Mountain Biking - Rock Shox "CLICK"

I am fairly new to MTB and just bought a new Specialized Hardrock Comp (black, if it matters). Anyway the stock Judy TT shock clicks pretty loud when I land heavy on it.

I am 300 lbs (I am not Bigbiker because I am way into biking...I am a BIG biker) and I realize that me landing on any shock is heavy but when I jump off anythinig over 8-10" ,or less when landing with my weight fwd on the bike, it "clicks".

I have the shock dialed up to the highest level. I also have heavier springs on the way but do I need to totally keep it on the ground until they come or can I still ride it like I have been, knowing the new springs will cure this problem? :confused:

Honestly, I would buy a new fork. If you go to www.mtbreview.com you will see why. The Judy is one of the worst forks on the market.

Here is the bike...isn't it pretty?

See next post

Sorry about the attempted pic. I will post a better one (smaller to be sure) later.

I see that the shock is not so good after the MTBR.COM reviews. It came with the bike and the spring upgrade was free with bike purchase so I think I will use it until necessity forces an upgrade.

I just want to make sure it's my size and not a malfunctioning fork that is making the noise.

Thanks.

Let's try this again...

I have the Standard HardRock. However, Ive upgraded alot of parts on it. My next one will be the fork :D I think Im going to get the Marzocchi MX Comp ETA

Yep...that's my plan: upgrade as I go along. It's a great bike though. I haven't any complaints about it.

Do you think the new springs will cure the noise?

Can you give a little more detail on the "clicking" noise? Does it do it when the shock bottoms out? or just at any point in the travel. Does it do it when it rebounds? To me it sound right now like you may have an issue with the fork. But it also maybe that you are bottoming the fork....but that is usually more of a thud.

Is there any play in the fork? Any leaking oil? My girlfriend blew her judy tt and it leaked oil stopped and kinda made a clicking noise. The reason for that was because there was no oil to lube the moving parts inside and then that cause a very slight clicking. Anyways...a few more details might help us to diagnose your fork a bit better.

:beer:

Yeah, if it's more of a thud, you're probably just bottoming out the fork. The new springs should help that considerably.

It may not stop it completely, but definately help!

Nice Bike BTW!

I too am a BIG BIKER!

L8R

Bigbiker, let me know if you have problems with your derailleurs. Most people that own the Hardrock series say that they shift very sloppily, especially the rear. Mine did, Im going to buy a Shimano Deore XT rear and front.

If you are a heavy rider you should consider changing your pedals too. Ive heard that they flex alot when doing drops. I bought a set of primo tenderizers and love em!

Good luck.

If it goes "THWACK!" after a big hit, then you're probably bottoming out the fork.

Yep Troie I am planning to change out the derailleurs as well...when I get the $$. I actually switched the pedals already to ones with toe clips on them, Wellgo LU-950 ?? (warming up for clipless) Don't know much about them but they've held up so far to some abuse.

Thanks for the thoughts on what's happening here...that's what I figured but being a new guy I wanted a second (...and third...so on...) opinion on it. The LBS (Landis Cyclery in Tempe, AZ) was TOTALLY helpful and, like I said, hooked me up with the spring upgrade for free.

Thanks again guys!
Jim

Can you give a little more detail on the "clicking" noise?

It's kinda like someone taps a screwdriver or something metal on the frame and it happens...a click, not a thud, not a snap, when (I think) I bottom it out.

That seems to be something more than just the fork being undersprung for you. Personally it's pretty hard to diagnose without having my hands on the fork...but it almost sounds like the spring is sliding around in the fork making that noise. Or it could be a damper shaft that has broken, or not been tightend enough in the fork. I know some of the forks had an issue of the springs making noise a while ago. Bring in it to your LBS and they should take care of you if they are a good shop(they sound like they are)

:beer:

Originally posted by troie
Honestly, I would buy a new fork. If you go to www.mtbreview.com you will see why. The Judy is one of the worst forks on the market.

The judy is not a good fork but for what it is its not bad at all. I have been riding on it for a year now with no complaints. I used to dirt jump and ride urban with it. I have done up to 5 foot drops with it. I only weight 160lbs so that might have something to do with it but I tried as hard as i could to break it but it kept coming back for more. So i finally left it alone and bought a p1 for my dirt jumping/urban riding.


Big biker you are probably bottoming it out being such a heavy rider.

as with most things, you get what you pay for

My bike came with a Judy TT fork and I have now owned it for a 6 months and it still works just as well as when I got it. During the past 6 months I have been at an outdoor education campus so we did about 3 hours of true mountain biking 4 times a week.

I weigh 80 kgs, and have not bottomed them out once, they feel better than pilots in my opinion and for what they are made for they do the job just fine. As for the noise, it does not sound like you are bottoming them out, because the noise should be a loud thunk.

As for the noise, it does not sound like you are bottoming them out, because the noise should be a loud thunk.

Yeah I wonder because it seems like I would feel it in my wrists if it were bottoming out and it really just makes more of a click, but louder...a "snap"? Other than that it works fine. It's tight, moves fine during normal bumps, only makes the noise when I land particularly front-heavy.

Like I said though I will be adding stiffer springs as soon as the LBS gets them in.

Thanks for your help and ideas though. Ultimately my LBS will tell me what's up with it but I thought if anyone had any ideas and knew I should avoid riding it, I would come to you guys first.

Thanks again

Ya...that click you here is the shocks bottoming out.Which isn`t good if you do it alot. Get a pair of 2002 Marzocchi Bomber EXR Comps. They NEVER bottom out.