Rockshox Recon SL advice please
Discussion
The %-age sag "rule" is really just a starting point. If you find that you're never getting anywhere near full travel in the riding you do then you can afford to run with more sag in the first place.
I think the other rule of thumb is that you should hit full travel maybe once or twice per ride otherwise, as cjs points out, you're not using what you've paid for.
I think the other rule of thumb is that you should hit full travel maybe once or twice per ride otherwise, as cjs points out, you're not using what you've paid for.
cjs said:
There again what is the point in having a 4" or 5" fork and not getting the full travel?
Getting full travel is likely to wreck the shock's internals. I work on 80% of travel at full expected load. One day you will find the rock that gives you 95% but the rock that gives you 105% will be an expensive one.
Raven Flyer said:
cjs said:
There again what is the point in having a 4" or 5" fork and not getting the full travel?
Getting full travel is likely to wreck the shock's internals. I work on 80% of travel at full expected load. One day you will find the rock that gives you 95% but the rock that gives you 105% will be an expensive one.
using only 80% of your travel is ridiculous. I've bottomed forks out many a time and they've been none the worse for it, obviously don't be silly and run 12psi but keeping that extra travel 'just in case' is a bit of an overreaction.
TBH, if you hit a drop hard enough that you damage your forks then chances are everything else will be busted anyway.
Not rubbish and I'm sure we don't really disagree. I set my shocks so that I have 80% travel on typical trail riding, on the basis that there is a 95% hit just around the corner. Sometimes I find this hit, sometimes I don't.
I prefer this pressure to the clunking of bottoming out. The shocks are there to decelerate vertical wheel movement and they can't do this if they bottom out. Its fine tuning to get them right for the trails we each ride and no single setting will work everywhere.
I suspect we all ride with different settings for pressure, compression speed and rebound speed. None are right and none are wrong, provided the shock isn't being damaged by using them and provided they add to the control of the bike.
I prefer this pressure to the clunking of bottoming out. The shocks are there to decelerate vertical wheel movement and they can't do this if they bottom out. Its fine tuning to get them right for the trails we each ride and no single setting will work everywhere.
I suspect we all ride with different settings for pressure, compression speed and rebound speed. None are right and none are wrong, provided the shock isn't being damaged by using them and provided they add to the control of the bike.
Raven Flyer said:
Fox and Rock Shox both say this is a big no-no. Looking inside, you can see why. There are no bump stops. Full travel is metal to metal.
Sorry but what a load of crap. There are bump stops in all RockShox and Fox forks, I know for a fact as I service all sorts all the time. The forks are designed to achieve full travel. At the end of the day teh forces passed onto the internals when the fork stops moving at 85% travel or 100% travel are the same for an impact of the same force.
As for RockShox and Fox saying it's a big no-no this is the first I've ever heard of it and I've attended their training courses.
Okey dokey
From http://www.sram.com/en/service/rockshox/tuning_tip...
(the bold is mine to highlight the relevant sentence)
AIR INFLATION
It is important to check the air pressure in your air fork or rear shock before you hit the trails. If the air pressure is too soft, you can bottom the fork out (harsh compression, from using all of the forks' travel in one bit hit) and possibly damage internal parts. If you have too much air pressure, you will not be able to compress the fork and achieve full travel. Find somewhere in the middle, and you're good to go!
Check out the AIR PSI INFLATION CHART for recommended inflation levels:
BACK TO TOP
But what would SRAM know about their shocks?
From http://www.sram.com/en/service/rockshox/tuning_tip...
(the bold is mine to highlight the relevant sentence)
AIR INFLATION
It is important to check the air pressure in your air fork or rear shock before you hit the trails. If the air pressure is too soft, you can bottom the fork out (harsh compression, from using all of the forks' travel in one bit hit) and possibly damage internal parts. If you have too much air pressure, you will not be able to compress the fork and achieve full travel. Find somewhere in the middle, and you're good to go!
Check out the AIR PSI INFLATION CHART for recommended inflation levels:
BACK TO TOP
But what would SRAM know about their shocks?
Edited by Raven Flyer on Friday 23 July 11:46
Quick update: back from holiday, forks are pumped up to 150psi (I weigh about 15st 11). Rode the bike uphill on the road, forks fully compressed themselves. Each time I pulled a little wheelie, they extended and then gently collapsed! Once I hit the woods, the story was much the same and I needed to keep 'lifting' the front wheel to let the forks recover.
Once I got home I checked the pressure - it was as before, 150psi.
I'm guessing that these forks should really perform a little better than this, so I'll contact the retailer tomorrow to get a warranty repair sorted out. Bit of a shame really, as the cheapy Marzocchi (sp?) forks on my old Kona have never given a moments trouble.
Once I got home I checked the pressure - it was as before, 150psi.
I'm guessing that these forks should really perform a little better than this, so I'll contact the retailer tomorrow to get a warranty repair sorted out. Bit of a shame really, as the cheapy Marzocchi (sp?) forks on my old Kona have never given a moments trouble.
mk1fan said:
Obvious question. These aren't Dual Air forks are they? With a negative and positive air spring.
Plus the pressure guides are simply that guides. Setting the correct Sag is much more important than the actual PSI compared to a chart.
The 'dual air' thing we've already covered. I'm getting around 100% sag at present...Plus the pressure guides are simply that guides. Setting the correct Sag is much more important than the actual PSI compared to a chart.
Sounds like you need to take the bike into a shop and get some advice with the forks there. The best time to do this is during the week either in the morning or afternoon, not the weekend, lunchtime or before closing. Are there any friends who know what they are doing?
If you're getting 100% sag and the fork isn't losing air then there's not enough air in the fork or there's another spring that needs filling.
It's either user error or the fork's broken. Both are easier to ressolve in the presence of the user and the fork.
If you're getting 100% sag and the fork isn't losing air then there's not enough air in the fork or there's another spring that needs filling.
It's either user error or the fork's broken. Both are easier to ressolve in the presence of the user and the fork.
A brief update for anyone that's interested: The forks are back on the bike and working properly! I sent them to the warranty folk with a returns number from the supplying dealer. The warranty people managed to send them back to the dealer, even though it was obvious they were in a different part of the country to me, thus incurring a further postage cost to the dealer and a delay to myself. They haven't let me know what was wrong with the forks, but did include a Rock Shox sticker...
Apologies for missing much as I have only skimmed this thread
My point is that your contract is with the shop not RS
I would have sent them to the shop not the distributor
Im a big fan of internet shopping
My LBS is that rubbish (big independent - lots of controversial opinions on bulletin boards) that I have nothing to lose as I see it
They usually ignore me in the shop and patronise me when I ask for help
Why should I put good money the way of these shysters??
Anyways if you bought the bike locally throw it back at the shop
If you bought it mail order send it back
Forget the distributor
And if the shop sent you up that path then definite;y take advice and get a refund on principle
Good luck!!
The news this lunchtime: I've phoned the shop - the man I need to speak to isn't available until Thursday this week, so I need to call back then...
Unhappy with this I called Orange themselves where a helpful young man said he'd contact the Rock Shox people (Fisher Outdoor Leisure). He called back saying that Fishers' are due to call me. I sit here, awaiting their call...
Unhappy with this I called Orange themselves where a helpful young man said he'd contact the Rock Shox people (Fisher Outdoor Leisure). He called back saying that Fishers' are due to call me. I sit here, awaiting their call...
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