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MountainBikeReview.com's Forum Archives - What Bike to Buy
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xce is on the way, now a question about a superlight for.... (6 posts)
|  xce is on the way, now a question about a superlight for.... | piggy
Mar 11, 2003 11:01 AM | | my girlfriend. I put the finishing touches on my girlfriend's new superlight last night. I am almost done with the build. I will post pics when it is done. I do have one question, I have never built a bike with an air rear shock and I have no clue how to set it up. All this garbage about sag. I just want to pump it to a certain psi and go. It has a fox ava with lockout if that matters. Also what is the starting point for the rebound adjuster? She weighs 140 so if anyone has an idea that would be great. Also in my hasty building I lost one of the ODI lock jaw bolts. Where can I get a replacement?
Thanks everyone |
| do you have a tape measure? | derby
Mar 11, 2003 12:45 PM | | If not, go buy one. You need one for setting up and maintaining full suspension.
Pump up your GF's bike's shock to 100 psi.
Measure the distance from the back of the seat to the ground.
Have your GF sit on the bike with feet off the ground on bot pedals, hands on the bars.
Again, measure the distance from the back of the seat to the ground (with her on the bike).
Let out air pressure with the pump bleed button until the tape measured distance is 3/4 to 1 inch lower than with no weight on the bike.
Unweight the bike and note the psi. That's the pressure to keep it at for a starting point, until you test other pressures up or down a little from there.
Some riders like more or less sag than other riders, so I'd recommend you carry the air pump on a ride and add or lower 5 - 10 psi at a time and ride for a while and see what feels best for climbing, speed, downhill, etc.
I found that too low of air pressure in the Superlight made the bike handle very poorly. Too much and it bucked around. It felt best when the fork and rear suspension felt the same when hitting rocks. I liked 1 inch sag front and rear for smoother action. Some riders like less sag for a more firm ride.
- ray |
| thanks.......how did you figure this out? | piggy
Mar 11, 2003 12:49 PM | | Is this basically what all bike stores do? |
| which way do I go with the rebound dial? There are no markings. | piggy
Mar 11, 2003 12:51 PM | | What should the starting point be on the rebound dial? |
| which way do I go with the rebound dial? There are no markings. | derby
Mar 11, 2003 2:56 PM | | I'm familiar with the Float not the AVA, but I suspect it's the same. It may have a marking on it with an arrow that says Slower or Faster. If not turn the dial all the way in both directions, one way will rebound much slower than the other end of adjustment. My Superlight worked best for me with the Float rebound adjustment right about in the middle, about 21 clicks of about 42 total away from one end of the adjustment or the other.
You could set it there (where ever the middle range of the AVA damper adjustment range is) and then ride the bike on your favorite trails and try making a couple clicks faster or slower (keeping track of how may clicks away from center you are) until it rides smooth over sharp bumps and doesn't kick you up in the air off the seat upon rebound (set the damping as fast as possible without getting the feel of bouncing off bumps). Some riders like slower damping than others. Slower than medium range damping is more stable but reduces usable travel and reduces bump compliance, especially when standing and coasting when you weight is centered further forward and the rider is not pushing the rear suspension as deep in travel.
Faster damping and softer springs are more bump compliant, but not as stable feeling at lower speeds. The Superlight is very well balanced overall and handles very well within all ranges of soft with fast damped to firm with slow damping. Set your front and rear suspensions to feel very similar over bumps for best control and stability.
You guy have two of the best bikes around. Have fun!
- ray |
| thanks for the help. I am going to set it up tonight! | piggy
Mar 11, 2003 3:30 PM | | |
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