Super deluxe ultimate HSC too high

megablue said:

Hey guys,

since I got my process x I’ve been noticing that the HSC over faster impacts, which is the majority of my trails, seems to be way too high. All the fast impacts are pretty harsh. Just to confirm my suspicions, a buddy let me borrow his Shockwiz. After riding a few trails, sure enough, Shockwiz was saying I needed to go 3+ clicks off of the current HSC. However, the deluxe ultimate has no HSC adjustment. I’m also not using any LSC. Is my only hope a complete retune?

should I do a re-tune, go to a coil, or go to a fox x2?

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Look into Vorsprung Tractive Tuning system. I really like it.

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is that a 2021 SD and what tune has it?

cxfahrer said:

is that a 2021 SD and what tune has it?

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Yes 2021 with the MM tune

Dagonger said:

Look into Vorsprung Tractive Tuning system. I really like it.

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Only issue with that is I have to spend $300 plus shipping and be without my shock for a few weeks while it goes to Canada. For that price I’d probably rather buy a different shock.

megablue said:

Only issue with that is I have to spend $300 plus shipping and be without my shock for a few weeks while it goes to Canada. For that price I’d probably rather buy a different shock.

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There are other authorized service centers. I use Fullflow Suspension, Auburn CA.

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Personally I’m wary of spending a bunch of money based on shockwiz suggestions…..for general air pressure and volume spacer advice it’s good but it’s going to be less reliable on high speed situations that push its data reading capability.

is this a super deluxe air? What frame and what is your weight? Have you tried more or less pressure? How much riding has it done since the last service?

JohnnyC7 said:

Personally I’m wary of spending a bunch of money based on shockwiz suggestions…..for general air pressure and volume spacer advice it’s good but it’s going to be less reliable on high speed situations that push its data reading capability.

is this a super deluxe air? What frame and what is your weight? Have you tried more or less pressure? How much riding has it done since the last service?

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This isn’t based off the Shockwiz. Like I said this was something I felt personally and used a Shockwiz to confirm what I was feeling.

yes super deluxe air. Tried more pressure, less pressure, more tokens, less tokens, etc. I’ve got it feeli by the best I could but it’s still not where I want it, especially with not having any usable LSC and my rebound is already at the fastest setting and I’d honestly like it a little quicker as well. The shock has maybe 40 miles/15 hours on it.

cxfahrer said:

Mike Kazimer on pinkbike:

"Suspension Fiddling

I spent more time than usual trying to find the sweet spot for the Kona's rear suspension settings. Initially, I found myself using more travel than I wanted, even with a bunch of volume spacers and 25% sag. The bike felt good in steep, rough terrain, but when things flattened out a bit that extra-deep feeling was much more noticeable – there wasn't much of a platform to push off of or into when jumping or cornering.

I eventually decided to try a MegNeg air can (something that would need to be purchased aftermarket for approximately $90) in order to try and find that missing mid-stroke support. That upgrade did the trick, and with 2 bands in the negative chamber and no volume spacers installed I was right where I wanted to be. I ran 185 psi to get 30% sag, and the overall feel was one of a much more supportive shock. There was still good traction, and I could use all of the travel when warranted, but it no longer felt like I was sitting too far into the travel."

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/review-2021-kona-process-x-dl.html

There is a graph of the progressivity etc.

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Yea but he was after more midstroke support because he was blowing through travel. I feel the midstroke is ok. Just the high speed compression is the issue.

Well, change it to LL then. Maybe they chose MM because of that midstroke blowing through (for the average rider).



I had those problems with a 2018 SD ML, but changed to a SD Ultimate Coil 2020. Still the rebound is a bit slow (Capra 29).

cxfahrer said:

Mike Kazimer on pinkbike:

"Suspension Fiddling

I spent more time than usual trying to find the sweet spot for the Kona's rear suspension settings. Initially, I found myself using more travel than I wanted, even with a bunch of volume spacers and 25% sag. The bike felt good in steep, rough terrain, but when things flattened out a bit that extra-deep feeling was much more noticeable – there wasn't much of a platform to push off of or into when jumping or cornering.

