Posts
131
Joined
10/6/2015
Location
Durango, CO
US
I've been tinkering a lot with my suspension lately. I wanted to get other peoples thoughts or opinions of what they are running. Seeing the MRP ramp, it makes it interesting to see a few new ideas. I do realize rear suspension will be different on different bikes leverage ratios, so take that with a grain of salt. But the pike should be similar for most people.
So what I'd like to know is: 1) What bike are you on, and what do you weigh? 1b) what is your riding style, or trails you typically ride 2) What shock combinations are you using? 3) What different settings are you trying 4) what have you liked or disliked with each?
I'll start - 2014 Santa Cruz Bronson, Rockshock Pike 160 Solo Air, Monarch Plus Debonair RC3 Rear (previously on Fox CTD with Vorsprung Corset). 160 lbs with gear. Primarily ride aggressive trails in Colorado, backcountry singletrack rides and long descents, lots of roots / rocks, not a ton of drops. People probably call them "enduro" rides, but I don't race.
Pike Settings. I keep messing with this and feel I haven't found the ideal setting yet. Rockshock suggests I run between 155-165psi for the pike for my weight.
1) Base - 60PSI, 2 tokens, 1 click LSC. Found that I liked the mid stroke, but wanted a bit more small bump absorbance as it is a bit chattery through the rough, and wasn't as planted as my monarch. Was going through most of the travel the whole time though. I tried moving down to 55psi with 7lsc, but found I was going through too much of the travel at 2 tokens.
2) 55PSI, 3 tokens, 6 clicks LSC. Increased small bump compliance which was excellent through small bumps and roots. Increased ramp at the end, mostly using 100% of travel, but found mid stroke support a bit lacking on corners. Hangs up sometimes in holes too.
3) 60PSI, 3 tokens, 2 clicks LSC. More mid stroke support, but not as good small bump, still a bit chattery in roots.
Next up - would like to try a happy medium between 2 and 3. I want good small bump, but stronger mid stroke. I'm thinking if I can find 58psi (if I'll notice that small amount), 4-6 clicks LSC and 3 tokens, it might get that. I'm not fully sure what the LSC does too much for me, at least changing it is pretty subtle.
Monarch Settings - Haven't done too much to this yet, it was pretty good out of the box with a Mid/Mid tune, and I feel I'm 90% of the way I want it to be.
1) Base - 170psi (30% sag), 7 LSC clicks, 0 bands. Was going through the full travel, and small bump was great. A few larger bottom outs, and felt I wanted to ramp more for aggressive trails, but keep the same small bump.
2) 170psi (30%) sag, 7lsc, 2 bands - Verdict is still out (only 2 rides), but going through most of the travel, and small bump seems the same. I tried 175 (27% or so sag), and it was too much and chattery. 165 was a bit wallowy.
I'm finding for longer climbs, I keep it in the middle compression, as it doesn't wallow as much, but descending, open I love it.
So what I'd like to know is: 1) What bike are you on, and what do you weigh? 1b) what is your riding style, or trails you typically ride 2) What shock combinations are you using? 3) What different settings are you trying 4) what have you liked or disliked with each?
I'll start - 2014 Santa Cruz Bronson, Rockshock Pike 160 Solo Air, Monarch Plus Debonair RC3 Rear (previously on Fox CTD with Vorsprung Corset). 160 lbs with gear. Primarily ride aggressive trails in Colorado, backcountry singletrack rides and long descents, lots of roots / rocks, not a ton of drops. People probably call them "enduro" rides, but I don't race.
Pike Settings. I keep messing with this and feel I haven't found the ideal setting yet. Rockshock suggests I run between 155-165psi for the pike for my weight.
1) Base - 60PSI, 2 tokens, 1 click LSC. Found that I liked the mid stroke, but wanted a bit more small bump absorbance as it is a bit chattery through the rough, and wasn't as planted as my monarch. Was going through most of the travel the whole time though. I tried moving down to 55psi with 7lsc, but found I was going through too much of the travel at 2 tokens.
2) 55PSI, 3 tokens, 6 clicks LSC. Increased small bump compliance which was excellent through small bumps and roots. Increased ramp at the end, mostly using 100% of travel, but found mid stroke support a bit lacking on corners. Hangs up sometimes in holes too.
3) 60PSI, 3 tokens, 2 clicks LSC. More mid stroke support, but not as good small bump, still a bit chattery in roots.
Next up - would like to try a happy medium between 2 and 3. I want good small bump, but stronger mid stroke. I'm thinking if I can find 58psi (if I'll notice that small amount), 4-6 clicks LSC and 3 tokens, it might get that. I'm not fully sure what the LSC does too much for me, at least changing it is pretty subtle.
Monarch Settings - Haven't done too much to this yet, it was pretty good out of the box with a Mid/Mid tune, and I feel I'm 90% of the way I want it to be.
1) Base - 170psi (30% sag), 7 LSC clicks, 0 bands. Was going through the full travel, and small bump was great. A few larger bottom outs, and felt I wanted to ramp more for aggressive trails, but keep the same small bump.
2) 170psi (30%) sag, 7lsc, 2 bands - Verdict is still out (only 2 rides), but going through most of the travel, and small bump seems the same. I tried 175 (27% or so sag), and it was too much and chattery. 165 was a bit wallowy.
I'm finding for longer climbs, I keep it in the middle compression, as it doesn't wallow as much, but descending, open I love it.
"7 LSC clicks" ... huh?
I have the same shock (which i really don't like) and it's limited to the 3-pos lever for 'open, climb, closed' BS.
How are you adjusting LSC aside from the stock settings?
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