FAQ; Suspension baseline settings

[MattR]

Originally Posted by tonipurhonen

Anyone have any ideas for basic clicker settings for the 07 sachs and öhlins shock.
And how about 07 Marzocchi fork.

I don't have my '07 EC250 yet, so I can't confirm this first hand but...
I believe the '07 Marzocchi fork are also 45mm. I would try the '06 settings that Les mentioned above. Same theory may apply to the '07 Ohlins shock.

For the '07 Sachs shock:
The GG manual mentions the following standard settings:
Rebound = 25 clicks out (counterclockwise from fully closed). There's 40 clicks total adjustment.
Compression = 1.5 turns out (counterclockwise from fully closed). There's 4 turns total adjustment.
Spring rate = 5.2 (EC250/300), 5.0 (EC125/200), 5.6 (MC)

From what I have read on GMP's posts:
Spring preload = 8-10mm (from no preload on spring adjuster)
Rider sag = 110-115mm

[Mikael]

Hi Matt ,

Few things about GG 45 Marzocchi up from -06 to ... ? .
GG-factory guys decided to change the base settings and pistons ( bigger bleed holes from 1mm to 2mm etc. ) Why they did it ?? I do not know for sure but I assume its because of "volume" riders who prefers softer settings and "away from stiff " -05 forks/settings .The fact is that if You compare -06 base settings incl. pistons etc. to previous years these present settings are much more complicated to re-tune for working properly in the "ballpark" ( my opinion ).
The biggest problem with these present Std-settings are that if and when your speed is increasing - more unstable will the bike be .
Biggest problem ( my opinion ) is that these forks hasnt enough comp/rebound -possibilities with new 2mm piston-holes which allowes too much flow especially on rebound-side .

[cladoo]

So the Sachs shock has no high speed compression adjustment? I never noticed but my buddy told me that whenever I was hopping logs the back didn't seem to compress fast enough and caused the back end to hop up. What should I adjust?

[widebear]

Originally Posted by cladoo

So the Sachs shock has no high speed compression adjustment? I never noticed but my buddy told me that whenever I was hopping logs the back didn't seem to compress fast enough and caused the back end to hop up. What should I adjust?

From your desciption if it happens after a series of logs set up like railway ties it sounds like your shock is doing, what is refered to as (packing).If thats the case, less rebound damping is required.If after only one log you may have your compression to soft and the shock is blowing through the first part of the travel then abruptly slowing on the mid valving leaving you with very little residual but very resistent travel.

[GMP]

The Sachs does have HS compression, its the large outer knob, the LS comp adjuster is the small screw in the center. Note that the LS comp turns when the HS comp is turned, and must be re-adjusted.

The '07 forks have a lot of free bleed from bleed shims as well as the holes. There is even bleed on the rebound piston and checkplate. Get rid of the bleed shims, add rebound and its great. Stock works good though in technical terrain. The bleed holes are out of the picture once the speed picks up a little, they only affect when the valving starts to be active, like the clicker. If you want the fork to ride higher, you can add some midvalve with a tighter float, but there is a point where you start to get harsh. Pobit did a lot of testing, if your a do it yourselfer check out his thread. FWIW, I have had two sets of my brother's Husky Zokes apart. The Husky uses no bleed holes in the comp piston, but the same exact hole in the rebound piston. Pistons are the same. With the same valving installed on both forks(LTR for my GG), the GG Zokes are better in the rocks and roots than the Husky Zokes. I'm going to experiment with the Husky Zokes and drill bleed holes. Perhaps some of the better feel is the coating on the forks?

[cladoo]

Originally Posted by widebear

From your desciption if it happens after a series of logs set up like railway ties it sounds like your shock is doing, what is refered to as (packing).If thats the case, less rebound damping is required.If after only one log you may have your compression to soft and the shock is blowing through the first part of the travel then abruptly slowing on the mid valving leaving you with very little residual but very resistent travel.

It is only after one log. GMP do you think this is my problem?

I put .46 springs in my forks and the rest is stock and they are great here in the rocks and roots.

[GMP]

Its hard to say because your depending on someone else's observation. Does the observation match what you feel? If what was seen is true, over one log, I'd say its a compression issue. Try less comp first as see what happens. Test on the same obstacle, same speed for consistancy.

Did you revalve the forks for the .46s?

Did you go up on the shock spring rate as well to match the forks?

[cladoo]

No I did not revalve the forks. The stock fork springs are so soft. The rear is just fine. Not soft at all, firm if anything.

[GMP]

Claude,

I suspect that if you had the forks revalved to eliminate a lot of the free bleed, you could go back to lighter springs. At low speed the springs are the only thing holding the bike up. Did your bike come with a 5.2 rear spring stock? I can't help but think that a 5.2 rear and .46 front might be unbalanced, as mine is really good in the rocks with the stock .42/5.2 combo. Everyone has different tastes though.

[cladoo]

I doesn't feel unbalanced. It does have the 5.2 on the back. I am new to fork revalves but I now I can do it if I have diagrams or pictures. I don't plan on sending my forks out as it is a hassle and the local guys are so busy fixing Showas and KYB and KTM's forks , plus they don't have any experience with Zoke's. I somehow remember a thread showing the forks and it's stack. Are the '07's the same or what has changed? My '06 was way softer on both ends then my '07.