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Bought a 2017 Enduro Elite 18 months ago. Lovely bike on the right terrain, and bulldozed through stuff like a magic carpet. Very pleased except that the shock started knocking after a couple of months. Spec replaced it quickly and it was ok for a year of occasional use.
Until recently when the RC3 is now also knocking. Sent it back for repair again but am wondering if the monarch is fundamentally flawed or whether there is something weird about the Enduro stroke that puts loads of lateral pressure on it.
Anyone got any views?
What should I replace it with?
I had the same with the Monarch on my T130, lasted around 18 months and then started knocking.Changed it for another and it also lasted around 18 month before starting to knock.
So what did you do then?
A third one, or something else?
changed to a Monarch plus which was fine, sold the bike after 12 months
Due a full service at 12/18 months so most likely an internal seal let go causing the knocks.
My mate has an Enduro, he goes though Monarch's every 3-6 months.
I bought a Monarch from TF Tuned for my Last Coal 3 years ago and its never missed a beat.
Easier said than done, but I don't think it's the shock you need to replace.
Get an X2 on it, you dont need to buy a spesh fitment version either you can get a yoke to take any normal shock.
We are running Ohlins on ours. Our daughter also has the same bike as you and it's used and abused on a daily basis. Not had a problem with any of them. Not even had to swap out for a spare shock. We aren't that heavy so that could be in our favour.
Enduro is hard on rear shocks, long travel on a short stroke shock, there has also been the thought that the yoke puts extra stress on the shock.
I'd fit a coil shock; Ohlins, Fox DHX2, Storia. Much much better performance and infinitely more reliable. You think the monarch lets you bulldoze, coil lets you go monster trucking through stuff at silly speeds!
Spesh have this obsession with weight, they seem to be slowly shaking it (see Stumpy Evo), but they are still fitting carbon wheels on a bike destined for abuse.
Consider the bike yoke adaptor to allow you to run any shock you wish.
I had a monarch on an enduro for a while and it worked great, until the anodising started to wear off a bit.
Not in answer to your question - they are both a bit suspect in terms of reliability.
I have the same frame as you, I had two Monarchs go back for warranty as the rebound compression failed twice. I ended up buying an Ohlins Air shock which was much better and had no issues with for nearly a year. Stealth ad, will be for sale shortly, just need to clean it and take the pictures.
Coil...
It'll sort the problem pretty quick. Additional benefit of being more awesomz....
My Enduro with a CCDB coil is fab.
It's the shock, but I do wonder how much you are servicing it (I can't imagine many people without their own mechanic stick to the service intervals, but these things aren't fit and forget, and they don't claim to be).
Undoubtedly a coil shock is lower maintenance as others have said.
Edit - but if you think Specialized are pointlessly obsessed with weight, please try a "freeride" bike from the mid-noughties. ebike weight without the echeating. The shock weight itself won't make much difference, but go round every component on the bike and apply that attitude and you'll realise weight does in fact matter.
I had problems with my ohlins losing pressure on my spec enduro (put it down to the previous owner being a sponsored rider) TFT reckoned that the enduro had issues. Ohlins were very good and sent me a new shock foc. Tft suggested going coil.
Edit – but if you think Specialized are pointlessly obsessed with weight, please try a “freeride” bike from the mid-noughties. ebike weight without the echeating. The shock weight itself won’t make much difference, but go round every component on the bike and apply that attitude and you’ll realise weight does in fact matter.
My enduro pro 2019 29er started at just over 30lbs. It now weighs 32lbs, that extra weight has made the bike faster, proper tyres, coil shock, proper front fork (RXF36 air needs a lot of work and fiddling to get it right, throw on a lyrik or rxf36 coil and the difference is night and day)
It’s the shock, but I do wonder how much you are servicing it (I can’t imagine many people without their own mechanic stick to the service intervals, but these things aren’t fit and forget, and they don’t claim to be).
There is an element to the servicing point, but the enduro is renowned for eating shocks.
the enduro is renowned for eating shocks.
This is true. I wouldn't buy another for that reason (and the shit bearing life), and if I had one I'd go coil as others have suggested above.
No probs with the Rockshox Monarch Plus on my 2016 Enduro 29, have also used a CC DB Air In-line on an S-Works Enduro, and again no probs with shock or bearings (tho shock was rebuilt with new internals by TFT before I used the bike). Oh, and being Specialized, I don’t get them anywhere near a pressure washer😏
This is true. I wouldn’t buy another for that reason (and the shit bearing life), and if I had one I’d go coil as others have suggested above.
I'm not the only one that goes through bearings quickly, 4-5months for main pivot bearings. I ride the bike 1-2 times a week. MTB industry is terrible for poor/shit engineering, charging high prices for rubbish. Next bike is likely to be a Nicolai, subject to it being faster/better than the enduro.
My Monarch has recently started randomly letting the positive and negative spring chambers exchange air. I'm not riding much at present so it's extremely annoying to set off on my once-every-few-weeks window of opportunity to have to turn back after a few miles because the shock has collapsed and my pedals are hitting the floor.
18 month old shock, problem has persisted for a few months. I done think I'll have another Monarch as this seems to be a relatively common issue discussed online.