watch this video and tell me what the big thud is..

[downhilldude]

whats the noise...BANG http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=tZteDMlmpzw

[midgit]

the noise before you take off not to sure ....

but you have tagged it as "shock forks" so im thinking
one of them

[mprules]

The noise before you take off is the suspension "topping" out , wouldnt be suprised if that was the one when you land as well

[Big Dave]

Your rebound looks to be set really high!! Take it in and get it set up for you man, I reckon your spring is too heavy also. Take it to a bike shop!!

[Girvan]

might also be a bit of chain slap if you dont have a protector on, you look rather uncomfortable on that bike?

[downhilldude]

yea i think the noise takeing off was the chain slap but i do have a protector on...it was the noise when i land...the reason the front wheel whent back into the air was because as i landed i was hiting another jump...i also think part of the noise is my helmet hitting the bars as i was not exepting to go so big..lol

[Three_Fish]

There's no way that noise on take-off is chain slap; it's way to sharp for that. Top-out, perhaps - something which would be suported by the fact that, although the fork barely compresses when you land, it does then rebounds back through that small amount of travel very quickly. This is what is causing your weight to shift forward so violently when you land, and for your helmet/visor to hit the bar. As mprules has said, you need to get that fork set up for your weight.

Which fork is it and what adjustment does it have (compression, rebound, preload?) Do you know what spring is fitted?

[downhilldude]

it has marzocchi drop offs and a 400x2.8 rear shock i am just about to go to my lbs for them to look at it ..thanks

[Kona Rab]

Which fork is it and what adjustment does it have (compression, rebound, preload?) Do you know what spring is fitted?

Drop offs don't have any of these, all you can alter is the air pressure in the forks,

One side is Air Preload and the other is you compression. You need to find out what year your forks are. If you don't know off hand you should look closely around your lowers and you'll find a circle with a numbers in it ie 07 and a series of numbers 1-12 around the outside. This will tell you the year of the forks and the month they where made.

You need to know this as the air preload and compression change stanchions for different years. Then all you need to do is search the net to find out what side is which and then add or remove air until the feel they way you want them too.

Oh by the way you will need a Shock/Fork pump to do this properly. Or get someone who knows what they are doing to do if for you, such as your LBS. Big Niall in Bike Dock should be able to sort you out if your stuck.

[downhilldude]

i went to my local bike shop and the guy told me my spring on my shock wasnt even in the cradle correctly i am going to bike doc on friday for a more expert advise..thanks dude..

[downhilldude]

yep thanks found the wee stamp beside the rotor on the fork it says 06 with writing around it but it is so small i cant even see it ...thanks

[Kona Rab]

Your fork was made in 2006 then.

The below link will take you to the Marzocchi tech area and if you scroll down to the Drop off 3 or 4 and click on the English flag. This will open up the tech manual for your forks.

http://www.marzocchi.com/Template/listSPAManualsMTB.asp?IDFolder=126&LN=UK&Sito=mtb&t=&TipoProdotto=ForksAM&IDA=28182&Submit=Search

Scroll down to page 45 and this will tell you how to set your forks up. The pressures aren't correct so set it up by trial and error.

But I would still take it to Bike Dock and let them sort it.

[downhilldude]

mate thanks that link was very helpful..i am going to bike doc on friday and im going to get them to set up the forks and set the shock and get all up and running for saterday for belvor...thanks the link gave me a good idea....thanks again.

[AndyL]

You just flat landed from a decent sized jump. A good bit of the noise looks like its from your helmet hitting your stem...

Noise on takeoff will likely be the suspension topping out as the springs extend the rear triangle and forks fully to their limits.

On landing, your forks dont seem to move much at all, and then the whole bike leaves the ground. That would indicate too high a spring rate (too stiff a spring or too much air pressure) and not enough rebound compression, especially on the back wheel.

A few questions:

What does your spring say? eg 400lbs x 2.25 or similar
How much travel does your bike have at the back?
How much do you weigh?

This will give you your spirng rate for the back, then its up to you to adjust the rebound. You want it slow and controlled, but not so slow that when you have two hits back to back, that the shock hasn't extended enough to absorb the second hit.

For the front, have a look at the stancions that slide into the lowers. After a big hit, are they wiped clean of muck? then you've gone through all your travel. If they do this on a small hit and you get a clunk through the bars, you need a stiffer spring or more air pressure in your forks (though I dont think you have this problem).

If only half your stancions ever get wiped, then your spring is too stiff, so you need a softer spring or less air pressure. then adjust your rebound damping. You want your forks to come back pretty fast, I've never seen anyone do a backflip from the fork rebounding too fast, but if you shove down hard and they try to leave the floor on rebound, it might need more rebound damping.

A rule of thumb for DH is that about 1/3 of your travel (ie a third of the shaft that slides into your shock or forks) should be used up just sitting on your bike, called SAG. Use loose zip ties around your fork stancions or shock shaft, sit on your bike carefully in all your riding gear and see how much they move. Too little sag, you need softer springs yadda yadda.

TF tuned do spring calculators and setup tips. Enjoy

[downhilldude]

thanks i am going to bike doc on friday for a setup my spring is a 400x2.8 thanks

[AndyL]

I'd still take it to a Kona dealer first. Try steve at Real Cycles. Oh, and for that spring to work on your fox vanilla on an 07 Stinky (guessing the bike here) you'd need to be 80 kg or about 12 1/2 stone, which I'm guessing you are not from that video...


Edit: Just read Steve's reply in the other thread, maybe best not taking it to him! Lol!!!

[Big Dave]

I'd still take it to a Kona dealer first. Try steve at Real Cycles.

Yeah definately. In fact, id take the bike for a real good spin before hand and note any wee slight noises you hear. They may get worse with time!! Then you can ask Steve to fix them or explain exactly what they are! It'd be great if he could provide his mobile number also, then you could send him a quick text should you need assistance on the trail!!! :D

[monty]

Yeah definately. In fact, id take the bike for a real good spin before hand and note any wee slight noises you hear. They may get worse with time!! Then you can ask Steve to fix them or explain exactly what they are! It'd be great if he could provide his mobile number also, then you could send him a quick text should you need assistance on the trail!!! :D

And his house address for a quick cup of tea :)