Manitou R7 Elite & correct pressure.

ironbike1 · Mar 4, 2007

I recently installed the R7 elite & have been messing around with the pressure in it. I really can't figure out what is a go pressure to ride with. I have gone from 125psi all the way down to 75psi. I also have read the instructions & all they really do is give a guide that really doesn't seem to help me.

I am 180lbs & 5'11".

What are you running? Any suggestions will be helpfull?:thumbsup:

Ronnie · Mar 4, 2007

ironbike1 said:
I recently installed the R7 elite & have been messing around with the pressure in it. I really can't figure out what is a go pressure to ride with. I have gone from 125psi all the way down to 75psi. I also have read the instructions & all they really do is give a guide that really doesn't seem to help me.

I am 180lbs & 5'11".

What are you running? Any suggestions will be helpfull?:thumbsup:

It's very difficult if not impossible for someone to advise you on pressure for your fork. Head angle and geometry of your bike can first of all affect the required pressure to a degree. At the risk of being repetitive, you need to set how much it sags with your weight on the bike. It should be in the region of about 20% to 25% of total travel. Put about your body weight in it, sit on the bike and measure how much it sags. If its too much add air or vise versa. Be aware also that it will take at least 20 hours of use for it to be broken in. After use the pressure may need to be changed/adjusted.

Ronnie.

bbgobie · Mar 5, 2007

How did it feel at 125psi and how did it feel at 75psi??

wizzells · Mar 5, 2007

I'm 5'11'', 190lbs, and I run 90-100 psi in mine. I find that anything less than that is too soft (bottoms out) and more is a bit stiff. Seems to work best for me.

What the manual says is to run 50-70% of your body weight, minimum 40psi, max 175psi. Doesn't seem too difficult to understand to me. It takes some trial and error to find what you like.

sirkrameroy · Mar 5, 2007

wizzells said:
I'm 5'11'', 190lbs, and I run 90-100 psi in mine. I find that anything less than that is too soft (bottoms out) and more is a bit stiff. Seems to work best for me.

What the manual says is to run 50-70% of your body weight, minimum 40psi, max 175psi. Doesn't seem too difficult to understand to me. It takes some trial and error to find what you like.

Yup. I'm 5'10", 185 lbs, and run 100 psi. Works perfect.

Ronnie · Mar 5, 2007

wizzells said:
What the manual says is to run 50-70% of your body weight, minimum 40psi, max 175psi. Doesn't seem too difficult to understand to me. It takes some trial and error to find what you like.

The 40 to 175psi. limits are for SPV air chambers. The R-7 Elite is not a SPV fork. The only pressure adjustment is the main air spring and its limits are 0 to 300psi.

Ronnie.

wizzells · Mar 5, 2007

Ronnie,
Those are the same numbers I was given by answer support when I contacted them regarding setup. So, if they are only for SPV, the manual that comes with the forks and the people at Answer are incorrect.
In the manual it gives different setup for:
"shocks - 50-70% of body weight"
"forks with SPV or Evolve - 30-40%"
"forks with "snap valve SPV - 35-50%"

I think the wording in the manual is incorrect where it labels the table "SPV pressure recommendations" when it covers all types that they make

Ronnie · Mar 5, 2007

wizzells said:
Ronnie,
Those are the same numbers I was given by answer support when I contacted them regarding setup. So, if they are only for SPV, the manual that comes with the forks and the people at Answer are incorrect.
In the manual it gives different setup for:
"shocks - 50-70% of body weight"
"forks with SPV or Evolve - 30-40%"
"forks with "snap valve SPV - 35-50%"

I think the wording in the manual is incorrect where it labels the table "SPV pressure recommendations" when it covers all types that they make

I'm not trying to put you down but I've had a fair amount of experience with Manitou products. I have owned a Minute, two Nixons, a 4-Way Swinger and an Evolver since 2004. With all of them I set required sag as per "TABLE 3". Page 4 of the Owners Manual describes how to get correct sag. Although putting a zip tie around the stanchion is an easier way to measure.

"TABLE 7 - SPV PRESSURE RECOMMENDATIONS" is not incorrect. It says, "Pressurize the red Schrader valve to the following percentage of your body weight:" 40 to 175psi. has always been SPV limits and the red valve is SPV.

Where I was in error was saying use body weight as a starting point. That holds true for shocks, not forks. However pressure still needs to be set according to sag. If he started high and reduced from there he would get the same result.

Ronnie.

wizzells · Mar 5, 2007

Ronnie,
Sorry if I'm wrong about it...unfortunetly what I was saying was what I was led to believe by the customer service for Manitou :madman:

Ronnie · Mar 6, 2007

wizzells said:
Ronnie,
Sorry if I'm wrong about it...unfortunetly what I was saying was what I was led to believe by the customer service for Manitou :madman:

Don't sweat it and you certainly don't have to apologize. I'm no expert. I've just been using some of their stuff for a while manily because I think its pretty good and it's worked for me.

This same sort of question comes up again and again. The best advice for setting up Manitou suspension is perhaps the 3 STEPS TO SPV SETUP on the Manitou home page. Just ignore what your fork/shock does not have. Their final statement is the most important and I quote:

"Note: This information will get you started, but riding styles and preferences differ greatly, as do frame designs and leverage ratios. Because of these factors there is no magic computer that can input your weight and output your optimal settings. Within these ranges, play with your adjustments until you find a setting that you like."

Also it is important to know that these components take some time to break in and like our original poster noted, do not feel right initially. Once the stiction reduces after break in the pressure used to get correct sag is likely to change.

Ronnie.

Manitou R7 Elite & correct pressure.

ironbike1

Ronnie

bbgobie

wizzells

sirkrameroy

Ronnie

wizzells

Ronnie

wizzells

Ronnie

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