Air fork - do I need more air?

[Simbu]

Greetings all,

I took my fairly new bike out for it's first 'proper' trail run over the weekend. I had a lot of fun around Ashton Court, Bristol. The biggest hit it took was probably about 1 - 1.5ft off a ledge.

Anyway, when I got home I noticed the marker showing the furthest the shock got compressed was quite high. Do I need to have more air added to the shock? The shock model is a Rockshox Recon Gold TK 120mm.

Cheers, Simon.

[Mr E]

How much does it sag when you sit one it?

I have 150mm of sekor coil and oil on stiffer springs, and i'll use maximum travel every single time I ride it.

Edited by Mr E on Monday 27th May 23:22

[Simbu]

About 15mm when I'm just sat stationary on the bike.

[Vladimir]

There are weight charts for most forks but I tend to go by feel. If its slamming into the stops, its too soft.

I'm a smidge over 11 stone and run my 100mm RS SIDs at just under 100psi.

[Mr E]

Simbu said:

About 15mm when I'm just sat stationary on the bike.

Feels about right. As above, if you can't feel it hitting the limits of travel its probably ok

[Simbu]

I didn't noticeably feel it bottoming out, so I'll leave it for now. If it starting taking bigger hits I might need to adjust in the future I guess!

Thanks for the peace of mind guys.

[AyBee]

The Recons on my mtb have a psi chart vs rider weight on the back of the left fork, does yours not?

[Jimbo.]

AyBee said:

The Recons on my mtb have a psi chart vs rider weight on the back of the left fork, does yours not?

RS pressures are waaaaaay off!

[AyBee]

Jimbo. said:

AyBee said:

The Recons on my mtb have a psi chart vs rider weight on the back of the left fork, does yours not?

RS pressures are waaaaaay off!

Probably a lot better as a guide than asking some random people on the internet whether your forks are too soft when they have no idea what terrain you ride on or how much pressure is in your forks. A fork pump is only £15, get one, pump your fork to the guide pressure and then add/release until you feel it's right depending on what you're riding on.

[P-Jay]

If you've got 20-30% sag when you're sat on it, it won't be far wrong.

As for the drop you did at Aston, it really depends on how you did it, beautifully set-up forks can bottom out on relatively small stuff if you nose dive off.

[dave_s13]

I've got the 100mm Recon Gold on my XC hardtail.

Currently set to about 120psi in both chambers but still reaches it's full travel.

I'm 100kg btw.

The damn thing still rattles my teeth out, I don't think I'd notice much difference if it was just locked out tbh.

[Gren]

If that ring shows the furthest your forks compressed then you could argue for letting more air out rather than putting more in. You don't want to ever bottom out but you do want to use almost all of the forks if you can.

As has been said above, set your sag for around 25% - so in your case 30mm. 15mm sounds like again you've got the pressure set too high. Wear your normal riding gear and backpack and then sit on the bike with some of your weight forward like you'd normally ride.

[syko89]

There's nothing wrong with bottoming out. You should set up your forks so that they do bottom out once or twice on a session. Anymore then you will need a bit more air in there.

[Mr E]

P-Jay said:

beautifully set-up forks can bottom out on relatively small stuff if you nose dive off.

And I believe you have just nailed one of my problems.

[RGambo]

Looks like too much air in there. Id let some out untill you go through the travel on the biggest hits you do, then go up a bit. No point in not using travel if its there. Agree with most that about 20% sag is about right. Make sure you set it up with you wearing ALL you usual mtb gear with water.

[RGambo]

Looks like too much air in there. Id let some out untill you go through the travel on the biggest hits you do, then go up a bit. No point in not using travel if its there. Agree with most that about 20% sag is about right. Make sure you set it up with you wearing ALL you usual mtb gear with water.

[Digga]

Mr E said:

P-Jay said:

beautifully set-up forks can bottom out on relatively small stuff if you nose dive off.

And I believe you have just nailed one of my problems.

Also, look at trying the compression settings. Even with air pressure right (or about there) if there is insufficient dmaping, the fork will 'pack down' especially under repeated loads - i.e. doing a few consecutive drops.

The travel is there to be used though, so as long as you're no noticing a bottom-out (banging and clanging) or getting pogoed about, don't worry too much.