How to adjust the fork and the shock of your mountain bike
Marathon XC, enduro, DH ... 100 to 200mm and above, our bikes are all, almost, equipped with a telescopic fork and shock absorber. Gain stability, increase comfort, grip your ATV ... full suspension to many benefits but it is also necessary that your suspension is well settled! Discover here the tricks and easy ways to adjust the fork and the shock of your ATV.
The spring suspension:
Three spring systems are listed:
- the elastomer (first price fork),
- the helical spring
- the air spring
The spring can be adapted to the weight of rider, terrain and riding style. A dial is used to harden the spring system has spring / elastomer is the preload.
Beware if preload of a spring is too high, it will require changing the spring harder.
The forks and shock absorbers of air pressure ATVs are adjusted with a high pressure pump can reach up to 250PSI. Today, large volumes of air suspensions allow to have almost as sensitive to small shocks that a coil spring.
You do not have a high-pressure pump to adjust your fork and / or shock absorber Fox, RockShox, SR Suntour, Bos, X-fusion ... Formula equip yourself for a few euros here.
For mountain bike fork elastomer / spring, if you want to harden or soften significantly your fork, you agree to change for harder or softer references that are tailored to the fork of your ATV.
Set the fork and the shock of your ATV through the SAG:
Loosen all hydraulic settings (compression and rebound) Measure the stroke (hence the deflection) Total fork collar at the base of the dip. Place the collar at the bottom Equip yourself as when riding helmet, with pocket bags ç water half full, tools, shoes, ... (which have a direct impact on the weight borne by the suspensions) Get on the ATV standing Flat pedals then back down slowly. The ideal value of the SAG is a depression at rest and under your sole 15/20 weight% of the travel for XC practice and 20/30% for a more engaged practice Enduro DH. Adjust using the high pressure pump and note the value.
Setting Precaution:
- A too hard spring will prevent your suspension to work properly, you will completely lose the advantage of compression settings and relaxation.
- A too soft spring may damage your material because your suspension system will often abutting big shock (even for a xc practice).
- Air and oil suspensions your ATV does not react the same way when it is 0 ° and 30 °, must vary your setting and your blood pressure be checked every month of the year to be the most suitable as possible the conditions in which you drive. (winter the air ideally compresses add 5% in pressure, while the summer it expands ideally remove -5% pressure)
The compression of the suspension:
Compressing your suspension is a setting of the hydraulic system of the fork and shock of your ATV. The "international" color of the dial is blue on almost all suspensions market. This setting allows you to vary the compression speed of your suspension is in low or in high speeds.
Low speed corresponds to compression of the suspension of small amplitudes, usually linked to pedaling braking, weight transfer.
The high speed line with cuts of high amplitudes of the suspension, usually tied to large shocks induced by the path and generating a rapid speed compression.
To adjust theoretically the blue knob, set there in there turning to the max "-" then told the notches by turning the max until "+" and return to 1/3 or 1/2 to "-".
Compression "closed" slowed the suspension on big shocks and improves the ability of the suspension to absorb these large shocks. This setting will suit good level drivers that commits meat or large jumps in bike park.
Compression too "free" forces the driver to compensate for the biggest impact with his body but will be more comfortable for beginner drivers or "hiker".
It should be noted that static (in a parking lot), the hydraulic adjustments must be slightly braked because the use (downhill), the oil becomes fluid by heating and thus liberates some settings.
The blocking of the compression of the suspension
The compression of locking the suspension, very popular in the mounted and rolling portions, works by slowing or preventing the flow of oil in the chamber. It is important to think unlock his suspension downhill otherwise damage the suspension.
If the blockage of the fork of your ATV or damper stops working, two solutions:
The fork or shock crashes with an adjustable handlebar, the cable is to be slightly tighten
The fork damper or lack of oil, make sure it does not leak and take your suspension to perform the necessary maintenance to function properly.
The relaxation of the suspension
Relaxation (also called rebound or return) is the speed of the suspension when coming back in a relaxed position. . The "international" color wheel is red on almost all suspensions market. Adjust the setting of the preload of the spring or the setting of the compression induced to adjust the relaxation setting.
Improper adjustment of the trigger can have serious consequences for the driver and / or his mount.
A relaxing too "closed" and too slow leads to loss of adhesion because the wheel does not have time to return to the ground between two close and repetitive shocks.
A relaxing too "open" or rapid increases the risk of rebound after a talonage due to a big shock that might unseat the driver.
Operation: In the expansion phase the suspension returns to its normal state with a transfer oil through an adjustable duct that increases or decreases the speed of the oil transfer. Note that static, this setting must be somewhat hampered because with use, the oil becomes fluid by heating and thus liberates some adjustments.
Rebound damping suspension recommended theoretical method:
To adjust the red knob, set there in there turning to the max "-" then told the notches by turning the max until "+" and return to the 1/3 "-" (eg the " - "to" + "12 clicks to get to the max" + "return of 4 notches to" - ".
The more you increase spring preload for a heavy driver, this setting will be more "closed" then you have to fine-tune the suspension to the feeling while driving.
The variable displacement
The goal is to match the trim of the bike to the nature of the slope. Very popular in the mounted steep slopes this setting delays the pitch-up phenomenon of the bike fitted. This is the dual air at Rock Shox or the talas at FOX. At the time these systems induce friction and decreased the sensitivity of these forks on small shocks but brands have worked to solve this problem.
Conclusion
Despite the growing number of control on the forks and the different systems offered by the brands, the setting is simple suspensions on condition remain methodical.
Do not forget to adjust your settings to the terrain, your driving constraints and finally to the outside temperatures.
Thus the operation of your ATV suspensions have almost no secret for you, but it is strongly advised to contact a qualified professional for the maintenance and adjustment suspensions élèments. Indeed the advice of "friends" wanting to share their science often prove devoid of method and can make your bike hard even dangerous to drive.