Suspension Examination:

[n_green]

http://youtu.be/zqY500nCCIs

Video showing normal speed as well as slo mo uploaded.

[n_green]

80k's of riding today. Mostly snotty root infested rocky singles. Suspension isn't too bad overall though needs some work front and rear with the LSC.

The rear isn't too bad, LSC is about 8 clicks out of 25. Less LSC results in the rear squatting too much and riding low in the stroke. Couple this with hitting a decent sized square edge and it causes a spike and kick in the pants. More LSC results in the rear not squatting enough, spinning up instead of gripping and harsh over trail trash. Where it is now is a tad firm and slightly harsh on trail trash but it's the best compromise at the moment.

Forks seem to have lost oil again. They are diving under brakes, blowing through on downhill sections when hitting holes/roots etc and then pogoing too fast from deep in the stroke. Seems to be a sign from these forks it's time for a service. Only 20hrs since the last one, high maintenance these forks!

Currently have the comp clicker at 4 out. It has to be here to keep the forks up in the stroke and prevent them from diving. LS rebound is good, didn't touch it all day. HS rebound is a tad quick from deep in the stroke. Landing from a jump will rebound the front wheel back into the air.

Plan is to service front and rear, then with fresh oil go and confirm the above is still happening.

Only footage from today:

http://youtu.be/QKaqCAAq7R8

[n_green]

Stolen from the Beat forum on Thumpertalk:
"For 2012-2014 Beta's with the 48mm Red Zokes, order the 1.4 kg pressure springs from your Beta dealer. They make a HUGE difference in the plushness of the fork.
The 2015 models all arrive with the softer pressure springs and do not need this update.

The forks need roughly 10 hours of use before they start to work.

Also, they are not the same forks that are on other brands. They are in fact 48mm zones however Beta engineers design the internals and have them built to their specs."

Interesting that they are now using a softer ICS spring. Wonder if it would be beneficial to Gassers as well.

[nato]

I have that in mine Nathan. It seems to work well for me however I agree with the "high maintenance" bit!

[memphis2857]

The back looked a little slow on compression for my liking. I didn't read the whole thread but you look like a pretty big dude. What spring rates are you using? Stock valving? And yes the zokes are very high maintenance. The lack of any hard coating on their fork tubes pollutes the oil really fast.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Jakobi]

Natos running 1.8kg/mm ICS springs from memory, but more influential than the actual rate, is the length of his springs. They had a load of negative preload, to the point that even when assembled there was some negative preload. His basevalve is valved a whole lot firmer as a result as well.

The Betas are valved differently to the Gassers from the factory. Simmo had the Beta valving in his previous bike and was more than happy with it.

I'm personally not a fan of dropping ICS rates to soften the action of the fork. The ICS has a purpose, and that is to combat cavitation - thats why we purchase closed cartridge forks.

[n_green]

Another 60ks yesterday of rocks, roots and ruts. Most of it 2nd and 3rd gear occasionally 4th gear.
Rear is definitely soft everywhere. Clicker is now at approx 6 out, best compromise of grip/plushness however it rides a bit low in the stroke and blows through on g-outs or square edges, especially when going quicker in 3rd and 4th. It's flat out dangerous at speed. Rebound is great, no complaints about that at all. That's with a 6.4 spring rate.
Forks - not happy with them, they are ok but that's it.
LSR is adequate, no real complaints there but the clicker is basically closed at 1-2 out.
HSR is not good, when the pace picks up and you're going down a rocky snotty hill they are way too busy, partly from using too much stroke and then partly from rebounding too hard. HSR needs to be beefed up considerably.
LSC is ok, plush especially at slower speeds but again when the pace picks up they tend to ride down in the stroke and use too much travel. If hitting a square edge when they are like this it causes a small spike and upsets the front wheel tracking.
HSC is actually ok, square edges and trail trash can comfortably be hit at speed and I think any harshness felt is simply a result of the forks riding too low in the stroke and then hitting the HSC stage of the stack. I'll probably beef up LSC along and see if that improves everything.