New springs

[json]

I rode out at Creekside Edge in Splendora on Saturday, and may have snuck a few laps in on their "tracks".

I used the bypass on most obsticles, but it quickly became obvious that my suspension is way too mushy to jump anything other than the little mounds of dirt I come across trail riding. I didn't bottom out, but the suspension felt too soft to do anyting but go fast over smaller obsticles. I have the suspension dialed in for a plush ride on the trails I ride, but I think my being too heavy for the springs (according to what I'm seeing on Race Tech's site) might be why I can't jump anything....and why my front end dives so much when braking hard.

The recent fork oil change, and running at the maximum oil height help some of the front end dive, but on a track, the suspension feels mushy with almost zero feedback. On the trail, it feels good and makes it easier to go faster, but I want a more solid feel so I can feel more in control when jumping.

I think if I stiffened things up a bit and got the bike more stable, that I'd be much more confident.

I can't get the nerve up to stay on the throttle and get the bike off the ground more than a couple of inches on and big jumps because the suspension is so mushy. The doubles look impossible...lol

I feel a little disconnected from what the wheels are doing aproaching and climpbing the jump faces, so I can't get a feel for how to jump correctly. I'm used to jumping bicycles, and I've made pretty big (i.e. stupid) jumps on bikes when I was younger, but this seems way different.

I am going to start with springs that are recommended for my weight, front and rear, to see if I can get things feeling a little more solid, and get rid of a little more of front end dive.

Am I going about this correctly? I think I would be more comfortable with things stiffer, or more solid feeling, when trying to jump. Is that correct, or am I way off in the wrong direction on this?


I went ahead and ordered a new rear spring matched to my weight per Race Tech's site. I found one that is like new on ebay for 47 bucks (Factory Connection ALN-060 6.0 KG spring), so I couldn't pass it up. My current spring is a 5.6 KG Eibach.

[MXtras]

Getting the springs right is the first step.

With the springs correct, you can then correctly fine tune the compression and rebound dampening to suit your riding style and weight. If the springs are wrong, you'll find yourself all the way in or all the way out on the adjustments and that's not where you want to be - kinda like you mentioned with your forks having the maximum amount of oil in them. To me, this tells me the fork springs are way too soft, so you are headed in the direction I would likely suggest.

Scott

[json]

Have an update and a question.

I installed the 6.0 kg spring and it feels weird. I only took a short street ride, but I feel smaller bumps more and when I sit down I settle down into a harder part of the spring or shock travel. If I add a little preload it feels better, but then I'm only getting .98" of static sag. This amount of static sag is within the limit in my owner's manual (both the amount of sag and the compressed spring length), but the guy I'm talking to at Factory Connection says he'd like to see more static sag. *(1.10" to 1.31"). He suggests going with a stiffer spring than what Race Tech's calc is saying (Race Tech says 6.1, he says 6.3).

My butt dyno tells me that I like the 5.6 KG spring ride a little better, but I know that it didn't handle my weight correctly when I did anything other than trail ride on pretty flat ground. I adjusted my shock some and it feels better, but still not all the way there yet. Maybe once I can really get out and ride I can get it dialed in better.
I was able to get the correct race sag with the old spring, and was within the limits of my static sag, but I was at the other end of the limit- .4" vs the .98" I have now with a stiffer spring. I feel that if I get a spring that's any firmer the ride will be way too stiff. The stiffer spring would get me the sag that FC suggests, but I'm thinking it would be too stiff.

What do you guys think? I have no experience with springs, so I'm kind of at a loss. If I get a firmer spring will it "feel" softer because of a little less preload? I'm confused...

[json]

Wanted to do a final update for any other suspension noobs, like myself.

I spoke to Race Tech and they answered all my questions, even about the Factory Connection shock spring I had installed already.

Factory Connection suggested a stiffer rear spring than RT, but I guess it's a personal preference thing. Both Race Tech and Factory Connection suggested the same fork springs. I ordered fork springs fork RT.
I haven't noticed any ill effects of running springs from two different companies.

I got to go back and ride the same area Saturday and the new springs made a huge difference, even on trails.

Once I got the clickers adjusted/balanced front and rear, I was finally able to jump something. I only got a foot or so of air on my best jumps, but I was happy with that. On the trails, wheelies were easier and the suspension felt firmer, but still plush.

I was able to concentrate on my speed, body postion and how the suspension felt when I landed instead of fighting with what was mushy suspension. I also noticed that the front end feels much more planted and doesn't just wash out when I lose traction. It will give me time to put a foot down, slow down, or lift the front end to correct before I fall over.

Well worth the $$.

This is another mod I wish I would have done as soon as I bought my bike (+ Flywheel Weight).