How To Repair Mountain Bike Shocks

My personal mount bike is currently a 2005 Giant Reign i. Because I typically accept a few test bikes to ride during the season, I rarely get to ride my own bike. And so, when a few friends and I decided to skid out early and striking the Park City Mid-mountain Trail back in October, I grabbed my wheel and tossed it on the rack without thinking much of it. Later all, that bike hasn't seen a ton of dirt in the by couple of years–information technology's mostly been hanging from my garage wall.

We show up at Deer Valley and unload. I gear upwardly and hop on my bike. With every pedal stroke and small crash-land, I can feel the rear shock just blowing through its travel. I retrieve to myself… "hmmm… it normally doesn't lose air like this so quickly." But, I hopped off and pumped a few more psi into the compression sleeping accommodation thinking I didn't have enough air in at that place.

I hop back on my bike and the actress air didn't change a matter–it was nevertheless blowing through the travel and bottoming-out shock under normal pedaling. I didn't have time to deal with a blown shock right now… we were saddled up for a fall epic and my bike pedaled similar a slug. Arghhh!

In the finish, I rode information technology out–diddled stupor and all. The I called Manitou for assistance. They pointed me to Jerry Vanderpool at Hippie Tech Suspension in Boise, Idaho, who took my 2005 Manitou Swinger 3-way Air shock to the spa for a rubdown.

The diagnosis was an air leak caused by minute scratches, thus breaking the natural air seal, causing me to blow through the travel too rapidly. Later a couple of weeks and a quick phone call, Jerry had my newly-pimped Manitou Swinger stupor delivered back to me with updated stickers and everything–slap-up service and excellent repair quality. The shock does perform improve than new.

Mountain Bike Suspension Maintenance and Tuning

Mountain bike break designs have gotten more and more circuitous over the years. 2-style adaptable shocks accept given way to vi-style adjustable shocks with compression, rebound, top-out, bottom-out, high-speed and low-speed adjustments. With all those adjustments, how's the boilerplate rider look to get a exhibit-like ride out of their bike every fourth dimension they become for a ride?

After chatting with Jerry for a few minutes, I asked him that very same question. He answered that question the same way I would… get your sag (or compression pre-load) correct and you're 90% there. Leave the rest for lazy Saturday's when you don't have much else to exercise. One time you get your sag properly adjusted to your weight and riding tastes, everything else can be tweaked from at that place.

And, as far as maintenance, shocks and forks take a beating these days. Only like you have your car to Iffy Lube every 3000 miles, yous should actually consider sending your shock in for a little lube and love every year. If you lot practise, yous'll be less likely to have to ride a slug on some of the most choice singletrack in Utah.

An Interview with Jerry "The Hippie" Vanderpool

I asked Jerry at Hippie Tech Suspension to do a little Q/A session on his company and mountain bike intermission maintenance. Here are some highlights from that Q/A session.

What types and brands of bike shocks practise you repair? Do yous too repair/tune suspension forks?

Jerry: We effort and service equally many forks and rear shocks as we can from the early 90's to electric current 2008 stuff. Brands currently serviced are Rockshox, Marzocchi, Manitou, X-Fusion and Specialized.

Who is your typical customer?

Jerry: People with products that are simply plain "Blown Up" and leaking oil all of the place, all the way upwardly to a DH or 90 racer who needs specific tuning for their size and needs.

What types of problems are y'all typically seeing with today's shocks? What elementary things could be done to make shocks perform better?

Jerry: Overall lack of preventive maintenance is a real result. People just don't become their shocks or forks serviced as needed or recommended (do people actually read their service transmission?). Only wiping off the wiper area at the shaft on a fork or rear shock every ride volition reduce the hazard of FINE dirt particles sneaking into the unit.

Do you perform modifications to "pimp my shock" and make information technology work meliorate than new? What types of mods do you do?

Jerry: We accept every shock on a "instance-past-example" basis and adjust the repair co-ordinate to harm, wear and rider tuning need. Then every shock gets a great bargain of love!

What practise you lot hear back from customers after yous've fixed or tuned their shocks?

Jerry: That their shock works better than brand new and is AWESOME!

What's the most important slice of advice to properly setting up today'south mountain bike suspension designs?

Jerry: Apply the age-old starting point of properly setting their sag first, then piece of work to rebound and compression adjacent. But only after the sag is correct! (refer to your owner'south manual)

How long accept y'all been tuning, repairing mtb pause?

Jerry: As a professional for nigh 10 years, so I've seen all the old elastomer engineering science all the style upwardly to the latest and greatest stuff.

Can yous give me a ballpark range for your services?

Jerry: Information technology all depends on what y'all want and demand. I have seen things range typically from $75 to $150. But special builds or units with great harm accept ran over $500.

How can you lot be contacted and where are y'all located?

Jerry: Nosotros are located in beautiful Boise, Idaho! We can be reached at (208) 724-8949 or www.hippiesuspension.com.

Anything else you tin think of?

Jerry: Ride difficult, ride frequently and take care of your suspension or it will not have care of you!

The Bottom Line on Intermission Tuning and Repair

On the whole, mountain bikers are neglecting their shocks large time! Spending several 1000 on a sweet new cycle, but non doing the little things that volition arrive concluding and make it ride properly for years to come seems about every bit lightheaded every bit non irresolute the oil in your automobile every three,000 miles. So, take it from Jerry… a lilliputian post-ride honey and annual tune-ups will keep you lot from having to ride a blown shock on i of the most epic singletrack in the land.

More than Info: Visit www.HippieSuspension.com

Source: https://www.feedthehabit.com/mountain-biking/hippietech-mountain-bike-suspension-tuning-and-repair/

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