Fox Shock pressure?

canada16
canada16 Posts: 2,360
edited January 2009 in MTB workshop & tech
Hey.

I cant get onto the fox website.

I got F32 100RL and a RP2

I commute alot and trail centres on the weekend.

What psi is normal for this or what should my shocks be, as never done this before.

Thanks

Comments

  • millster
    millster Posts: 209
    PSI values arent that specific. depends on your wieght, and how you like the shocks to run. Do you know to set the sag? I typically run mine at just under 25% sag, and then adjust the rebound for the feel of the fork/shock. you might want to set the sag less for commuting than what you would find more comfortable at the trail centres.
  • canada16
    canada16 Posts: 2,360
    I am 11stn wet and wearing boots.

    I dont like a lot of bounce, but maybe a bounce of 25 percent of the 100mm

    It seems like its going about 50 percent and not off heavy jumps.

    Cheers
  • cjw
    cjw Posts: 1,889
    Generally set the sag for 25% when you are simply sat on the bike.

    Wear what you would normally to ride (eg camelbak etc..).
    Put ziptie (or similar) around fork.

    Either;
    Sit on bike to load the suspension.
    Get mate to slip the ziptie to the bottom of the fork.
    Carefully get off bike (so as not to compress forks with your movement).

    Or;

    Slip ziptie to bottom of stantion
    Get on bike carefully
    Get off bike carefully

    Measure the gap between the ziptie and the fork chamber. This is you sag.

    On a 100mm fork @ 25% should be 25mm (1")

    If sag is greater... add air. If sag is less... take air out. But adjust to whatever feels right.

    Picys here + instructions; http://www.bikemagic.com/news/article/mps/UAN/3242/v/4/sp/
    London to Paris Forum
    http://cjwoods.com/london2paris

    Scott Scale 10
    Focus Izalco Team
  • canada16
    canada16 Posts: 2,360
    Thanks for that, will try and see how I get on.

    Still waiting for my pump, got my lezyne hand pump, love it, but takes a hell of a love to pump from flat.

    Thanks guys
  • Banned!
    Banned! Posts: 34
    take what you wiegh in pounds, multiply it by ten then add another ten.

    if you wiegh 11st (same as me) then set your shock at around 150psi.
  • cjw
    cjw Posts: 1,889
    take what you wiegh in pounds, multiply it by ten then add another ten.

    if you wiegh 11st (same as me) then set your shock at around 150psi.

    Is that a joke? 150psi in my front forks would cause them to explode and for rear suspension, it all depends on the geometry (leverage) so different bikes will require different pressures.
    London to Paris Forum
    http://cjwoods.com/london2paris

    Scott Scale 10
    Focus Izalco Team
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    Jesus_Christ
    sorry poor info. even for a rear shock as it all depends on leverage and what the reason for adding air is.

    As mentioned above if the air is for the air spring then all you do Fork or shock is set the sag.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    I tried that, and got 1660 psi!
  • canada16
    canada16 Posts: 2,360
    I have no idea how to set sag or anything, as I said this is the first time I have done this.

    I have no plastic ties or anything.

    I just thought there might be a recomended psi.

    Uhmm might have to ask the LBS to help me with this sag thing and what exact psi I need.

    Thanks anyway guys.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    there is NO figure. set the sag (XC 20% DH 30-40% of travel) and you need what ever pressure you need.

    find some thing to act as a slider on the fork leg so you can see how much sag you get.

    that will not damage the leg at the same time.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • millster
    millster Posts: 209
    Right, rough guide to setting sag.
    -If the shock has propedal, set ut to the neutral position.
    -Tie a zip tie around the bottom of the stanction (sp), tight enough so that it can travel freely, but not fall down again.
    -on the rear shock, push the o-ring up to the seal of the shock.
    -put on all your riding gear, sit on the bike. the zip tie should have travelled up the fork, and the o-ring, down the shock shaft.
    -as can be seen in the photos, the zip tie has travelled roughly 25% up the fork leg, and the o-ring around the same amount.
    -keep adjusting the air pressure until the correct sag (ie the amount you feel most comfortablw with) has been reached.

