Setting up my Reba Team dual air , please help!

stanman1432

I've recently purchased a 2009 Kona Caldera with Reba Team dual air forks which i think are 09 or 10 model. I'm really pleased with the bike and fork but i'm a little unsure on how to correctly set it up.

Today i went out for my first ride and couldn't help thinking the fork was at least 40-50% compressed during normal flat riding i.e too soft. This is despite putting the recommended air pressure in both - ve and + ve chambers. When i returned i played around a bit and found the set up was for better with a low air pressure in the -ve side around 40psi and the recommended 120-130psi in the +ve side. IS THIS THE CORRECT WAY OF ADJUSTING SAG AND WILL THIS HARM THE FORK IN ANY WAY???

Spec : - 18 inch Kona frame, i'm 5'11 and 83 Kg

Thanks
Andrew

supersonic

The manual states these pressures are a guide, and you should adjust sag to a percentage ie start at 25%of total travel.

Also see our FAQ on Dual Air.

stanman1432

OK, not being able to find the FAQ's is this a good way of firming the forks up to suit my riding style, weight etc?? or is this incorrect and cause damage to the forks??

nicklouse

the FAQs http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=40043

set the air to set the sag that you want. and match the neg air and tune to suit.

diy

I think 40/120-130 is going to reduce most of the benefit of the dual air system, that being the ability to make a progressive spring, which can be soft and sensitive for small bumps and still stiff enough for bigger drops. Personally I'd up the neg to say 110 and set the +ve to 140 to give a similar feel. At 40/120 you are going to lose most of the trail damping that the rebas are so good at.

Remember to empty the neg when setting the +ive (though at 40psi its not going to make that much difference).

stanman1432

thanks diy, thats the type of reply i was after. Being reasonably new to this stuff it's much appreciated. As long as this wont damage the fork?.

supersonic

Read the manual! Set your sag, and set the -ve pressure within 10psi to tune.

stanman1432

I don't have a manual i bought it 2nd hand! the SRAM website is rubbish can't find anything.

nicklouse

so read the set up guide in the FAQs.

or let us know the year and maybe we can link you to the manual.

diy

Now that we have the info that these forks are used its quite possible that your +ive chamber is dried out and you are losing +ive pressure into the -ive chamber during the ride. This will result in your forks slowly sucking down during the ride until eventually you will end up with anything up to 80% sag.

When you reset your forks (letting the air out) its worth removing the +ive cap and checking that their is still oil in the +ive chamber. Its something that is supposed to be checked "monthly" but few people bother. If its dry you need to top it up with at least 5ml of suspension fluid. It is this fluid that makes the seals hold the air pressure in the +ive chamber.

If its dry then it will cause the problem you have which will not be resolved by adjusting the pressure.