My MTB forks are trying to kill me...!
Discussion
I've noticed a couple of times recently that my front shocks seem to be a bit enthusiastic at times and I've had a couple of hairy moments when the bike has lurched in unexpected directions. It seems to be mainly if the shocks are compressed after hitting a hole or root during a turn - the rebound seems to throw the bike off line. I've had a play with the rebound setting (varied between the hare and tortoise settings, normally set sround the mid point) but it doesn't seem to help much. I'm new to having front suspension on a mountain bike so I'm unsure where to look to improve things:
- Air pressure too low?
- Air pressure too high? (I've hopefully lost a few kg since the fork was set up for me)
- Rebound setting the culprit
- Just a characteristic of the fork, just something to get used to.
- Something else entirely?
Can anyone suggest a starting point? The fork is a Rockshox Tora SL (air).
- Air pressure too low?
- Air pressure too high? (I've hopefully lost a few kg since the fork was set up for me)
- Rebound setting the culprit
- Just a characteristic of the fork, just something to get used to.
- Something else entirely?
Can anyone suggest a starting point? The fork is a Rockshox Tora SL (air).
The Tora isn't the best fork in the world, and the damping can go a bit haywire after too much 'proper' use.
setting up forks is easy, stand on the bike in 'attack' position, and use a zip tie around the fork leg to set it to about 20% sag. Once you have done that fiddle with the rebound adjuster until it rebounds quickly, but not so fast that it bounces you off your line.
However, if you're really heavy you might need to go for a heavier weight damping oil, whats your weight?
setting up forks is easy, stand on the bike in 'attack' position, and use a zip tie around the fork leg to set it to about 20% sag. Once you have done that fiddle with the rebound adjuster until it rebounds quickly, but not so fast that it bounces you off your line.
However, if you're really heavy you might need to go for a heavier weight damping oil, whats your weight?
Not entirely sure. I was 95kg when the fork was set up in the shop when I bought it - I'd guess I'm somewhere near 90kg at the moment (I'll check at the weekend when I can get to some scales!)
I did wonder whether the forks had deteriorated a bit. When the bike was new I could clearly hear the wheezing from the forks as they worked, something which I've not noticed as much recently. I'll be a bit annoyed if they are wearing as the bike isn't that old, but I'm doing a minimum of about 15 miles a day on it at the moment and the route I use for training does give them a hammering.
I did wonder whether the forks had deteriorated a bit. When the bike was new I could clearly hear the wheezing from the forks as they worked, something which I've not noticed as much recently. I'll be a bit annoyed if they are wearing as the bike isn't that old, but I'm doing a minimum of about 15 miles a day on it at the moment and the route I use for training does give them a hammering.
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