Q: I have an '08 Yeti 575 with a Fox RP23 shock, with 2.1-inch Kenda Nevegals at 32psi. I run the shock's ProPedal set to 2, and the bike feels faster and more effortless over all terrain, climbing rocky fire roads or single track, or hammering on the flats over mild to minimum trail chatter. When I lock out the rear shock (like a lot of the bike tests do when climbing or on the flats), the bike feels no faster and I get the sensation that I'm using much more effort to go fast. I'm 50, an intermediate-to-advanced rider in Southern California with the same dry and rocky terrain that the wrecking crew tests their bikes on. So, am I actually faster with the shock open or with the shock locked out? -Tyler

MBA: Your observation on the ride quality of your bike is spot on and you are using the shock's ProPedal setting correctly. The 575 suspension curve delivers very firm initial travel and then softens up as it moves into its travel (it is called a falling-rate suspension). This design needs little or no ProPedal platform to pedal really well. Adding too much ProPedal will ruin small-bump compliance and limit traction. The only time we would use the most-firm ProPedal setting on a Yeti 575 is when we are riding on the pavement to or from the trail head.


We haven't received a 575 for testing since 2006, but at that time we said, "One second it is delivering a firm-pedaling platform, and the next it is soaking up a hit you were sure was going to kick the rear end."

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