    DSC00763.jpg

    DSC00762.jpg
  • canada16
    canada16 Posts: 2,360
    Thanks for that guys and for the pics.

    I got the pump today, god the shocks are touchy, I thought there was a lot more air in them.

    Just pressed the flood button and my shocks went down, it was crazy.

    I pumped up to about 120psi and they became really stiff, then let a bit of air out and seems ok.

    Did not realise how solid they would go with just over 120psi.

    Thanks again guys
  • cjw
    cjw Posts: 1,889
    As a guide, Fox give indications of pressure settings http://service.foxracingshox.com/consumers/Content/Service/Forks/F-Series/F100RLC_F80RLC.htm

    At 11 Stone you would be around 65psi.
    London to Paris Forum
    http://cjwoods.com/london2paris

    Scott Scale 10
    Focus Izalco Team
  • canada16
    canada16 Posts: 2,360
    I am going to play around with it, I got about 70-90 psi and seems ok, will ride to work and see how it goes.

    I thought you would need 200psi+ as the pumps are high pressure 400psi

    I still really cant understand why you cant use a track pump, but it must be becuase you need a small amount of high pressure or something like that.

    Can you use the pump for your tyres if you have a schrader valve?

    Thanks again guys for all your help.

    NICE 1
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    Can you use the pump for your tyres if you have a schrader valve?
    if you have a year to inflate your tyres :roll:
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • millster
    millster Posts: 209
    Yeah, my tyre pump broke on the trail once and had to use my shock pump. NEVER AGAIN!
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    canada16 wrote:
    I am going to play around with it, I got about 70-90 psi and seems ok, will ride to work and see how it goes.

    I thought you would need 200psi+ as the pumps are high pressure 400psi

    I still really cant understand why you cant use a track pump, but it must be becuase you need a small amount of high pressure or something like that.

    Can you use the pump for your tyres if you have a schrader valve?

    Thanks again guys for all your help.

    NICE 1

    Sounds like you got a pump for the rear suspension like I did,you won`t get an accurate enough reading with that on the front but 70 to 90 psi is correct pressure.
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • .blitz
    .blitz Posts: 6,197
    edited January 2009
    supersonic wrote:
    I tried that, and got 1660 psi!
    I got 2010 psi pmsl !
  • canada16
    canada16 Posts: 2,360
    Thanks for that guys, my front seems ok today nice and responsive, played around with the pre-load as well for the first time.

    I put the pump to my face, and I see what you mean only lets out short blasts.

    Thanks guys, Afan here I come next week, hopefully its sunny and warm... :lol:
  • Banned!
    Banned! Posts: 34
    .blitz wrote:
    supersonic wrote:
    I tried that, and got 1660 psi!
    I got 2010 psi pmsl !

    really?


    so you took your wieght in pounds and multiplied it by 10 then added another 10 and that what you got?


    youre either in the bingo section for arithmetic at whatever special school you attend or you are trying to be funny. and failing.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    I weigh 165lbs. Multiplied by ten I get 1650. Add ten and I get 1660.

    I can only assume you meant stones, not pounds, or you are 18 months old.
  • Banned!
    Banned! Posts: 34
    durrr! Im an idiot.

    take your wieght in pounds and add 10. god knows where i got multiply by 10 from originally.

    sorry.

    the reason I said this is because it was a peice of advice I was once given by a rep from Fox when i was in my LBS and was having trouble setting my shock up. of course there are different types of shock and linkage etc, but a good starting point is to follow that simple equation. that way the shock wont bottom out too quickly and it wont be too hard either.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    As a starting point sounds about right. I usually put 100psi in and take it from there, adjust until I get 25-30% sag.
  • canada16
    canada16 Posts: 2,360
    My front is nice and responsive.

    I got to do my back now, will get to that this weekend and have a play around.

    Is it sorta the same psi for the rear as well ? As it seems like there is a lot more sag in the back.

    Thanks.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Could be entirely different! I'd start at 100ish and work from there.
  • canada16
    canada16 Posts: 2,360
    Ahh nice one.

    I got one of those beto ones and its great, it has a bleed valve which is really handy.

    You can get it down at 5 psi at a time with it.

    Will try this weekend.