Suspension Setup Sag/Travel

[Mattyp]

Doesn’t higher pressures reduce the small bump sensitivity though? I would love more mid stroke on my fox 34 but when I remove spacers it’s harder on the hands, and if I lower pressure it bottoms out too easy..

have you tried taking some HSC off?
I also just re-read this, if its getting harder on your hands when you take spacers out it sounds like you're blowing through the travel too easily in which case you probably want to run more pressure.

 

[Kerplunk]

have you tried taking some HSC off?
I also just re-read this, if its getting harder on your hands when you take spacers out it sounds like you're blowing through the travel too easily in which case you probably want to run more pressure.

No hsc on my fork unfortunately.. My version of harder on the hands is the smaller bump sensitivity, less spacers and more psi = harder.. With more spacers I run less psi so the intial stroke is softer = easier on the hands.. But not as supportive mid stroke..

 

[creaky]

No hsc on my fork unfortunately.. My version of harder on the hands is the smaller bump sensitivity, less spacers and more psi = harder.. With more spacers I run less psi so the intial stroke is softer = easier on the hands.. But not as supportive mid stroke..

Yeah, but if you are running less pressure to get more small bump sensitivity you are likely just sitting further into your mid travel, at a point where the air spring rate has ramped up anyway.

Darren from Push was talking about that in a podcast recently. Made me feel better about always removing a token or two to get a bit more linear spring rate. Always figured I was just soft.

I’ve heard that Jordy(?) guy from fox trying to explain something similar to a rider before also i.e. saying that running it a bit harder will be better on their hands at the end of the day. That is a World Cup racer though so not sure that his advice would be the same to avg. joe.

 

[Ultra Lord]

Upped compression (high and low) and psi in my 36’s and hands were much better on Sunday. Weird I know, but it worked.

One orange spacer now, 95psi and midrange conpression adjustments. Up from 85psi and next to no compression, two spacers.

It’s been a series of small adjustments each ride so I’m not changing everything at once, but this is were I’ve landed now. Pretty happy.

 

[teK--]

Yeah, but if you are running less pressure to get more small bump sensitivity you are likely just sitting further into your mid travel, at a point where the air spring rate has ramped up anyway.

This.

Also don't forget whatever sag you're set at, once your bike is pointed downhill you have more weight over the front.

 

[teK--]

Doesn’t higher pressures reduce the small bump sensitivity though? I would love more mid stroke on my fox 34 but when I remove spacers it’s harder on the hands, and if I lower pressure it bottoms out too easy..

It's a double edged sword. More sag is softer off the top, but you end up with the fork sitting more often in the firmer part of the fork which can be counter productive

 

[Boom King]

Doesn’t higher pressures reduce the small bump sensitivity though? I would love more mid stroke on my fox 34 but when I remove spacers it’s harder on the hands, and if I lower pressure it bottoms out too easy..

You need a Manitou Mattoc with IRT upgrade......

 

[mark22]

Hi gang,

Working on dialing my my new (used) 2017 Ibis Ripley LS.

Its running a Fox Factory 34 130mm and Float DPS Factory, both with upgraded internals and EVOL on the shock.

To summarise the issue up front, when I get at/near the correct sag, no matter how hard I crank on it, I'm getting only about 80% of the travel.

Any thought on what's going on? Its like its ramping up to fast.

I'm around 95kg, so 20kg heavier than the previous owner. Reckon both might have volume spacers? Obviously, I'm running way higher PSI to get the sag right for me, so wondering if there spacers plus the extra PSI could cause what I'm seeing???

The best way to go in your case I reckon would be to hire a Shockwiz for a week about $50 round this way. It has numerous modes to suit what you may be after, they work on forks and shocks.

 

[Paulie_AU]

Doesn’t higher pressures reduce the small bump sensitivity though? I would love more mid stroke on my fox 34 but when I remove spacers it’s harder on the hands, and if I lower pressure it bottoms out too easy..

Vorsprung Fractive and a Luftcappe gave my 34 super nice small bump with heaps of midstroke support. It is borderline hard to bottom (biiiiig hit only) but so good on small bump and midstroke I don't care how much travel it uses.

 

[foxpuppet]

Vorsprung Fractive and a Luftcappe gave my 34 super nice small bump with heaps of midstroke support. It is borderline hard to bottom (biiiiig hit only) but so good on small bump and midstroke I don't care how much travel it uses.

I have the luftkappe as well. It’s a tough one to get right regarding sag. I really have to pay attention to the instructions.


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[kten]

I have the luftkappe as well. It’s a tough one to get right regarding sag. I really have to pay attention to the instructions.


