Am I the only one who thinks suspension pumps are a scam until you actually use one?

I was dead set against buying a proper shock pump for my mountain bike for like 2 years. I just used the same floor pump I use for my tires at 60 PSI and figured the fork felt close enough. Then I finally caved and got a digital shock pump for 40 bucks at a local shop in Portland. The first time I used it I realized my fork was running at 40 PSI instead of the 90 it should have been. The difference was night and day, no more bottoming out on every root and rock. But I still have a buddy who swears by just guessing with a floor pump and a thumb test. So which side are you on, is spending the cash on a dedicated shock pump actually worth it or not?

2 comments

2 Comments

faithb762d ago

Oh man, I read a review the other day that said the same thing. Someone thought they were fine with a floor pump for their fork and it totally screwed up their ride. I get it, I used to be cheap too. But a shock pump is one of those things where you don't realize how wrong you were until you get the right tool. The difference between 40 and 90 PSI is huge, like you said. Your buddy is just stubborn and probably has a terrible ride but won't admit it. It's not about spending cash for no reason, it's about not destroying your fork or your back.

aaron_wilson172d ago

Floor pumps just dump way too much volume too fast for those tiny air chambers. That 40 PSI feels plush until you hit a drop and bottom out hard. 90 PSI with a shock pump is way more precise and gives you that controlled sag. Your buddy is probably just scared to admit he spent good money on a fork and is messing it up. It's honestly worth the $30 just to save your back.