Suspension

Message

rick · #1 Post by **rick** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 2:29 pm

Hi

I have standard front forks and a Maxton rear shock on my Falco and today I thought I'd look at the settings I have compared to stock.

The front end should apparently have four rings showing on the preload adjusters, 1.5 turns out on the rebound and 1 turn out on the compression. Everything was stock apart from the compression that was all the way in... I'm not expert but I'm assuming that by softening the compression to stock settings (so 1 turn out) the front end will nose-dive a little more when I'm braking and make the ride more comfortable without being too soft. Will this also make the bike turn a bit quicker into the corners?

I'll need to work out my rider and static sag to make sure preload is set correctly...

When I bought the bike I put some cable ties on the forks and the gap between the full travel and the cable tie with the settings before I adjusted the compression to stock values was around 20-25mm.

Regarding the rear, its a Maxton shock and the adjustments I can see are the twin nuts for the preload and a small adjustment screw at the top which is presumably for the rebound. There is also what seems like a little adjustment screw at the bottom which maybe compression... here is a pic of what it has taken from the Maxton website

Whatcha think??!

I'm going to try and contact Maxton for a user manual unless any clever peeps on here can help me :)

paddyz1 · #2 Post by **paddyz1** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 4:09 pm

Yep the bottom one is compression

rick · #3 Post by **rick** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:13 pm

so bugger, that allen bolt at the top of the shock wasn;t for compression... should have waited for the pdf manual to arrive (which it still hasn't) but I started to undo it and some gas came out... I quickly pinched it back up...

assuming it was the nitrogen... should it cause any problems?

anyone else made the same stupid mistake??!

#4 Post by **mangocrazy** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:49 pm

Most shocks are gas-pressurised (normally nitrogen), so it all depends how much escaped. If it was a quick gnat's fart you might be OK. A proper ripper and you definitely won't be. To be on the safe side, it should be checked and (if needed) re-pressurised. It might be an idea to ring up a suspension expert (like John at Revs Racing), or Maxton themselves.

I seem to remember that older Maxton shocks were based on Koni shocks, and had an unusual compression adjustment mechanism. I think later ones are more conventional in layout.

rick · #5 Post by **rick** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 9:06 pm

I was slowly loosening the bolt thinking this ain't right and it started to escape, almost like just slightly pressing the inner prong on a tyre valve. Anyway I immediately tightened it so I reckon it was open (and I mean just open) for maybe a second.

I've just been out for a ride and I couldn't really notice any difference. However I've just put the bike back on the paddock stand and pushed down on the footpeg to compress the rear shock, and as it raised it stopped abruptly, almost as if its run out of travel. PResumably I'll need to alter the preload every so slightly to compensate now for the different gas level.

D-Rider · #6 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 9:12 pm

If I remember correctly, the gas is there to keep the oil under pressure and prevent cavitation when it's working hard damping away - I think I'm right in saying it's not being used as a gas-spring.

This should have no effect on your preload setting.

Obviously double check what I say but I think I'm right.

rick · #7 Post by **rick** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 9:17 pm

sounds sensible

I'll probably leave it for now and see how I get on :)

D-Rider · #8 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 9:18 pm

Yep - I was right .... see page 3 of the Ohlins manual:

http://www.ohlins.eu/download/26/Ohlins ... orbers.pdf

HowardQ · #9 Post by **HowardQ** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 9:32 pm

I'll second Andy's thoughts a slight gas leak will not change the preload, that is all mechanical on the spring. The gas does work with the oil by keeping it under pressure.

rick · #10 Post by **rick** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:29 pm

Ok cheers - tbh I don't recall checking what the rear suspension travel was like on the paddock stand by pushing down on the footpeg and letting go, so it may always have been like that.

To put my mind at ease I've just measured the static and rider sag on the rear to see if the preload is sensible at the moment... I have between 5-10mm static sag and 30-35mm rider sag which seems consistent with one website I've used in the past to setup preload so I think I'll just leave it as-is and enjoy my new compression settings on the front forks!

The compression on the front was set all the way in, so I turned it out one turn (as-per stock settings) and its made the bike dive more under braking, I've noticed braking power is improved, and turn in is a lot quicker.