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Specialist
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Suspension Setup
09/06/15 at 10:53pm
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After my riding buddy commented that my front fork appeared "stiff," I reran the numbers on Trek's website to calculate the appropriate PSI. When I checked the fork, turns out I was running 10 lbs light (80 to the recommended 90). I left it alone because I'm still only using about 3/4 of my travel on most rides. 

But then I got to the shock and see that I am at 140 (as opposed to the recommended 215). I do bottom this out on most rides so I'm going to bring it up to about 205. 
 
Question: There is another number below "Spring" which says "Rebound" - 7 Clicks out. 

How do you adjust "clicks out"?  Undecided
(I mean, I know where to adjust the clicks, and can feel the "clicks" - but where is zero? Do I go all the way to one side or the other and then count clicks back in the opposite direction)? 

Also - how accurate are those calculators? I have a hard time believing the LBS where I usually have the bike serviced would have the shock almost 80 PSI light without good reason.
« Last Edit: 09/06/15 at 11:27pm by Specialist »  
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Yellowduck
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Re: Suspension Setup
Reply #1 - 09/06/15 at 11:40pm
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Turn the rebound all the way in (clockwise if I'm not mistaken) and then turn it the other way and count the clicks.   

You should be checking your sag insteadd of relying on Treks PSI numbers.  Your bike should have come with sag meters to set it but if not, it is easy enough to measure.  Youtube is your friend if you don't know how.
  
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Specialist
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Re: Suspension Setup
Reply #2 - 09/07/15 at 1:02am
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Thanks Yellow Duck. I checked a few articles on setting sag and will spend some time in the driveway  tomorrow trying to get it just right. But what about rebound? I set the "clicks" according to Trek but how do you know if your rebound is too fast or slow before you hit the trail amd find out that you'd rebound is too fast or slow?
  
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Specialist
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Re: Suspension Setup
Reply #3 - 09/07/15 at 2:33am
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Whoa - using 25% travel when seated as my baseline, turns out 150 psi in the rear shock is the correct setting. Why are the factory calculators so dang high?
  
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johnski
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Re: Suspension Setup
Reply #4 - 09/07/15 at 2:41am
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Specialist wrote on 09/07/15 at 1:02am:
But what about rebound? I set the "clicks" according to Trek but how do you know if your rebound is too fast or slow before you hit the trail amd find out that you'd rebound is too fast or slow?

Depends on the type of riding you're doing.  For around here, I tend to keep it around the middle.  Also, make sure your rebound on your fork is similar to the rebound of your shock.  Otherwise, they'll be working against each other.
  
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Yellowduck
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Re: Suspension Setup
Reply #5 - 09/07/15 at 12:45pm
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Specialist wrote on 09/07/15 at 2:33am:
Whoa - using 25% travel when seated as my baseline, turns out 150 psi in the rear shock is the correct setting. Why are the factory calculators so dang high?


Trek may be using 20% sag.  Their PSI covers a pretty big weight range also.
  
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MTBman1127
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Re: Suspension Setup
Reply #6 - 09/07/15 at 5:57pm
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What bike are you on and what's your weight. I'm pretty familiar with treks setup. 

Clicks out is refund to clicks out from full slow. Just turn it all the way one way and cycle the suspension and see what it does. It will be evident which direction is full slow and what is full fast. 

What I always recommend to guys is to find a short half mile section of trail that has variable terrain and you can ride over and over again. Start with the fork and set the sag to 20-25% then turn the rebound full fast. Ride the section of trail. Then turn it full slow and ride it again. If you liked fast better than  slow start fast and do one click slower until it's too slow then back it back out till you find your happy place. Then do the same for the rear. You want the rebound fast enough to not pack up over continuous hits but not fast enough to buck you off. Don't adjust the front and rear at the same time or you will have a harder time telling the difference of what's working 
Hope that made sense
« Last Edit: 09/07/15 at 6:11pm by MTBman1127 »  
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Specialist
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Re: Suspension Setup
Reply #7 - 09/08/15 at 11:04pm
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In full gear I'm somewhere around 190 / 195 on a 2013 Fuel EX 8. 

Thanks!
  
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MTBman1127
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Re: Suspension Setup
Reply #8 - 09/09/15 at 12:12am
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I would agree with trek according to your weight. DCRV shocks run about 10psi+ your body weight so about 200 seems correct. Make sure you are doing your sag with the shock open (not in trail or climb) Also you will want to cycle the suspension then carefully move the rubber o ring back up and gently get off to get the proper sag %. If you just sit on and then get off the sticktion (technical term lol) from the wiper and rings will not give you an accurate reading. 

Realistically you should bottom your suspension out once or twice per ride but you shouldn't be blasting through it regularly.   

Up front I would start about 100psi and work your way +/- a little from there. 

As far as rebound goes I would use my method above for dialing it in. Don't be afraid to turn knobs just do one at a time as to give yourself an accurate feeling to the changes.
  
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