling days.

What does digressive mean with rebound? I get it with leverage curves (opposite of progressive).

Been doing some more learning on shocks!

Am now wondering if there’s an argument for using the new shock with a mullet configuration for uplifts?

Here’s my reasoning:

I like the original (H/digressive) Deluxe at 35% sag with 29” wheels.

The new (LC/linear) Deluxe is going to be much more active and bottom more easily. To have a similar compliance/support it’ll need higher air pressure and less sag, which will also help it from bottoming out too easily. That’ll raise the sagged BB height and steepen the angles, which I don’t want. But if I put a 27.5 wheel in the back, that’ll drop the rear axle by 19mm.

There’s a flip-chip in the yoke which raises the BB by 6mm. Flip that to high and reduce sag from 35% to 25% and the sagged geometry will be the same when mullet as it will in low and with 35% sag.

Minor sticking points – I don’t have a boost 27.5 rear wheel with an HG driver (although I do have two 142 ones with XD drivers that aren’t in use!)

I’m back thinking about shocks again – although I get on very well with the Deluxe RT most of the time, I’m noticing it squashes down into the travel on berms and take-offs, making the bike a bit unbalanced and harder to pop into the air.

I’m thinking that a shock where I can wind on more low speed compression damping could help with this.

Did some fiddling with pressures and sag – found the shock pressure had dropped a bit. Pumped it up a bit and got it so it’s sagging to 25% / 32% standing f/r and 35% on the shock when seated with the dropper down. Riding it I realised that the front was rebounding too slow vs the back so sped it up by a click and then another – and found I’d reached max hare.

And then it dawned on me that it’s been a filthy winter and my suspension must be long overdue a lowers/aircan service! That’s what it needs, not new things, just proper maintenance!