Advice please - setting up fork and shock (Fox models)

DickBarton

Hi,

I've got a bike with a Fox RP23 (or 32...I can't even remember the name of the rear shock - propedal and firmness settings!) and a Fox Float 120 RL.

I'm about 86Kg with my riding kit on and the rear has about 190psi in it and the fork about 80psi.

I've started riding more things with propedal off (for the downhill bits) and I've noticed a huge difference in the ride...rougher stuff is hard more controlled (or feels that way) so I know the suspension is working however...I've started riding some bigger stuff and riding stuff faster (still not amazingly fast but the speed and confidence is moving in the right direction) and at times I feel the suspension is wallowy - so how do I set my shock and fork up? I don't tend to mash through rock gardens (if I do ride rock gardens it is cautiously and lower speeds picking my line).

About 90% of the time the shocks feel fine but I have on occasion bottomed the rear shock out (which I know is meant to happen a few times), but with propedal on I can't feel the bike moving at all but with it off I can feel the bike moving...at times it feels almost like a sort of wave pattern...I don't know if it is rebound is set to slow or too fast, the rear shock has the firmness on 3 - but to be honest I've not felt any difference on any of the 3 settings.

If I ride down some steps the bike doesn't feel totally planted, I get the impression the forks and shock are working but they seem to be totaly independent of each other (I mean in the sense they aren't connected to the same bike)...if the steps have a dip before the edge then the forks feel as though they are really digging into the travel and almost stall me. The bike doesn't always feel planted on the deck going over the rougher stuff (I know it would feel the same as if it was on a totaly flat and smooth section but it just seems to rattle through snd I can't keep a line.

I'm sure my suspension isn't set up properly but can't understand the manual enough to translate that into something I can understand to do to 'fix' the bike.

Can someone explain how to set up the shock and fork please? I think the sag is correct on both which makes me think I need to play with rebound but I'm not sure I'm understanding what that will do.

A rather stupid question I think as I've been riding bikes for 20 years and full bounce for the last 5, but I've never really played with the suspension so have never paid any attention to it...now that I'm riding more and riding stuff faster my usual approach of 'feels about right' I don't think is cutting it.

Cheers,

Richard.

cavegiant

It is an RP23 and one of the best air shocks in the market.

From the way you phrase your questions I don't think you would be able to understand my answer.

I would spend quite a bit of time reading up on compression and rebound damping and how suspension works, this will enable you to answer your own questions. It will be a few hours well spent.

If you really are not technical minded, if you sent both to TFtuned or Mojo they will tune it for you. They do AMAZING work, but the price reflects this.

On the RP23 do you have an overflow can?
what do you have sag set up as?
What happens if you move that sag around a bit?
Move the tuning dials one at a time, full off, then full on, how does it feel?

try these things then come back, we will help.

GhallTN6

Everyone has suspension set up to personal preference, if your having real issues, take it into a descent LBS for them to set it up and describe what is what.

The usual is to set sag at 25-30%, I never go on pressure.

Rebound can take a while to set up properly, but if you are doing fast singltrack where you need the shock/fork to recover quickly before the next root or drop or whatever comes up, you need to set the rebound to a faster setting where the fork/shock returns to it's fully open position fairly quickly (but not too quick as to cause kick back)

I usually set my pro-pedal to 1 for long steep technical climbs, 2 for general trails and singletrack, then when I hit the knarly downhill sections (including large drop-offs or steps), then I turn it to the off position, it makes a huge difference.

http://www.foxracingshox.com/fox_tech_center/owners_manuals/07/eng/rear_shocks/float_rp23.htm

Dick Scruttock

I have my propedal on setting 2 and only use it on long fire road climbs and road riding. Everywhere else i have it open.

DickBarton

Thanks for the responses guys - I don't think I'm having real issues, just noticing a bit more of how the bike is reacting to a slightly quicker pace and rougher riding...I'm technically minded but haven't gotten into the suspension setup other than setting sag up - as up until now I've never needed to, hence my question.

Will have a play...thanks.

Locotuning

Hi have a look at my setup guide :

http://www.locotuning.co.uk/tech-info.html

if you still have issues after running through that fell free to give me a call at the workshop

DickBarton

Ah that is perfect, thanks Loco...easy enough for me to understand so I'll go start playing with it all now, thanks.

Anonymous

From the "FAQs top tips, and tech tips" section:

Nicklouse wrote:

]http://www.foxracingshox.com/protune/?utm_source=biketile&utm_medium=banners&utm_campaign=protunelinks

step by step how tos.

DickBarton

Right, I think my compression setting is too low, I think I need to speed my compression up on my fork - but it is a Fox Float RL (120mm) - I can adjust the rebound and lock it out but not the compression - any tips on how to change what I can to make it like I've adjusted the compression - I think I need to speed it up slightly (to prevent the wallow) - should I decrease the rebound to make the fork return quicker?

Those Fox videos help explain things but they made more sense after I read that Locotuning stuff - they refered to different shaped bumps so I had an idea of what needed doing.

Anonymous

A lot of it is down to personal preference as well.
There's been a few good interviews with team mechanics on freecaster, wo talk about the different suspension setups of DH riders, and the effect on the handling.
Some people prefer slower suspension, and letting their arms and legs handle the juttery bumps, whereas other people (I fall into this category) prefer the suspension action to be very very fast, and deal with the BIG hits using arms and legs.