I've got an Orange Alpine with a RP23 shock, but it feels nowhere near as good as my old Patriots Vanilla. I use it for everything (can't afford, or have room for, multiple bikes), so I'm not sure if I'll regret changing to a heavier shock.

And should I go for a DHX over a Vanilla? Is it worth the extra?

Could always get a coil and put a Ti spring in it.

i have an alpine and the rp just didnt seem to suit it. i stuck a manitou 3x swinger on it and its ace. im thinking about the cc db but i cant afford the jump just now. might tf the shock and take the spv out of it….. but yep i recon go for it. id go dhx if you can.

seeeee

It's early days for me, but I've just swapped the RP23 to a DHX Coil on my Heckler.. It does feel smoother.. But like I said, it's early days… But being a bigger rider, it does feel..well, smoother.. Dare I say plusher??

Got it 2nd off here, gonna hammer it over the summer, possibly even get it PUSHED.. and see how we go..

Would you regret it??

I doubt it.

imo it seems an odd choice of shock to put in a bike like that i'd have thought at least a DHX air.

Sound like a yes then.

Joe, is it 215 x 64?

Do you have to sell the RP23 to fund the coil shock. If not keep the other one till you're happy

FWIW I don't think you'll notice the weight difference

Not sure if I can afford the DHX looking at it.

benji, I would'nt put anything other than a shock with platform damping on a single pivot. You'd be better off sending the shock to be Pushed.

PUSH'd Van R, then swap to a second-hand Ti spring when you feel flush?

Push'd? Pushed? Forgive my ignorance. What's that?

+1 for pushed van r
just made the same switch on my 5 spot andthe difference is immense.
Ok, so maybe different sort of bike but it's now so assured on the descents, best £250 I've spent in a while.
For info, weight difference between the van r and rp23 is about a pound if that sort of thing bothers you.

My Banshee came with an RP23 which was ok, repleced with a DHX5 coil which was better, but now using a Zocchi Roco TST R which feels in a different league to both the Fox shocks, super plush and the back end feels more lively and bites into the terrain like an angry turtle. The TST platform is very effective and easy to use on the fly.

And it only cost me £80 2nd hand, well worth a look IMO.

Push info

Push'd? Pushed? Forgive my ignorance. What's that?

It's basically the upgrade that TFTuned can do for you. They are suspension specialists and you can send them your forks or shock and they do things to it.

I'm toying with the idea of getting a Van R but my bike has strange eye to eye and stroke length. Does anyone know if you can get them custom made and if it costs much?

GiantJaunt – Member

I'm toying with the idea of getting a Van R but my bike has strange eye to eye and stroke length. Does anyone know if you can get them custom made and if it costs much?

I'd start by ringing TF.. they can get nigh on most shocks..

Not sure why I restricted my choices in the original post to the DHX or Van.

a bike like the alpine deserves a proper shock…

a bike like the alpine deserves a proper shock…

Like…. ❓

I never got on with DHX's.

old vanilla RC that I have in my five is great and cheap.

rocco World Cup in my supreme DH is an awesome shock, transformed the bike.

Upgraded my spicy from fox air can to cane creek double barrel with titanium spring, given the weight increase isn't massive the increased performance is significant. Very plush and controlled and doesn't blow through mid stroke anymore which was my biggest complaint. I'm 230lbs btw

If it's any help Mojo are selling old-stock shocks at the moment, look on their website in the clearance section.

Get something like a DHX 3, doesn't have many adjusters but it has the ones you need to make it feel good. When it's service time, get it PUSHed. It will then feel EXACTLY the same as a PUSHed DHX5 (i.e. REALLY nice), just without the fiddley dials. But then again once you've PUSHed a shock you shouldn't be fiddling with the dials anyway.

Intresting I too want to put a coil Shock on me Orange 5
I was looking at the Vanila but it has no pro pedal
which is a must if you have to pedal up.
If I get a Vanila pushed can they put in a type of pro pedal?

I have the dhx5 coil on my Alpine,it still pedals great but the back end is much more controlled when you hit the rough stuff.I tend to find that the rp23 gets out of its depth on bikes like this.

8.5 inch by 2.5 inch or 215 x 64. i just got hold of an old dhx4. getting it pushed should kick the ass of the 3x swinger. mmmmmm