Optimum fork travel remaining ?

weeksy59

So..

i got a set of Rockshox Tora 302's fitted to the Specialized.

At max compression i've seen i still have 35-40mm of travel remaining (assuming they compress fully that is)

So, should my forks be compressing more ?

I know on motorbikes you ideally get them as close to full as possible... So wondering if they're the same on pushbike forks

nicklouse

air or coil springs?

and what sag do you get?

stevieboy

I've got my sag set up on my two bikes as follows:

On the Scale I usually have about 20mm out of 100mm left after normal XC race abuse

On the Kona I'm left with 10mm out of 165mm after a blast up and down in the peaks (4-5ft drops)

It's nice knowing that there is that little bit spare for the 'big one' if you get me.

I've found that the recommended sag's are near enough right given in the handbooks/manuals +/- a bit of trial and error on the trail.

weeksy59

nicklouse wrote:

air or coil springs?

and what sag do you get?

Coil.

No idea, not set the sag, static or rider ?

supersonic

Stand on the bike in the normal 'ready' position - the fork wants to be sagging 25% into its travel under your weight.

weeksy59

supersonic wrote:

Stand on the bike in the normal 'ready' position - the fork wants to be sagging 25% into its travel under your weight.

OK, NP, what we call 'rider sag' in motorbike world.

weeksy59

Right, so my sag is round about 28mm. (31%).

When it dries up a little i'll sort out the preload and get it closer to 25%

Northwind

weeksy59 wrote:

OK, NP, what we call 'rider sag' in motorbike world.

Yup. Static sag doesn't really apply since the bikes are so light so when they talk of sag, it's just rider sag.

Remember, it's not like a road bike where the impacts are fairly predictable, I'd not be happy if I was getting close to bottoming out my forks on normal riding since there's nothing in reserve for my next gigantic screwup

xtreem

[b]weeksy59[/b] wrote:

Right, so my sag is round about 28mm. (31%).

Your math is bad, sorry.

If your fork travel is:
80mm - 28mm = 35%
100mm - 28mm = 28%
130mm - 28mm = 21.5%

supersonic

But if it is a 90mm fork?!

;-)

I would remove the spring and make sure they can physically hit full travel?

weeksy59

Xtreem wrote:

[b]weeksy59[/b] wrote:

Right, so my sag is round about 28mm. (31%).

Your math is bad, sorry.

If your fork travel is:
80mm - 28mm = 35%
100mm - 28mm = 28%
130mm - 28mm = 21.5%

Well, i'm not quite that dense

Even though i have 100mm forks, when the bike is unloaded and sitting only on it's own weight, the max is about 95mm as measured.

so, it's actually pretty close to 31% currently.

xtreem

[b]weeksy59[/b] wrote:

Even though i have 100mm forks, when the bike is unloaded and sitting only on it's own weight, the max is about 95mm as measured.

You mean as the stanchions are 95mm high?
If that's the case, then I don't think you have a 100mm of travel.
Because there is at least 10mm(not sure about that, mine is 15mm) of free stanchions
space so the seals don't hit the crown at full travel.

weeksy59

Xtreem wrote:

[b]weeksy59[/b] wrote:

Even though i have 100mm forks, when the bike is unloaded and sitting only on it's own weight, the max is about 95mm as measured.

You mean as the stanchions are 95mm high?
If that's the case, then I don't think you have a 100mm of travel.
Because there is at least 10mm(not sure about that, mine is 15mm) of free stanchions
space so the seals don't hit the crown at full travel.

Well yeah, what i'd class as the 'inner'.. THe bit that is ally/polished, Ti Nitride etc

The length of the shiny bit is 95mm (approx)

xtreem

[b]weeksy59[/b] wrote:

The length of the shiny bit is 95mm (approx)

Then I'm affraid you have 80mm Tora.
Unless it's wound down to 85mm if it's a U-turn model. Is it?

[edit]Or maybe it's 90mm fork, as supersonic said[/edit]