Intro & Querry About Front Shocks
M Brundage
My name's MBrundage (name has been changed to protect the innocent) and I'm
a
I was introduced to the joys of offroad biking this past summer when the
"Little Woman" and I bought a new Jeep that came with a Jeep bike. It wasn't
til we went on our annual vacation in Michigan (we live in Ohio) that I
discovered I really love the challenge of riding a difficult trail.
The first thing I learned was that I'm really out of shape. Second thing was
that that Jeep bike is barely capable of hauling my fat ass up and down
those trails. The Acera derailer and off brand parts are capable but
frustrating. And here's a newsflash for the folks at Jeep. One size (small)
does not fit all.
So now the Jeep bike is sporting a stem riser and a rack and new road tires.
My local LBS steared me to a Fiji Tahoe and if I ever get some time off work
I may get it broken in before the snow flies.
So here's the Q about shocks. The Rock Shock Pilots on the Fuji seem really
spongy to me and I'd like to replace them with forks that are firmer.
Preferably ones that will lock out. I'm 50 and weigh about 210 so definitely
won't be doing any major jumping. But you never know. ;-)
Any suggestions ?
--
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MBrundage@ease
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M Brundage
"M Brundage" <mbru...@woh.rr.com> wrote in message
news:bne8qm$vuhpq$1...@ID-120067.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Hi All !
>
> My name's MBrundage (name has been changed to protect the innocent) and
I'm
> a
fool for not proofreading this post !
Dave W
No you're not. Although some will try and grammatically correct you. (Right
Mr. Baker? Oh and possibly a certain pixie girl 'j/k Carla' :-) But they
are the exception, certainly not the rule.
Welcome to AM-B.
Dave (beware the west coast contingent though :-(
M Brundage
"Dave W" <frt...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns941F838357F05fr...@216.168.3.44...
Thanks Dave,
I've been lurking for about a week and the group seems quite friendly and
helpfull. The RR's and pics make me wish I could ride everyday. There are
some beautiful trails all over the world ! Who woulda' thunk it ? No hills
here in the heart of farm country.
I lived in Daygo for 6 years in the late 70's. There were some great trails
but everyone rode motorcycles on them away back then. ;-)
Been studying the manuals for my shocks since it's raining today. It may be
that they just need adjusting. Maybe Santa will bring me Marzocchi's if I'm
a good boy.
--
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
MBrundage@ease
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dave W
> "Dave W" <frt...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns941F838357F05fr...@216.168.3.44...
>> >
>> > "M Brundage" <mbru...@woh.rr.com> wrote in message
>> > news:bne8qm$vuhpq$1...@ID-120067.news.uni-berlin.de...
>> >> Hi All !
>> >>
>> >> My name's MBrundage (name has been changed to protect the
>> >> innocent) and
>> > I'm
>> >> a
>> >
>> > fool for not proofreading this post !
>>
>> No you're not. Although some will try and grammatically correct you.
> (Right
>> Mr. Baker? Oh and possibly a certain pixie girl 'j/k Carla' :-) But
>> they are the exception, certainly not the rule.
>>
>> Welcome to AM-B.
>>
>> Dave (beware the west coast contingent though :-(
>>
>>
>
> Thanks Dave,
>
> I've been lurking for about a week and the group seems quite friendly
> and helpfull. The RR's and pics make me wish I could ride everyday.
Yep. They definetly spur me on as well. I can literally bag a ride, come
here, see some wonderful pics, read some fine RR's and it's like, "Well
I've GOT to go ride now" ya' know.
> There are some beautiful trails all over the world ! Who woulda' thunk
> it ? No hills here in the heart of farm country.
Yep, and in this country the left coasters definetly seem to have the best
of the best. Guess I'd be unruly as well...
>
> I lived in Daygo for 6 years in the late 70's. There were some great
> trails but everyone rode motorcycles on them away back then. ;-)
Motos can be both the birth and the death of some wondeful trails can't
they?
>
> Been studying the manuals for my shocks since it's raining today. It
> may be that they just need adjusting.
Good deal. Give it a go. Let us know how it turns out for ya'
> Maybe Santa will bring me
> Marzocchi's if I'm a good boy.
>
Well at least it appears you have EXCELLENT tastes then. Can't go wrong
with Bombers!
Have a nice day, and try and stay dry...
Peace,
Dave
MPD Blue
M Brundage wrote:
>
> I've been lurking for about a week and the group seems quite friendly and
> helpfull.
You haven't lurked long enough!
> No hills here in the heart of farm country.
No hills in Memphis, certainly no mountains either but I found some good
riding for my "mountain bike" none-the-less.
> Been studying the manuals for my shocks since it's raining today. It may be
> that they just need adjusting. Maybe Santa will bring me Marzocchi's if I'm
> a good boy.
