setting sag question

[JOx2]

is setting sag on the rear suspension based on rider's weight or use a sag meter (20%of full travel)?

[PacMan]

Adjust air pressure to get the manufacturer's recommended sag. Air pressure will depend on rider weight.

[Flat Broke]

BTW, I don't know about a sag meter, I've always used a machinists rule or a pair of calipers. Before you get on the bike, measure the eye to eye distance on the shock. After you are seated on the bike with your gear, and balancing by touching a wall or something, have a friend re-measure the eye to eye distance. Next subtract the second measurement from the first. This is the amount of your sag. Then divide that number by the stroke of your shock, and you should have your sag percentage.

As an example, lets assume your bike has an uncompressed eye to eye measurement of 7.5". With your gear on and ballancing on the bike in a normal riding position (so it's bearing all of your weight), the new eye to eye measures 7.1". This indicates that suspension compressed .4". If the stroke for your shock is 2", you would be at 20% sag ( .4 / 2=.20) and (.20 x 100 = 20%).

As Pac Man stated, you typically want to run within the sag range recommended by your shock MFG. But generally speaking, more sag will give you a softer ride with the possibility of bottoming out easier; while less sag will give a firmer ride with a reduced posibility of bottoming out.

Hope that helps,
Chris

[el_d00der1n0]

I just realized (did your name change?) -- this is for your new FSRxc?

You should have gotten a little black thing from Specialized. It's a tool to set the sag. You move the oring up to the shock body. Sit on the bike. Set the tool against the shock. The oring should fit in the slot of the tool.

You should do this with your gear on. I even fill my camelbak and put it on.

[JOx2]

Originally Posted by el_d00der1n0

I just realized (did your name change?) -- this is for your new FSRxc?

You should have gotten a little black thing from Specialized. It's a tool to set the sag. You move the oring up to the shock body. Sit on the bike. Set the tool against the shock. The oring should fit in the slot of the tool.

You should do this with your gear on. I even fill my camelbak and put it on.

yes, its for my FSR xc, i am formerly JOXDOIT.

[DownhillWebKook]

On my GT DHi I run about 40% sag. I used to go by the books, but I was watching the top dh guys very closely on the videos and it seemed like they were running pretty deep into the stroke and I also read an article on CG's bike and he likes to run a lot of sag. Finally, my friend Jim fiddled about with my shock and kinda made the choice for me. It's much better. The angles are better (more rake on the front end) and the bottom bracket sits lower. You have to ride it more aggresively to make it work, but it's pretty damn cool.

Moral of the story: play around with your sag a bit. It's just like any recipe, right? Season to taste.

Git it!