Getting Your MTB Suspension Tuned Is A MUST!

[@bikeradar]

Do you want to have your suspension tuned?

[@Soviet_Elmo]

Yes, and I already have quite some tuned parts. Most of them tuned by m-suspensiontech in Germany (Grip for Fox 36 2021+, Fox Van RC), and now I am waiting eagerly to get the WPS Podium Pistion kit installed on Nov. 25th. ;)

[@Ferrari255GTO]

Yes, but i'm fken broke :D

[@kayakutah]

Even replacing or replenishing foam rings on a fork makes a difference!

[@justsayin3600]

In 2019 I bought my first full suspension mountain bike with a rear Fox Float DPS. Within 2 weeks I blew the shock out. It no longer would hold air. I brought it back under warranty, and they sent it back to Fox. The first thing Fox asked was my weight. I'm 230 lbs with all my gear. They repaired the shock for my weight, and it made a huge difference! I now have a 2023 Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Pro with Fox Float X Factory on the rear & Fox 36 Float Factory w/ Grip 2 damper on front. As soon as I'm due for service, I have to get both tuned to my weight and riding style. After feeling what a tune can do vs a cookie cutter out of the box tune is like, I can't un-feel the difference. My low-end Fox shock with new tune feels way better than Fox's stock top shock.

[@Coolcmsc]

The truth is, it’s worth getting the fork and shock on a new bike serviced and tuned before the first ride. The cost is a fraction of the total price of the bike these days and once you’ve experienced the benefit, waiting an extra week or whatever plus the price is never a problem.

[@51249ca]

would love to see a video about cleaning suspension components, similar to what is shown at 8:12...the do's and don'ts, types of approved cleaning products.

[@anoneemouse4516]

J-tech know their shiz. They transformed my bike. Its not cheap but it is good value. If you dont need it or cant afford it fair enough, its not essential. I cant wait to get my new bike tuned.

[@luukrutten1295]

Of course it will almost always feel better. Since its also now a freshly oiled fully serviced fork again. I think its too difficult for most amateurs to know exactly what they need about these suspension tunes. I can see it being an edge for professionals looking for that specific feel they want. However I wouldn't really benefit from it. So much to learn still on my riding abilities, I dont feel like the fork is holding me back. Its my capabilities that are holding me back.

[@jayfunk-n6t]

Some questions what does a specialized tuning service like this cost? What’s recommended resources in the US for something similar?

[@Coolcmsc]

If you visit their website, all the costs are set out there at U.K. prices. Can’t help with US prices.

[@michaeltiffe6341]

Visit Avalanche Suspension found in Connecticut for a US based solution. I have been very happy with their work on my shock. Have a custom Domain that was done this fall and now awaits dirt season here in Ontario. Craig is a great guy and will discuss your needs with you on the phone. Awesome customer service.

[@benjy288]

You can improve the performance of your fork on the cheap by changing to a lighter or heavier weight damper oil, I have the motion control damper which overall performs pretty good except it didn't handle fast braking bumps very well, it wouldn't respond fast enough and would pack down and feel harsh, so I switched to the lightest 2.5 weight damper oil I could find and it completely changed the fork, it handles fast braking bumps just fine now, I did have to increase the air pressure by 5 psi to compensate, and I basically have no compression adjustment now, but I never used that anyway, I always have my fork open, and if you don't like the change then you can always go back to the stock oil weight.

[@youling1997]

Your rebound would be gone as well. I haven’t ridden your fork so I can’t really judge much. But in my experience factory suggested oil weight is usually spot on for the damper that they designed.

[@benjy288]

@@youling1997 Rebound is about spot on for my liking, its in the fully closed position and it rebounds fast enough but not so fast that the tyre comes off the ground when doing the bounce test, I wouldn't want it any faster, but I also wouldn't want it any slower either.

[@youling1997]

@@benjy288 that's good

[@gmas135]

You’re mixing spring with damping but okay…

[@benjy288]

@@gmas135 No, I'm talking about damping

[@Soviet_Elmo]

This could have been so much more informative with actual dyno charts shown, compared and explained. Why no A/B testing to show shortcomings and remedies?

[@bikeradar]

Hey thanks for your comment. J-Tech are understandably protective of their dyno data. They work hard to develop their own WPS pistons and some of that development work came from dyno readouts. They asked us not to show the figures involved in their work to protect their I.P. We would love to do more videos deep-diving into suspension, and that sounds like something you would be interested in! ~ Will

[@Soviet_Elmo]

@@bikeradar Alright, this makes sense. Thanks a lot for the answer. I was especially interested in the WPS stuff, because I am in the market for their podium piston kit for the DHX2. I suppose it is also problematic to show the stock Fox performance, because they would not be happy about it? If it weren't, it would be really cool to see on a dyno, what their dampers "do wrong" sometimes. For example I know from experience that the Grip (2) can get really harsh at high shaft speeds, regardless of compression settings. Steve from Vorsprung already did quite a bit of content on their VVC Grip 2 and original Grip dampers.

[@bchearne]

I don’t really buy the idea that you need aftermarket parts as long as you have decent quality components to begin with, but you do have to adjust pressure, damping etc., just as you have to put the right pressure in your tires. I reckon the manufacturer designed their suspension the way they did for a reason and it should work fine unless you’re especially heavy or light. Don’t pay more money for upgrades you don’t need

[@john_john_john]

That's what I was thinking. I find it a bit unlikely suspension companies, with their vast R&D budgets, didn't figure out you needed bigger ports for the oil to flow through. There must be some downside in the aftermarket parts, because if it only had upsides I'd think suspensions came like that from the factory. It's not like making slightly bigger holes on a part is more expensive, so manufacturing costs are likely not the reason. The only thing I can think of would be product segmentation, and if that's the case then I understand.

[@justsayin3600]

On a side note. I never bought the idea of AXS. Now that I have it, I can't imagine going back to mechanical shifting for my main bike. On the flip side, I thought longer cranks helped with leverage ( yes in principle) but going to shorter cranks ( 10mm shorter) to fit my size, I no longer get toe, heel, and pedal strikes, plus if I need more torque I just use the right gear. The debate of longer cranks is obsolete. I think you know where I'm going with this... Manufacturers go on a universal size and fit. There's a difference between being a medium and large, then having something custom to you exactly. Especially when the engineering, science, and math prove that what aftermarket has will be better in a specific area. If you don't need it, fine. If it's what you're missing, it there to buy. It's like buying a sports car. Why don't they make them where you don't need modifications? Better tires, brakes, tunes, higher boost, high-flow cats, larger brakes, sound systems, suspension. It like this fir bikes too.

[@anoneemouse4516]

I did buy into it and it transforms the shocks. You can buy performance upgrades for pretty much every product on the market. Why would suspension be any different?

[@gmas135]

Once you’ve ridden good suspension with quality damping it’s hard to go back. Most suspension from the big guys does not have quality damping. Hard pill to swallow after spending north of 1k on a brand new fork/shock, but that’s the reality of it.

[@renesteenstrup3470]

The oil is magnetic, but fork internals are often aluminium, plastic, titanium, magnesium etc.... None off these are magnetic Am i missing something...!!!

[@HannyDart]

its more like a baloon sticking to the ceiling after you rubbed it on your head, i gues...

[@thispod]

The oil is not magneti, the particles carry a negative electric charge that makes them stick to surfaces, exactly as the balloon example above

[@Paganiproductions84]

If you stay in the weight your suspension is setup for you don't need be messed whit if you set it up whit a shockwiz