AusJacob

Hello,
Im not really that good on these shocks and im find these too hard. How would i adjust them softer.

Im a Newbie!!!

Thanks, Jacob

Specialized

Drunken Chicken

Can you see those two knobs on the crown? Well, I'm not sure which way you have to turn them in your case but they're for increasing/decreasing the preload. If you twist it all the way one way then it'll be stiff, if you twist it all the way the other way it'll be soft (in theory). In reality, the RST Gila is a pretty lowend fork and you won't notice much of a difference but it's definately worth giving it a go.

You could also replace the springs for some softer ones but that would require new springs and the disassembly of the fork.

WannaGetGood

Just adjust the knobs. And if you have a bolt type valve, just unscrew it for about 5 seconds, let some air out. Make em softer.

AusJacob

"bolt type valve, just unscrew it for about 5 seconds, let some air out"

Is that the bolt on the bottom of the fork that needs an Allen Key???

I've tried the knobs on the top(crown) abit and ive found the + makes more travel but hard and the - makes less travel but soft. Even though it makes it soft it is still quites hard.

Thanks

Jason222

Those forks are really bad, low end forks.

leonardotmnt

Thank you for another informative post. What's with you anyway? So not everyone has a $500 fork, who cares? He asked how/if he could adjust the fork, not to hear how good it was.

Chone

Well he probably meant to say that that fork is low end and as such the owner should not expect huge calibration or performance out of it.

Still, skill is what matters, not what you ride, at least thats how I see it.

leonardotmnt

It'd be easier to think that if he didn't usually already bash people for not having expensive bikes. 'Tis true though that it probably won't change much from adjusting.

To the OP, you don't really want your fork too soft anyway or else it will just bottom out all the time and also make you more inefficient.

mtnbiker66

....and this helps the OP with his problem?? How?

AusJacob, don't fool with the allen bolts on the bottom.

Siu Blue Wind

Ol' 222 (remember Room 222?) paid $920 (or was it $820?)- tax included - for his bike, has a $500 fork. So does that mean his bike is really $420 (or $320) - tax included?

222, you really do slam other people. Take a look at the "post your rig" thread. There are lots of people who have more expensive/better bikes than yours. They can slam you but don't because you do a fine job of making a fool out of yourself every time.

And like I said earlier.... Why don't you slam my "cheap" bikes? Pick on me, I'm a newb. You haven't trashed on my bikes yet.

Drunken Chicken

Yeah, that's the problem with the fork, the preload adjustment knobs don't really do much and I haven't found a way around it, the only thing I can think of is going to your LBS and asking for a stiffer/softer spring for it.

The allen bolts on the bottom of the fork are to take apart the fork (as far as I know) so don't unscrew them.

Jason222

That was exactly my point. Lower end forks arn't really adjustable. They're more or less "poser" adjustments.

Jason222

I don't trash, I state the obvious. I'm basically informing those who have it of their predicament. Like, take this fork for example,RST Gila Plus-T6, it's really low end, but to a 'noob' that doesn't know better, he has huge expectations of it. If it's not adjusting right, the owner may assume it's broken. I only blurb when people complain about their low end components not living up to what their expectations are.

Jason222

To the OP, the only way you could probably make it softer is to change the springs. This might not be worth it though.

mtnbiker66

It's obvious to such an expert as yourself but not to noobs. One day we all should be as smart as you.

Jason222

ugh, guess what, you havent helped this thread out at all. All you've told him to do is not to play with the bolts on the bottom. You've just come in here to try to humiliate my posts.

leonardotmnt

The thing is it's not very helpful and is actually disheartening to just have someone say your fork, bike, etc. sucks. If you told him in the first place that it probably wouldn't be able to adjust a lot the same point would've gotten across and you wouldn't have sounded like you were looking down on him. Saying your fork sucks isn't very helpful.

Cornish_Rdr_UK

I think, as others have said you can pick up softer or harder springs reasonably cheaply, I found the standard springs alright actually, they werent too bad, I'm 14 stone though so depending on how much you weigh it will change the characteristics of the fork obviously.

The Fork is a reasonable beginners fork, it gets the Job done for most people, but as others have said dont expect too much from it, I had the T5 version and couldnt get the preload adjustment to do much either, dont worry about it. Be careful how far you undo it though, the threads arent very strong and if you undo them too much, as I did, the top of the fork can fly out and smack you round the chops sobe careful.

Have fun riding!

mtnbiker66

No, I don't have to do that...........

Jason222

I didn't say it sucked. I said it was a bad low end fork.
OoOoOoOo good one!

LowCel 

Yet in another thread (post 6) you mention that a bike that comes with that same "bad low end fork" is a "great" bike.

Jason222

I specifically said it(the bike) was great for the price. It's still a low end fork. We weren't talking about the fork itself.

Jason222

We can stop ranting about my negativeness now. The poster has had his question answered, if any of you want to rant directly at me, add me on msn or email me.

swifferman

When you buy bike parts, they cost significantly more than if they came on your bike. It should be impossible to find a bike that built seperately costs less than the retail price.

But yes, helping new people is better than anything else you can do to them.

vw addict

Run a ridgid fork for a few days, swap back to the RST. You'll be AMAZED how good it works.