You dealer should have set up the shocks for you from the outset.
it's part of the bike fit: handlebar height, seat height and cock-pit
length, shock set-up.
they should have at least shown you what adjustments were available and
how to make them, unless they sold you a dog just to move it and you off
their showroom floor.. Oh wait you said they sold you a _Fiji_????....
--
--
John G. in Memphis, TN Have a nice......... night.
http://www.shavings.net/images/Memphis/reflect_john.jpg
M Brundage
M Brundage
Very funny, John.
Do you always try to bait the newbies ?
--
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
MBrundage@ease
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Stephen Baker
>> No you're not. Although some will try and grammatically correct you.
THat would be "try TO correct your grammar....."
HTH ;-)
Steve
Stephen Baker
>Very funny, John.
>
>Do you always try to bait the newbies ?
That's one of the reasons we keep him around ;-)
Dave W
I knew you'd come through for me....
Dave (predictable!)
Stephen Baker
>I knew you'd come through for me....
We aim to please. ;-)
>Dave (predictable!)
You are - but we don't hold it against you. (much...) ;-)
Steve wishes he could have ridden a bike today but had to drive to Vermont and
back instead....
David
"M Brundage" <mbru...@woh.rr.com> wrote in message news:bne8qm$vuhpq$1...@ID-120067.news.uni-berlin.de...
> spongy to me and I'd like to replace them with forks that are firmer.
> Preferably ones that will lock out. I'm 50 and weigh about 210
A good place to start is getting the correct springs for your weight, and then setting
the sag properly on the fork. All the details are probably on the Rockshox website.
If not your bike shop should be able to help.
Have fun.
David
Slacker
> > it's part of the bike fit: handlebar height, seat height and cock-pit
> > length, shock set-up.
> > they should have at least shown you what adjustments were available and
> > how to make them, unless they sold you a dog just to move it and you off
> > their showroom floor.. Oh wait you said they sold you a _Fiji_????....
> >
> > --
> Very funny, John.
>
> Do you always try to bait the newbies ?
>
> --
That's why we call him the Master Baiter!
--
Slacker - hehe... can't believe Baker passed that one up
Stephen Baker
>Slacker - hehe... can't believe Baker passed that one up
I do like to leave one for the peanut gallery occasionally
;-P`````
Steve
MPD Blue
Slacker wrote:
>>>You dealer should have set up the shocks for you from the outset.
>>>it's part of the bike fit: handlebar height, seat height and cock-pit
>>>length, shock set-up.
>>>they should have at least shown you what adjustments were available and
>>>how to make them,
>>Very funny, John.
I was being serious.
--
--
John G. in Memphis, TN Have a nice......... night.
bomba
> Hi All !
>
> My name's MBrundage (name has been changed to protect the innocent) and I'm
> a
Ooh, a competition :)
> So here's the Q about shocks. The Rock Shock Pilots on the Fuji seem really
> spongy to me and I'd like to replace them with forks that are firmer.
> Preferably ones that will lock out. I'm 50 and weigh about 210 so definitely
> won't be doing any major jumping. But you never know. ;-)
>
> Any suggestions ?
M Brundage
>
> A good place to start is getting the correct springs for your weight, and
then setting
> the sag properly on the fork. All the details are probably on the
Rockshox website.
> If not your bike shop should be able to help.
>
> Have fun.
> David
>
>
adjustment via an air valve. The dealer had it set right when he did the
setup for me. I fiddled with the pressure today but it's not the sag that
needs adjusting, it's the compression rate. Possibly some heavier weight
oil.......
I'm not pleased at all with the lack of documentation at the Rock Shox site.
They have the same 4 page manual that came with the bike. 2 pages of
warnings and disclaimers, 1 page of warranty, and some actual info on the
other page. For the dealers there's a blow up and list of parts. The only
replacement springs mentioned are for other models.
I'll be at the LBS tomorrow to see if they'll do an exchange on the forks.
If not I'll make do with these til the snow flies and save up for some
better ones.
--
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
MBrundage@ease
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
M Brundage
"bomba" <myar...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bnh58m$10dovb$1...@ID-147573.news.uni-berlin.de...
> M Brundage wrote:
> > Hi All !
> >
> > My name's MBrundage (name has been changed to protect the innocent) and
I'm
> > a
>
> Ooh, a competition :)
>
Competition ?
--
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
MBrundage@ease
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
David
"M Brundage" <mbru...@woh.rr.com> wrote in message news:bnie8p$11ktvt$1...@ID-120067.news.uni-berlin.de...
>
>> Unfortunately Dave, the only adjustment on this Duke XC
Is it an air-assist Pilot XC (from your first post)?
> model is a sag
> adjustment via an air valve. The dealer had it set right when he did the
> setup for me. I fiddled with the pressure today but it's not the sag that
> needs adjusting, it's the compression rate.
