FutureShock Spring Choice

rochrunner

rochrunner

Well-Known Member
Region
USA
City
Rochester Hills MI
The FutureShock on my Vado SL 5.0 came with the medium-rate spring installed, but they also provided the softer and stiffer springs. The sheet that came with it shows that it's not difficult to change myself if I have a need to. Anyone have any experience on how you've found the different springs to behave? The Vado will probably see more rough roads than a typical Creo would, so maybe that would point towards the stiffer spring?

Obviously I'll find out for myself once I'm able to start riding, but thought I'd see what others have done.
 
Hi,
I saw both posts of yours. The best could be you waited until you actually can ride the SL, give it a week or two and then decide. You see... After replacing the Vado SL stem with Redshift (which you should not do!), I noticed I felt uncomfortable on my "Fearless". First of all, it was too much of the air drag. Secondly, my bottom was suffering. To my own surprise, I decided to lower the bars dramatically (far lower than originally installed). Guess what. It turned out to be the best riding position for me: my bum was relieved, there's less air drag, no back ache, etc. I also added SQlab Innerbarends to "ride in the hoods" and it has become my favourite riding position.

Regarding the FutureShock, I saw some video, and it didn't look too simple. Perhaps the Spec LBS could relieve you from doing that chore yourself?
 
Stefan Mikes said:
Regarding the FutureShock, I saw some video, and it didn't look too simple. Perhaps the Spec LBS could relieve you from doing that chore yourself?
Click to expand...
The installation is complicated, but changing the spring is just a matter of removing the stem, unscrewing the top shock cap, changing the spring, and reinstalling the cap. As far as raising the stem, I was going by the changes that I made to my trusty CrossTrail, which the SL closely resembles. On the CrossTrail I installed an adjustable stem early on to raise the bars and it has been fine for me for the last 9 years.
 
rochrunner said:
The installation is complicated, but changing the spring is just a matter of removing the stem, unscrewing the top shock cap, changing the spring, and reinstalling the cap. As far as raising the stem, I was going by the changes that I made to my trusty CrossTrail, which the SL closely resembles. On the CrossTrail I installed an adjustable stem early on to raise the bars and it has been fine for me for the last 9 years.
Click to expand...
I found it easy to change the spring in my Vado 5 SL EQ but be careful unscrewing to shock cap. I chipped my paint & had to repaint the cap.
Mine was also delivered with the medium spring. I rode it for a few months then tried the light spring. I liked the light spring the best. It seemed to be a bit easier on my hands and wrists but YMMV.
 
JeffC57 said:
I found it easy to change the spring in my Vado 5 SL EQ but be careful unscrewing to shock cap. I chipped my paint & had to repaint the cap.
Mine was also delivered with the medium spring. I rode it for a few months then tried the light spring. I liked the light spring the best. It seemed to be a bit easier on my hands and wrists but YMMV.
Click to expand...
Yes, it does look easy even if you don't have a "cone wrench". Which cap do you mean? The one on top of the stem or the one that you unscrew to reveal the spring?
 
Sorry, I wasn't very precise in my initial response. The one at the top of the stem. Mine was on too tight to remove by hand. It's painted and got a bit dinged up when I used plyers to remove. The screw below the cap that holds the spring in place removes easily with a wrench.
There's a separate instruction leaflet for the future shock system. It covers a lot of stuff but changing out the spring is on the last page. If you didn't get one with your bike, it's available on the Specialized website.
 
BioWheel said:
Forget the touch-up paint >> get a new cap.

kustomcaps.com

KustomCaps - Customizable Bicycle Headset Caps

Cool customizable headset caps, bar end plugs and other accessories to make your bike one-of-a-kind. Trusted by tens of thousands of cyclists worldwide.
kustomcaps.com kustomcaps.com
Click to expand...
The ones shown on the home page are all the standard type with a center bolt, but the FutureShock has a solid cap that screws onto (into?) the stop of the stem.
 
rochrunner said:
The ones shown on the home page are all the standard type with a center bolt, but the FutureShock has a solid cap that screws onto (into?) the stop of the stem.
Click to expand...
Yes, the Specialized cap is, well, Specialized. The screw is on the bottom of the cap and has a rubber grommet to hold it in place. So as you unscrew it, it really does not come free until you pull against that rubber gasket. I know because I changed the height of the Future Shock about four different times figuring out what I wanted. Then replaced the Specialized nylon spacers with machined aluminum mentioned in a site that showed how to adjust those spacers.
 
Allan47.7339 said:
If we keep using the incorrect terms, it could be quite a few but not as many Polish words we would need to learn to match your skill. A grommet normally refers to an edge protector for a hole in sheet metal.
Click to expand...
Actually, I was also going to reply but use a different example. If Stefan has ever seen a tarp where there are eyelets along the edge for attaching rope or cord, those holes are generally reinforced with grommets.

I guess that rubber whatever is more like an O-ring.

Do you need more words, @Stefan Mikes ???
 
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