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Anyone help with a explanation of pros /cons /reason for the difference in the placing of the shock:
1) http://www.specialized.com/dk/en/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?spid=52791&scid=1000&scname=Mountain placed parallel with upper tube
2) http://www.canyon.com/_dk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2070 placed parallel with the seat post
One makes you faster.
One makes you faster
which will be the red one, as everyone knows red bikes are the fastest 😆
What with all these platform shocks and virtual pivot point systems, I don't think shock placement is critical any more.
Low down = lower centre of gravity
High up = out of the way of the mud and dust
But I reckon the biggest factor is aesthetics, and being able to create a unique selling point by being different to competitors.
parallel with the seat post will drop COG a tiny amount. Parallel with the top tube - the force / movement does not change direction so much so less friction / stress in the pivots
Miniscule difference tho
Other things such as the amount of rising rate, wheel path and so on will make far bigger differences
lower center of gravity on the canyon, but in real life not a lot.
Trek and Giant integrate the lower shock mount and lower link pivot into one thing which should save some weight but thats probably just marketing.
At the end of the day theres 101 other things that will affect a bikes performance/feel before you think about where the shock is.
thers also the issue of where the force from the shock goes, allong the top tube makes this easy as you jut put a bend in it and mount the shock to that.