HELP, I'm a "BOB"!

[Dennis]

I have ridden the oz with the Astro 5 for a bit now. Esp. since Being new to this whole full suspension thing, I really don't have too much experience or knowledge about how to setup the bike. I have it setup as the manufacturers suggest and it is quite a revelation compared to riding a hardtail. ESp. since the only sus. fork I have ridden before the Fox TALAS is a crosslink. I rode full rigid for over 10 years, and only rode the front sus. for about 2 years before riding the Oz this year. so, I am quite ignorant about how the bike should feel, so I have a few questions for you guys:
1. I had Risse build the Astro 5 (at the suggestion of someone from this forum last year) for a weight about 30 lbs. less than my actual weight. I find that I have to use over 200 lbs. of air pressure to get the sag set correctly. Is this too much? should I have Risse revalve the thing?
2. How much difference in shock action should I feel when using the damping adjuster? I don't seem to notice too much difference. I will continue to experiment.
3. How much do you guys actually use this adjustment? I seem to be a "set it and forget it" kind of person myself. also, as I have said before, the trails around here don't really give one much time to reach down and adjust stuff.

thanks for your input.
[smiley=groucho.gif]

[Carbon_Angus]

There are 12 step programs for everything, Dennis, good luck! [smiley=laughing.gif]

Glad you are on your way!
[smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif]

[Simon]

I'm using 200psi in my astro5 (you can go up as high as 300psi)fitted to my Oz,revalving only affects the damping not the amount of pressure required to set the sag,set the adjuster to full rebound then push down on the bike and release the shock should return slowly then set the adjuster fully the other way and push down again it should return quickly if this is the case then the damping adjuster is working, if your happy with the shocks action ie its not throwing you out of the saddle or packing down over a series of bumps then no need to worry, if any of these things do happen and using the adjuster to compensate doesn't cure this then you may need to revalve,but I doubt very much you'll need too,I've set my damping adjuster where I'm happy with its action and left it,you can use it to give a sort of lockout by setting it to full rebound whilst out on the trails if you like that sort of thing,I'm presently running the adjuster set in the middle, suits me but you need to experiment as to what feels best to you.Simon [smiley=nod.gif]

[Matno]

1. I had Risse build the Astro 5 (at the suggestion of someone from this forum last year) for a weight about 30 lbs. less than my actual weight. I find that I have to use over 200 lbs. of air pressure to get the sag set correctly. Is this too much? should I have Risse revalve the thing?

As was already mentioned, valving has nothing to do with sag or air pressure. Only the speed at which the shock compresses.

2. How much difference in shock action should I feel when using the damping adjuster? I don't seem to notice too much difference.

Damping is something you have to get a feel for. Because I've experimented with several shocks, I can feel pretty small differences, but you may not notice much difference (depending on your riding style). I can certainly tell the difference between full open and full closed on my Astro5. I wouldn't ever ride a trail with it set on full closed. Just not comfortable.  Personally, with the Astro5 I always set compression damping as soft as it will go while on the trail. Since the Astro doesn't have separate rebound adjustment, you don't have to worry about it. (BTW, with my Manitou forks, I've never been able to tell much difference, and they are supposed to have a decent range of adjustments. My Stratos Helix Pro only has slow or extra slow rebound damping, which is kind of annoying, but makes for a smooth ride).

3. How much do you guys actually use this adjustment? I seem to be a "set it and forget it" kind of person myself. also, as I have said before, the trails around here don't really give one much time to reach down and adjust stuff.
[smiley=groucho.gif]

Like I said, I use the same setting pretty much ALL the time. I like soft.

[Dennis]

thanks for the  input guys, I believe I have reduced my Bobness a bit.
I was just playing around with the settings on the astro 5 and have discovered that there IS a difference in the rebound dampening.
I guess it will take a while to get it all dialed in just as it did with the shifting on this beast.
btw, the precision billet v-brakes I put on the bike are amazingly powerful! I've never experienced this level of braking power on a bike. Can't wait to see what its like with disc brakes!
thanks again, although I welcome more input on this subject.
[smiley=groucho.gif]

[kiwi]

sometimes dennis you have got to just trust what you feel!!If you feel that the shock is compressing and rebounding too "fast" then you have got to increase the damping a bit and if you feel its too slow then you have to reduce it....you may get to the point where you may use marginally different setting for different trials..but i would say that once you have got the risse where you like it it will stai there.The only reason you would need to get the shock revalved is if you felt that you didny have enough damping even at full(or visa versa) for what ots worth i run more than 200 on my world cup frame terminator.....

[Old Proflexer]

i usually just work on one adjustment at a time, one component at a time. rebound, compression, spring weight, air pressure whatever - one at a time, over the curb out in front of my house, til i get to where it think it feels right.  in an +/- hour, you can get the basic components real close to where you want to be and tweak it out on the trail.

we all have a little bit of my next door neighbor "BOB!" in us -
(that's a tad bit scarey huh?)

i like that - - - "k2 proflex 12 step recovery forum"

OP