[Closed] Shock pumps, any better than the others?

I’d get one with an electronic screen

Don't trust the analogue gauge on any of them. Had a new one which I thought was reading correctly. Stuck on my mates Shockwiz as the fork wasn't feeling right and my pump is reading way to high.

I now use my regular pump but use an electronic tyre pressure gauge I have to verify pressure.

Fine with 'analogue', just make sure you use the same shock pump all the time & handy to jot down somewhere the pressure you set forks/shock at. Still using a Wrench Force one i got years ago.

"Stuck on my mates Shockwiz as the fork wasn’t feeling right and my pump is reading way to high."

mmmmm I would not trust Shockwiz 100% as it does read diff to pump pressure/reading, with in 10ish PSI is gen to be OK.

Best thing is try you mates pump and your on the same shock. (take in account that when you refit the pump is lower than before as air is filling up the pump)

The main thing is to use the same pump all the time.

Fox or rockshox are both fine

Why do you need to know the pressure with any level of accuracy? I start at setting sag and the pressure is what it is, then over the course of a few rides fine tune...5psi at a time...its irrelevant what the actual number is just.

The best shock pump I ever had was £5 off Ebay. Lent it to a mate who never returned it and can't seem to find the same model agains. So no. Go cheap.

I'd refer to the sag settings on the suspension - you know where they need to be to match your riding preference.

No shockpump is going to give an ‘accurate’ read unless you keep it calibrated. The important thing is to always use the same one if you want the readings to be consistently useful.

I’ve been happy with the standard RockShox ones and the Beto ones that turn up cheap with many brand names.

I definitely wouldn’t pay a premium for an electronic one under the pretence it would somehow be more accurate.

Standard rockshox 300 does me.. Bought 2nd hand off here.

As above the accuracy of the guage is not that critical.. Go by sag and then put a bit more in or let a bit out keeping an eye that sag stays in the ball park to prevent bottoming out.

If your sag settings are ballpark, but you're always getting full travel then chuck in a spacer (Fox/Rockshox/Cane Creek forks and rear shocks) or deflate the fork/shock, remove the valve core and fill with a cc or so of fork oil via a syringe, replace valve cores and set sag accordingly. Sometimes it's about the progression of the shock and how to adjust accordingly to sit at the desired sag point.

My forks are 120 but I only get travel about half that bumbling around unless I hit something really hard and wrong. I don't do jumps or anything.
I'm guessing that's OK as it's not bogging down? I'm running a teeny bit more sag than the official guidelines for the fork as they feel too wooden otherwise.

Sag settings aren't that useful. It's only a rough starting point. The gauge is so you know what number works and you can repeat it without trial and error.

I have the Lifeline one from Wiggle which is a cracking pump for half the price - only down side is the gradations on the scale are far too coarse which is annoying and pointless, there's plenty of room to print more. But it works nicely and you can manage.

Basic inexpensive Beto works better than anything else I've used. Digital's no more likely to be accurate than analogue, it just takes read error out of it. And tbh does it really matter? Getting to within a few psi should be fine, after all the pressures while change due to ambient temperature, amount of usage etc...

If your sag settings are ballpark, but you’re always getting full travel then chuck in a spacer (Fox/Rockshox/Cane Creek forks and rear shocks) or deflate the fork/shock, remove the valve core and fill with a cc or so of fork oil via a syringe, replace valve cores and set sag accordingly. Sometimes it’s about the progression of the shock and how to adjust accordingly to sit at the desired sag point.

Don't do this on modern forks. The oil will just drain into the negative chamber.
This was a thing on older single chamber air forks though.

And tbh does it really matter?

Even I, the most nit-picky rider I know of, am ok with 5psi increments.

I’ve collected a variety of shock pumps over the years and pressure readings vary a lot between them. I’ve got a Schwalbe air max digital gauge I picked up for about £10. Although it’s not calibrated it gives a more definitive reading than some tiny gauge on a pump and it means I don’t have to remember which pump I used last.

I think the moral of the story is, find a pressure that works for you with the same pump to keep it consistent.
The actual scientific PSI (unless it's bonkers) is irrelevant. Unless you are riding mount everest or the marriana trench.

Fox are updating their youtube chanel really regularly these days and their guy Jordi always uses a digital shock pump and reads off the gauge as if it were gospel.

If youve got good modern forks and you need the best out of them it definitely pays to be on top them. 2 psi either way can make a difference for sure, so does your fluctuating weight.

I over inflate then use a pressure gauge to bleed them down the number i want 👍

I bent the needle on my analogue pump. Its no where near accurate as to the pressure but as its the only one I use the figure does not matter - just that it is consistent.

Thanks for all the replies, really appreciated. Some good points to consider, will search again and get one ordered. Thanks.

Digital is much better in my opinion as you can easily get it to a specific pressure and make micro changes as needed - bloody difficult to do this with an analogue. Depends how much you want to get the most from your suspension

Any thoughts about why my Recon RL's recommend over 120 psi for my weight yet I'm actually running 70 psi and they never bottom out and give the right sag?

It depends on loads of things. If you have a shorter cockpit, your centre of mass is further over the rear wheel, and you've less weight on the front so it needs less pressure. This is down to your personal setup. Also your riding style - if you spend your time seated and not over the front sending it to the gnar, then you'll need less air in the front too.

I guess it goes to show that the actual numbers are not important - its what works in practice that matters.

I prefer digital RockShox pump I currently have. It is not absolutely accurate but the display is much easier to read than most analogue models. This is handy after shock or fork service as I can easily get pressure back to where it was.

Is this one any good does anyone know? Seems to be a good price as its on offer at the moment.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/lifeline-digital-shock-pump/rp-prod167511

Why go digital? Chances are next time you go to use it the battery will be flat..

Good point. Will just go for a normal one, some of them are a bit cheaper too. Too many things to think about that everyone has said, just getting muddled and confused. Unfortunately pretty easy to do these days.

I know under 25°c that I need 55 psi in my fork that's not possible to repeatedly set using analog as there's only a 1 or 2 between major graduations.
Digital for me.