well i suppose if you shorten the rear travel it'll just give it slacker geometry giving it more of a dj/slopestyle feel but the it'll probably increase the head angle which may not be to good for the steerer tube.. if you plan on doing it speak to specialized about whether the frame will be structurally sound with the different angle it will create.. I think there shouldnt be any worries about anything snapping as theyre tested to hell.

 well shocks come in different sizes lol so I just got the same sized shock as the rp23 i had on it

 I know...hence why I asked if this one had the same eye-to-eye length as the RP23.
Anyhow, I havve a couple of q's:
1) How does it ride wth a coil shock?
2) When your suspension bottoms out, does the bar going across the seatstays/swingarms hit the seattube? Mine does

 yer it is the same eye to eye. I love it, i've got a quite stiff spring on atm so it feals really efficient when pedalling and take big hits really well, it didnt bottom out on a 6 foot drop to flat. yer it does, ive got a nice dent in there but since i had the coil ive had no more bottoming out so problem solved.

 Ok great, not just mine then! I dented mine on a road gap
I might write to specialized about it though...I mean, it's not a great design if you are damaging your frame every time you bottom-out!

 I think theyll probably no about it by now. they probably hope tht people doing road gaps and 6 foot drops won't use a pitch as it isnt exactly a freeride rig

 True lol. How's yours riding with a single ring + chainguide set-up?

 perfect, no more issues with the chain slipping or coming off, I also use a road cassette on the rear which is great for the dh racing. When ive got sum money towards the end of summer im buying the new e13 lg chainguide and a bigger ring cuz the front chainrings on the small side

 Sweet

 thats a nice build! how is it with the longer forks? I wudn't mind having the extra travel..

 sorry don't know off the top of my head