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Sag measurements on a fork are too hard to repeat accurately imo. Get the pressure in the ball park and ride and adjust and keep doing so until happy.

 

[foxpuppet]

Sag measurements on a fork are too hard to repeat accurately imo. Get the pressure in the ball park and ride and adjust and keep doing so until happy.

I hadn’t touched mine in ages and mistakenly (again) looked up the fox guide to setup. I have to forget all about it and follow the vorsprung advice. Also watching the suspension videos they do is a great insight.


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[AaronJ]

Great input guys.

I'm still struggling to dial in the rear shock.

I have confirmed there are no spacers.

If I get sag about right (25%) I max out at about 70-80% travel. That's not on trail, but fully weighted bouncing it to test travel.

As I drop pressure, I get negligible increases in travel (80%), but then have loads of pedal strike once on the trail.

What do you reckon? I thought I might send the shock of to one of the specialists (due for a service anyway), to see what they can do.

 

[Oddjob]

You should be aiming for about 30-35% travel when you are standing in the attack position.

If you get this sag right and still only using 80% of travel without spacers then you need to get a bigger air can if possible, or wind off the high speed compression.

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[Ultra Lord]

Not all shocks drop the o-ring off thw shaft at bottom out, could it be it’s bottoming out with abit of shaft left over?

 

[creaky]

Ripley I'd be aiming for 25% to 30% static sag (i.e. measuring sitting down or in attack position, depending on your preference).
Don't try to gauge how much travel you are getting from a bounce test.
If you are getting pedal strikes that is a technique/timing issue, especially if you are not using the last 20% of your travel.
You can test where the 'full travel' mark on your shock is by letting all the air out and compressing it. As @Ultra Lord said, it will leave several mm at the bottom.

 

[AaronJ]

Not all shocks drop the o-ring off thw shaft at bottom out, could it be it’s bottoming out with abit of shaft left over?

No dont think so. I'm measuring travel from lip of seal to where the o-ring stops. Shock has 44/45mm travel, Ibis says for Ripley LS 25% (11mm) sag. I read plenty of posts about heavier riders (classing myself in that at 95kg) struggling to get down the 15% sag, even with pressures a fair bit in excess of the Ibis specs.

The most I've ever measured the o-ring move is 36mm. So 6mm or 15% still left in it no matter how hard I crank down on it.

And yes Creaky, true, you got me, I'll admit that 'technique' is part of my issue. The lowest pedal is not always on the correct side of the bike in a corner ;-)

Thinking, as I bought the bike used and found a few little indicators of not perfect servicing (e.g. gummed up tyre sealant lumped in one spot of the tyres) I might get a fork and shock kit and given them a decent service. Then I can start again and see how it goes.

Any recommendations for brand/model for seal/service kits? Stick with Fox?

 

[Tubbsy]

I read plenty of posts about heavier riders (classing myself in that at 95kg) struggling to get down the 15% sag, even with pressures a fair bit in excess of the Ibis specs.

I have a Ripley LS and am the same weight on an XL.

When I had the shock serviced I had the larger spacer put in, and the bike rides higher in its travel more of the time. I still get the occasional pedal strike, but as others have mentioned this is a technique issue made more noticeable by a low BB.

I've never made it to that 11mm sag point, probably more like 20mm; I don't think many do tbh, but the spacer really helps. 240 to 250psi is the sweet spot for me.

You are most likely using all the travel; that last little bit of stanchion doesn't get used, but it can look like you're missing out..

 

[hifiandmtb]

Upped compression (high and low) and psi in my 36’s and hands were much better on Sunday. Weird I know, but it worked.

One orange spacer now, 95psi and midrange conpression adjustments. Up from 85psi and next to no compression, two spacers.

It’s been a series of small adjustments each ride so I’m not changing everything at once, but this is were I’ve landed now. Pretty happy.

Where'd ya go?

 

[AaronJ]

Thanks for the info Tubbsy.

Def 100% not using all the shock's travel. Fully compressed to extended there is 45-46mm of stanchion from the seal lip. My o-ring moves from the seal lip to at best 36mm (measured with a vernier I should add).

Plus, with my woes to get it dialed in I have checked/changed pressure, measured sag, travel post ride and travel giving it a big pump after each ride. I have the spreadsheet to prove it ;-)

Does not matter how I measure, were I set it, etc, I just cant get any more travel out if it under reasonable pressures.

A thought.../ I have not checked the rear suspension's bearings. What if something was limiting travel, without giving a feeling of bottoming???