I eventually decided to try a MegNeg air can (something that would need to be purchased aftermarket for approximately $90) in order to try and find that missing mid-stroke support. That upgrade did the trick, and with 2 bands in the negative chamber and no volume spacers installed I was right where I wanted to be. I ran 185 psi to get 30% sag, and the overall feel was one of a much more supportive shock. There was still good traction, and I could use all of the travel when warranted, but it no longer felt like I was sitting too far into the travel."

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/review-2021-kona-process-x-dl.html

There is a graph of the progressivity etc.

Click to expand...

I agree, I have the SD on my 2019 Norco Sight. I set my 30 % sag and felt like I was sitting too far in the stroke while riding, so I added some air, but it got harsh. Installed the megneg with 2 bands, no volume spacers and it was perfect. Supple through chatter, like I had low PSI, but supportive mid stroke. No bottom outs.

megablue said:

Yea but he was after more midstroke support because he was blowing through travel. I feel the midstroke is ok. Just the high speed compression is the issue.

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I think a retune will make a modest improvement. Instead of spending that money on a retune why not try something with a light tune like a dvo jade? It is only slightly more expensive

How much do you weigh? I have a Fox DPS and am in the same boat. Shockwiz keeps telling me to soften the HSC 2-3 clicks but I am currently on the softest setting. I assumed the lack of adjustability was due to my weight - 245 lbs. There is another thread indicating the Fox X2 is good for larger people...will see if I can find it.

Edit - looks like it is the Float X - Fox Float X may be the new air shock of choice for Super...

My two cents. I would do the traction tune or send it to Avalanche. It upgrades the shock internals and tunes it for your weight and use (and they will retune if you aren’t happy with it). Throwing another shock on there is just hoping that you get one with a tune that matches your needs, it may be better, it may not be better.

The Super Deluxe Ultimate has not just a decent chunk of HSC, but it's got preloaded pistons so it feels harsh on entry.
Vosprung Tractive modifications and tune are great and solve those problems but you need a tuner to install it who knows how much damping you actually need. The Vorsprung compression benchmarks are on the "go big" side.

Dougal said:

The Super Deluxe Ultimate has not just a decent chunk of HSC, but it's got preloaded pistons so it feels harsh on entry.
Vosprung Tractive modifications and tune are great and solve those problems but you need a tuner to install it who knows how much damping you actually need. The Vorsprung compression benchmarks are on the "go big" side.

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And that’s what I think woods be my biggest problem. I’ve got a vorssprung tuner in the next state but I’ve talked to them and the turn around time, not including shipping, is 7 business days. So include shipping time that would be about 11 business days without my shock plus the whole process over again if I needed a re-tune.

any shocks that you’d recommend? 185 pounds on a Kona process x. Tried to find a Mara pro but can’t find one in my size. Not opposed to coil either.

I had a SD Tractive tuned and it was a night/day difference. All the tuners that are setup to use the Vorsprung system should be quite knowledgeable and able to set it up how you want it. Just give them all the info they ask for, and be honest about your riding ability, weight, etc.

If you have never had a shock tuned specifically for you, you are in for a treat. Well worth the asking price and time off the bike.

megablue said:

And that’s what I think woods be my biggest problem. I’ve got a vorssprung tuner in the next state but I’ve talked to them and the turn around time, not including shipping, is 7 business days. So include shipping time that would be about 11 business days without my shock plus the whole process over again if I needed a re-tune.

any shocks that you’d recommend? 185 pounds on a Kona process x. Tried to find a Mara pro but can’t find one in my size. Not opposed to coil either.

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Just take the 11 day downtime and end up with a shock matched for you and bike, it’ll be worth it in the end. Otherwise you can try one of the RS tunes you can find online now, seems they’ve gone away from the preloaded compression finally and you can also switch the rebound to linear while your at it.

I have a tractive tuned SD ultimate on my megatower. It was a revelation for that bike and IMO, it performs better for my particular taste in suspension and my riding style, then the 11/6 that I had as a demo for 30 days previously. I will say that I slightly undersold my aggressive level and riding style in the tractive tuning online form... I did this based on several people saying that their tunes were too firm from Vorsprung. As a result, my shock is maybe a little more open then it could have been, but that's not honestly a bad thing now that I have it. I feel like If I had answered the questionnaire truthfully, I wouldn't really have much use for the HSC/threshold lever with the tractive tune. As it stands now, the open setting is for sure my chosen setting for chop and square edge hit eating suspension and the HSC/threshold lever is perfect for what I need for machine built and flow trails.