I think adding air is the way to increase the spring rate for the Pilot. Dunno if they
can take enough to get the springs right for you. If you set the sag to the lower
limit of specs (least amount of sag), and it's still bottoms out too easily, probably
not. If it's just underdamped, maybe playing with the oil will help.
You might ask if any clydesdales have been able to dial in your fork.
David
bomba
>> > My name's MBrundage (name has been changed to protect the innocent) and
> I'm
>> > a
>>
>> Ooh, a competition :)
>>
>
> Competition ?
As in 'Blankety Blank', a UK quiz show where contestants are asked to
fill in the blank.
--
a.m-b FAQ: http://www.j-harris.net/bike/ambfaq.htm
a.bmx FAQ: http://www.t-online.de/~jharris/bmx_faq.htm
M Brundage
"David" <my_usen...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bniftk$10819u$1...@ID-189417.news.uni-berlin.de...
>
> "M Brundage" <mbru...@woh.rr.com> wrote in message
news:bnie8p$11ktvt$1...@ID-120067.news.uni-berlin.de...
> >
> >> Unfortunately Dave, the only adjustment on this Duke XC
>
> Is it an air-assist Pilot XC (from your first post)?
>
Yeah, it's the Pilot. Just got done looking at the Duke when I wrote the
post. :-)
--
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
MBrundage@ease
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jonesy
> Hi All !
>
> My name's MBrundage (name has been changed to protect the innocent) and I'm
> a
"...fool for being so polite in such a wild and woolly newsgroup."
Howzat? :)
> I was introduced to the joys of offroad biking this past summer when the
> "Little Woman" and I bought a new Jeep that came with a Jeep bike. It wasn't
> til we went on our annual vacation in Michigan (we live in Ohio) that I
> discovered I really love the challenge of riding a difficult trail.
Made more difficult with a bike that probably isn't up to the task.
Probably.
> The first thing I learned was that I'm really out of shape. Second thing was
> that that Jeep bike is barely capable of hauling my fat ass up and down
> those trails. The Acera derailer and off brand parts are capable but
> frustrating. And here's a newsflash for the folks at Jeep. One size (small)
> does not fit all.
See above. :)
> So now the Jeep bike is sporting a stem riser and a rack and new road tires.
> My local LBS steared me to a Fiji Tahoe and if I ever get some time off work
> I may get it broken in before the snow flies.
Keep that LBS.
> So here's the Q about shocks. The Rock Shock Pilots on the Fuji seem really
> spongy to me and I'd like to replace them with forks that are firmer.
> Preferably ones that will lock out. I'm 50 and weigh about 210 so definitely
> won't be doing any major jumping. But you never know. ;-)
Marzocchi Bombers. You don't need no steekin' lockout - pedal
smoother. Seriously. In any case, Marathon S or some such. Be
warned - they are NOT cheap. Ride the Pilots until they break. I
know what you mean - my test ride of a Trek with Pilots convinced me
that they were big piles -o- dung. But they will function for a
while, so stick with them for now. Or, you could try and sell them
via eBay to get about a quarter of the money you'd need for a Bomber.
OR you could go for a used Bomber on eBay. I picked up two of them
there, and got away for a little under $300 for the both of them.
Hell of a deal. :)
BTW, I'm one of those "West Coast" folks Dave is whining about. Once
you get past my rough exterior, you'll find I'm just as disgusting as
everybody else is, once you get to their interior. :) Well, not as
disgusting as Sorni - I have my standards. ;)
OK, bottom line: ride it 'il it breaks, buy something better. Or,
sell it quick, buy something better.
--
Jonesy
E-mail me: rfjonesy *at* hotmail *dot* com
bomba
> BTW, I'm one of those "West Coast" folks Dave is whining about. Once
> you get past my rough exterior, you'll find I'm just as disgusting as
> everybody else is, once you get to their interior. :) Well, not as
> disgusting as Sorni - I have my standards. ;)
"[I'm] not as disgusting as Sorni"?
Isn't that kind of like saying, "I'm not as naughty as Charles Manson"?
Sorni
Jeez, I missed this originally (Jonesy's post just too goddamned boring to
read whole thing), so thanks for highlighting it for all to see!
Bill "grumble-grumble" S.
M Brundage
> OK, bottom line: ride it 'il it breaks, buy something better. Or,
> sell it quick, buy something better.
> --
> Jonesy
>
> E-mail me: rfjonesy *at* hotmail *dot* com
That's what I've finally decided to do. It's the only weak part on the bike
and I see this years model has Manitou forks. With all the overtime I've
been working money won't be a problem. And they said at the LBS they'll do a
trade for the old ones. Now if I could just make up my mind which ones to
get....... :-)
--
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MBrundage@ease (Not as Holy as Jesus Christ)
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