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Hi i recently bought my first downhill bike ( a orange 223 ) and i cant wait to hit the trails but first i want to make sure i can get the bike adjusted to me instead of the previous owner. the front fork is a bomber 888 and it feels amazing , super plush and sounds amazing . my rear shock is a 5th element shock and ive got no clue what coil i should run and no clue what air pressure i should run. if anyone can help thatd be great . i weigh 13 stone fully kitted and the shock has a 2.5 inch stroke . any help would be greatly appreciated , if you need any more info ill try get it
Try the tftuned spring calculator as a good start. I did end up buying a second spring though as i like running my bike slightly softer than recommended, but it took a bit of trial and error to find that out
Wow this is like a thread from 2005. Get some pictures up!
I thought I was onto a winner when I found this, but unfortunately all the links are dead https://www.progressivesuspension.com/c/literature-5th-element
I found the tf tuned spring calculator way out for my 2022 Sentinel (24% progression). It suggested 393lbs but a 450lb spring is still bottoming out too easily. Just put a 450-550 progressive spring on to try.
I’d have a look at what’s on there now and give it a ride and see whether it’s too hard or too soft and work from there.
its currently a 450ibs coil on it right now ill try get some pics up
its a pain to find manuals most are dead . i really need a og owner to upload their manual for me
Yay - I have an old (20yrs?) bullit frame in the garage with a 5th element on it !
All I have left by way of manuals is a TFT FAQ sheet that's a pdf. PM me your email and I'll send it over but not sure it'll change your life.
Retrobike is probably a better bet than here to get the 5th Element manuals. Unfortunately I believe you’re completely out of luck if it needs servicing
in terms of condition it feels better than some of my brand new shocks :')
i was thinking of doing something like this thread says and combining different parts if it ever blows
https://www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=168273
If it ever blows I'd just buy whatever Fox or Marzocchi coil will fit. It'll be cheap and much easier to live with.
If you want to make the 5th Element work well I'd try to get on the phone with someone who knows about them and maybe has a stash of spare parts. Start with TFTuned.
ill give them a call tomorrow as im in the uk so it should be dead easy to just drop them a call and see what theyve got
what sort of shock do you think would be a go for or do you think tftuned would know whats best
Any half decent coil shock with the same eye to eye length. I'm not sure what the measurements are. TF are definitely the people to ask.
I'd imagine replacement shocks of that vintage will be very cheap on the used market.
last time i checked i think i can get another 5th element for round £75 so i may grab one for parts and just start experimenting
Ask TF Tuned, they’re pretty helpful and know what they’re talking about.
Pretty sure the 5th Element is obselete and you won’t get parts for it but if you keep the seals on the 888s they’ll last forever with the odd oil change. Also they were plush AF back then.
i have to admit the 888 is amazing . ill see what tf tuned can do . i might just change to a 9 inch shock