dogman dan
1 PW
As I understand it, softtail is going to have a soft damper, but no real travel. Often, there is no pivot on the bottom end of the frame, and they just let the metal flex a few mm.
So perhaps the proflex is really more like a FS, but of the XC type with short travel to minimize pedal bob.
While shock setup remains cruicial if you want to minimize pedal bob, even the most primitve 4 bar linkage bikes can be set up so pedal bob is not excessive. Such as the blackcomb from wally world, or the genesis.
Part of why this bike got made into a street commuter, was the primitive suspension bobbed like mad, unless set up extremely stiff. The 5 inch travel was pretty useless if you have to crank it down till it barely moves. I'd ride up the trail, then back off the screw about about 3/4 inch, then ride down the trail. PITA. Now it makes a fine street bike, with the shocks all set up stiff as hell. Pic of that bike before, that shows the shocks better.
Something about all the link and pivot designs does wonders for minimizing pedal bob, compared to those that basicly have the shock connecting the seat stay to the frame.
The best bike I've ever ridden for minimal pedal bob without overtightening the preload is an XC bike design, the specialized FRS. Oatnet made a superb ebike from one, but I left mine a pedaler.
As always though, we make do with what we can get nice and cheap. 8) That's how I ended up with a couple blackcombs.
So perhaps the proflex is really more like a FS, but of the XC type with short travel to minimize pedal bob.
While shock setup remains cruicial if you want to minimize pedal bob, even the most primitve 4 bar linkage bikes can be set up so pedal bob is not excessive. Such as the blackcomb from wally world, or the genesis.
Part of why this bike got made into a street commuter, was the primitive suspension bobbed like mad, unless set up extremely stiff. The 5 inch travel was pretty useless if you have to crank it down till it barely moves. I'd ride up the trail, then back off the screw about about 3/4 inch, then ride down the trail. PITA. Now it makes a fine street bike, with the shocks all set up stiff as hell. Pic of that bike before, that shows the shocks better.
Something about all the link and pivot designs does wonders for minimizing pedal bob, compared to those that basicly have the shock connecting the seat stay to the frame.
The best bike I've ever ridden for minimal pedal bob without overtightening the preload is an XC bike design, the specialized FRS. Oatnet made a superb ebike from one, but I left mine a pedaler.
As always though, we make do with what we can get nice and cheap. 8) That's how I ended up with a couple blackcombs.
