preload, rebound etc.
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preload, rebound etc.
I just recieved a new fork and am a little lost. I really don't understand what the adjustments are for. I can not tell a difference. I set the sag for my given weight so now I should be able to snap off the adjusters right? Kidding, but when do I need to change these? I've ridden on and off for the past 20 years and ever since they came out I've never really understood why. Once the weight of the rider is factored in what needs adjusting? Carring more stuff? Terrain never really influenced my settings. They feel similar. Maybe it is because I am not a large person weighing in at around 160 or so. Any help? Thoughts? Feelings?
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Originally Posted by Jameson
I just recieved a new fork and am a little lost. I really don't understand what the adjustments are for. I can not tell a difference. I set the sag for my given weight so now I should be able to snap off the adjusters right? Kidding, but when do I need to change these? I've ridden on and off for the past 20 years and ever since they came out I've never really understood why. Once the weight of the rider is factored in what needs adjusting? Carring more stuff? Terrain never really influenced my settings. They feel similar. Maybe it is because I am not a large person weighing in at around 160 or so. Any help? Thoughts? Feelings?
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Consider preload as sag. A rough rule of thumb is that you want about 20 percent of the forks total compression to be used just by sitting on the bike.
Preload is how much force the fork uses reacting to compression. Rebound is how quickly the fork reacts to no compression.
Preload is how much force the fork uses reacting to compression. Rebound is how quickly the fork reacts to no compression.
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Originally Posted by shane45
Consider preload as sag. A rough rule of thumb is that you want about 20 percent of the forks total compression to be used just by sitting on the bike.
Preload is the fork reacting to compression. Rebound is the fork reacting to no compression.
Preload is the fork reacting to compression. Rebound is the fork reacting to no compression.
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Originally Posted by Drunken Chicken
but then again my fork will compress 50mm after I throw myself off a 6 foot drop.
Sounds like you're going to have to start doing waaaaay bigger drops, as it appears you are only using about 50 percent of your fork's total capacity.
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Originally Posted by shane45
Maniac.
Sounds like you're going to have to start doing waaaaay bigger drops, as it appears you are only using about 50 percent of your fork's total capacity.
Sounds like you're going to have to start doing waaaaay bigger drops, as it appears you are only using about 50 percent of your fork's total capacity.
Seriously though, I'm not kidding, I did a 5 or 6 footer to tranny and the fork reached 50mm of compression (I knew it was 50mm because I checked until where the lube was on the stanchions).
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Originally Posted by Jameson
I just recieved a new fork and am a little lost. I really don't understand what the adjustments are for. I can not tell a difference. I set the sag for my given weight so now I should be able to snap off the adjusters right? Kidding, but when do I need to change these? I've ridden on and off for the past 20 years and ever since they came out I've never really understood why. Once the weight of the rider is factored in what needs adjusting? Carring more stuff? Terrain never really influenced my settings. They feel similar. Maybe it is because I am not a large person weighing in at around 160 or so. Any help? Thoughts? Feelings?
Rebound will affect how fast the for returns to it extended position
Compression will affect how fast it compresses
Big hits with time in between you will want a slower compression and a bit slower rebound (rebound here is not as important as in other situations but you will want it to rebound fast enough that you have full travel by the next hit but to fast could bounce you off the bike on a hard hit or bad landing.
Jumping multiple jumpe you will want compression set at a medium rate and agin a bit slower rebound (if rebound is to fast it will want to toss your front over your head.
If you ride a lot of stutter bumps a faster rebound with a midium rate compression, must set the fork properly here because if the rebound is to slow you will compress the fork and have no suspension, if it is to fast it will feel like a ridged fork.
There is more to it but that will give you an idea what to do. It is somewhat a science and you must be able to tell what your bike is doing under you when riding, ie sliding, fork moving to fast or slow etc. etc. etc
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Originally Posted by Drunken Chicken
SNIP(I knew it was 50mm because I checked until where the lube was on the stanchions).
I put plasic ties around front and rear shocks in order to guage travel. I did various types of stuff, as small jumps, logs, flats, etc. checking and resetting ties after each. Very useful and suprising feedback. In particular, I found that rear was bottoming out regularly, so I adjusted rear shock spring.
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Originally Posted by shane45
That's some serious preload you have dialed into that fork, in that case! It must ride pretty firm, no?
Originally Posted by Al K
Hi DC,
I put plasic ties around front and rear shocks in order to guage travel. I did various types of stuff, as small jumps, logs, flats, etc. checking and resetting ties after each. Very useful and suprising feedback. In particular, I found that rear was bottoming out regularly, so I adjusted rear shock spring.
I put plasic ties around front and rear shocks in order to guage travel. I did various types of stuff, as small jumps, logs, flats, etc. checking and resetting ties after each. Very useful and suprising feedback. In particular, I found that rear was bottoming out regularly, so I adjusted rear shock spring.