Suspension - forks, shocks, stems and so forth (but not seat posts, they have their own thread)

I’ve got a smash pot coil conversion kit for 170mm lyrics.
I’ve had it in the box for months as I currently don’t have a workbench and vice set up in the garage while work is ongoing.

The spring rate guessing game is something I’m a bit worried about. I went with a 50lbs spring but worry that it’s going to be too firm.
Base Camp Suspension said they will swap it out FOC if I need to.

Secus looks a bit ugly.

Also agree b1 being preferable over c1 air spring.

C1 is slightly firmer but the upside is it maintains a higher static ride height.

I’ve been watching the Vorsprung Tuesday Tune series on YouTube and Steve (chap who runs Vorsprung) who presents these videos Has Opinions on static ride height - namely, static ride height and static sag are very close to pointless metrics. He talks about dynamic ride height and makes the point that the Secus will increase the static sag (because it reduces spring rate off the top) but reduce the dynamic sag (because it removes the digressive element of the air-spring, where it softens off in the mid-stroke).

I am, of course, hugely ignorant about this stuff but it seems to make sense - hence buying a Secus.

Hmm I was kinda hoping since it’s barely been ridden. Has original bar tape in mint condition etc that’s it’s probably good fit now.
Maybe I call one of them. Also don’t really want to dissemble having only just got it!!

Yes absolutely true the static sag height doesn’t matter.
People just moaned that with the b1 air spring lyrics would sag into the travel by 5-10mm and felt they were losing travel.
But once the bike is weighted under sag, those first few millimetres don’t matter at all.

I don’t know if rockshox made claims that the c1 air spring made the fork reduce dynamic sag ie ride higher in the mid stroke.
They really just said that it lets the fork ride higher in the travel, which it does but in my experience at the cost of overall plushness.

I think folk chasing coil plushness with an air spring is futile. There’s only one way to obtain coil plushness.

Lots of people seems to focus on using full travel. Set pressure to get desired sag then adjust damping until it feels good. Unless you’re sending 15ft drops to flat then not using the last 10% isn’t important.

I’d guess that fork, going by condition of the whole bike, doesn’t need serviced yet unless it feels fucked?

I asked TF Tuned to swap my C1 to a B1 this morning, as it goes.

For someone who insists that bars, stem and seatpost match on their road bikes, I'm amazed at this FoxShox suspension mix up

Ah be interesting to see what you think of the difference.

Part of the reason I’ve never got round to installing the smashpot is that the lyrik just feels so good. Sag set to 20-25%, lsc and hsc full open and it’s remained untouched. Sometimes 1 click of hsc if I’m not riding inners.

I still can’t believe fox was chosen over EXT.

For someone who insists that bars, stem and seatpost match on their road bikes, I'm amazed at this FoxShox suspension mix up

Learning project, innit.

Not enough bullying was applied

I am learning a lot from your mtb journey, it's true

Have you ordered the dhx? It’s not too late to cancel

If you get a moment, could you possibly test the Öhlins RXF38 m.2 for me?

Don't feel compelled to cut down the steerer...

I have, 210*55 DHX with mounting hardware, plus a 490-560 55mm Sprindex coil.

If you get a moment, could you possibly test the Öhlins RXF38 m.2 for me?

The enduro bike does need a decision on the fork it is true.

But probably not for 8-10 months

Bullying intensifies

My thinking on the 295 has largely been laid out here - DHX plus Sprindex is hopefully going to give me an adjustable shock that won't blow through all it's travel with only mild provocation, whilst the Secus-Lyrik will improve small bump response whilst adding support to the mid-stroke (not, to be honest, that I have every found myself thinking "where's my mid-stroke?", but an improvement to the small bump/off the top action would be nice.

For the theoretical enduro bike I might go for the same rear end (if it works on the 295), but not sure on the fork side of things. The advantage of sticking to Fox/RS is that there are people making aftermarket stuff for them in a way that they aren't for Ohlins/Cane Creek.

I've got Ohlins on my car and they're excellent, but the reviews of their bike stuff is not unequivocal in its praise. They do look great though.

Have you already ordered the secus?

You might be surprised at the better small bump performance with the b1 air spring alone.

Yeah, posted my fork and shock off yesterday, paid last week.

Had no response to my email from this morning mind, so will call them tomorrow.

Tempted by a 160mm B1, if it’s going to ride lower… but the mid-stroke should be higher than before with a 150.

Sounds like the height should even out between the two, but if not, I think I'd rather adjust bar height at the bars, rather than the fork

Yeah, that’s the sensible thing to do. From Steve of Vorsprung:

The static sag with the Secus is higher than the stock spring, which may warrant bumping your bar height up by 5-10mm, but the dynamic support is also greater, so at the times where ride height actually matters (under brakes, on steeper terrain, and in corners), it's typically riding as high or higher than before. If you're self installing, try it with your stock travel setting first. You can always swap it onto a longer travel shaft later.

cheers,
Steve