Ok got a new bike, I'm a bit of a fatty, can't get 20% sag on my rear shock I'm at 300 psi already!
Any solutions other than lose wait ( I'm 15-1/2 stone suited and booted in bike garb). Many thanks 🙂
Go higher than 300 psi? If it has the debonair can it can handle more.
Other options, RS say the Debonair can is not the best for heavier riders, so if this is what you have you could try swapping for the standard can. Or use some volume reducers to get a slightly less extreme version of the same result.
(in order of effectiveness)
Make sure the chambers are balanced properly - stop every 50PSI and balance the shock
Add negative bands
Add positive bands
I spoke to SRAM about this on my debonair plus... I could get near to 20% but at 280 psi and the shock felt crap. Plus never used all its travel even on big as I dare (4 foot ish drops)
They recommended 25/30% seated sag rear (160 pike with 2 tokens) front.
And now it feels good and it uses its travel.
Benpinnick, chamber balance? I was thinking there be somthing like a biger can or somthing similer to tokens D
I was thinking there be somthing like a biger can or somthing similer to tokens D
There is something similar to tokens, the volume reducers/bands Ben and I mention.
You don't want a bigger can, bigger riders need to go smaller can if anything.
Theres only 2 sizes of Debonair, Standard and HV Eyelet, but they are fairly similar. The issue with Debonairs is exactly as SRAM say, they want to run at 30% sag. The oversized negative (relative to the positive - its all relative you know) makes it that way. If you try and run one at 20>25% you're in for a pretty harsh ride.
The drop in just 5% of travel has a massive impact on pressures needed, but then so does adding volume spacers, especially in the negative side. I love the debonair because its tuneable and works really well at the right settings, but I do spend a lot of time on the phone with customers going through tune options...
Chamber balance - just make sure you balance the - and + chambers as you go with the debonair, it seems to need it more than other shocks. Add some air, bounce, add more air, bounce etc.
Really interesting! I'm 13st and rode my new Debonair on my Five last week for the first time, managed I get 300psi in which took the sag to 25%, felt ok ridding but when I'd finished I'd not used the last 10-20% of travel. I'll try running 30%, if I get some bands how many souls I be looking to try a a stating point in the pos and neg?
Did you feel the ride should have used all the travel? The VRB's are normally used to ramp up the top end compression when put in the (SRAM) recommended positive chamber, so don't sound like they'd help your situation. I'm experimenting with them in the negative chamber (after being suggested by 2 tuning specialists independently), as I'm running 320psi to get 30% sag, and blowing thru the low end travel. The VRB's definitely add some low end 'threshold' (think propedal-esk), which are helping my situation, but still early days (testing wise).. As Benp says, a very tuneable shock.
Fitting the VRB's is a stupidly easy job, & one video show the SRAM engineers fitting all the bands, then removing them in situ, to fine tune the feel (should be possible on the 5)
I was ridding Cannock so although there is nothing 'big' I would have expected to used the full travel or close at least a couple of times. Might just try it at 30% to see how it feels.
Thanks guys n girls super helpfull I'm guna head out on it a few more times an see what I can do befor puting on bands D
Why would you want 20% sag? Most am/enduro bikes are best at 30% are they not? I have mine at about 260 psi 30% sag and it is superb. About 14 stone.