Suspension Set-Up
Posted: Apr 3rd, '05, 12:14
I have been asked to post a guide to setting up suspension, so here it is...
SETTING UP
PLEASE BE WARNED THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE GOOD TYRES, CORRECTLY INFLATED.
START WITH ALL SETTINGS ON STANDARD AT THE REAR AND SOFT AT THE FRONT!
MOST ADJUSTERS ARE SOFT WHEN SCREWED OUT AND HARD WHEN SCREWED IN.
CHOOSE A TWISTY, QUICK TEST ROUTE WITH LOTS OF VARIETY IN THE BENDS. MAKE ONE ADUSTMENT AFTER EACH PASS. BE CAREFUL? YOU WILL BE MAKING THE BIKE HANDLE DIFFERENTLY TO THE WAY YOU ARE USED TO.
ADJUST IN THIS ORDER. WHEN YOU GET TO THE END OF THE LIST START AGAIN WITH FRONT PRE-LOAD AND WORK BACK THROUGH, REPEAT UNTIL YOU RUN THROUGH WITHOUT MAKING A CHANGE.
REAR PRE-LOAD
This is the big ring on the rear shock spring.
Set static sag to just nil unladen and 30-35mm withrider on board.
FRONT ? Do The Same To Both Fork Legs
Preload:
This is generally the 15mm flats on the top of the fork leg
(if you don?t have it you can use spacers on top of the fork springs)
Increase from soft just enough to prevent bottoming out.
Rebound:
This is the adjuster on the top of the fork leg.
(If you don?t have it you can increase the weight of your fork oil, but this will also increase compression)
Increase from soft to prevent patter in the bends.
Compression:
This is the adjuster on the bottom of the fork leg.
(If you don?t have it you can increase the weight of your fork oil, but this will also increase rebound)
Increase from soft to prevent brake dive, until judder into bends on the brakes, then back off to prevent the judder.
Spring Rate:
If your forks are far too soft or too hard then you can soften or harden them by dropping or increasing the level of the fork oil. ? Try 5mm increments, b but be warned there is a limit at which the forks will suddenly either lose all damping at the soft end or lock up totally at the hard end.
REAR
Rebound:
This is generally the adjuster on the bottom of the shock.
Increase from soft to prevent wallow in fast bends and the rear rising under heavy braking.
Compression:
This is generally the adjuster on the shock top or remote bottle
Increase from soft until drive out of bends improves. (Too little gives too much squat, too much gives less grip).
SETTING UP
PLEASE BE WARNED THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE GOOD TYRES, CORRECTLY INFLATED.
START WITH ALL SETTINGS ON STANDARD AT THE REAR AND SOFT AT THE FRONT!
MOST ADJUSTERS ARE SOFT WHEN SCREWED OUT AND HARD WHEN SCREWED IN.
CHOOSE A TWISTY, QUICK TEST ROUTE WITH LOTS OF VARIETY IN THE BENDS. MAKE ONE ADUSTMENT AFTER EACH PASS. BE CAREFUL? YOU WILL BE MAKING THE BIKE HANDLE DIFFERENTLY TO THE WAY YOU ARE USED TO.
ADJUST IN THIS ORDER. WHEN YOU GET TO THE END OF THE LIST START AGAIN WITH FRONT PRE-LOAD AND WORK BACK THROUGH, REPEAT UNTIL YOU RUN THROUGH WITHOUT MAKING A CHANGE.
REAR PRE-LOAD
This is the big ring on the rear shock spring.
Set static sag to just nil unladen and 30-35mm withrider on board.
FRONT ? Do The Same To Both Fork Legs
Preload:
This is generally the 15mm flats on the top of the fork leg
(if you don?t have it you can use spacers on top of the fork springs)
Increase from soft just enough to prevent bottoming out.
Rebound:
This is the adjuster on the top of the fork leg.
(If you don?t have it you can increase the weight of your fork oil, but this will also increase compression)
Increase from soft to prevent patter in the bends.
Compression:
This is the adjuster on the bottom of the fork leg.
(If you don?t have it you can increase the weight of your fork oil, but this will also increase rebound)
Increase from soft to prevent brake dive, until judder into bends on the brakes, then back off to prevent the judder.
Spring Rate:
If your forks are far too soft or too hard then you can soften or harden them by dropping or increasing the level of the fork oil. ? Try 5mm increments, b but be warned there is a limit at which the forks will suddenly either lose all damping at the soft end or lock up totally at the hard end.
REAR
Rebound:
This is generally the adjuster on the bottom of the shock.
Increase from soft to prevent wallow in fast bends and the rear rising under heavy braking.
Compression:
This is generally the adjuster on the shock top or remote bottle
Increase from soft until drive out of bends improves. (Too little gives too much squat, too much gives less grip).
