Hi,
This is my first post so please be patient
with me!
I have an old Santa Cruz Heckler and need to replace the rear shock (on a budget).
If I replace the shock with a 195mm I 2 I
length instead of 200mm. will it effect the ride etc?
Also which shock works well on this frame? (mainly trail and xc) It has a Rock shox super deluxe on at the mo but needs a stronger spring (should I just change the spring?)
Cheers for any help.

i just stuck a manitou radium on ...

195 would make the headangle "slightly" slacker i put a 165 on mine for a while and it was bearable wasnt tooo slack

Is the Radium any good?

5mm's I wouldn't worry about that, if need be run slightly less sag!!

the radium seems to be an improvement over the old vanilla ....circa y2k !

still climbs like a mountain goat

http://www.flickr.com/photos/trail_rat/470293378/

I put a 195 I2I X 50mm Float R on my Coiler to improve pedal efficiency for XC/trail riding. The lower BB made a big improvement in handling terms, and I reduced the sag to 20%. And with a Pike up front, it rides much faster as it cut the weight to 32lbs too. I bolt the original shock(van R 200 X 58mm), and a 170mm triple clamp on for FR/DH use,(similar angles, higher BB) and it works pretty well for that too.
Go for it! you may find you get on with it quite well.

Cheers for all the replys. How about 190mm or will that just mess the whole bike up?

What kind of shock is the 195mm I2I?

I have fitted a manitou 3-way swinger 190mm I2I, I have fitted it and am very pleased with the way the bike rides now. Hardly any bob when pedaling and quite a plush ride.

The Radium is a bit over damped if you're as light as me and bushings are short lived.