Stupid suspension questions: I have the RockShox Sektor Fork on my XT build and ordered a fork pump (should get it Friday) I cant find an actual manual that explains how it works.. Rockshox seems to generalize them all based on features such as debonair or whatever.
1. the air valve cap, is there a special tool to remove this.. Its seems to be on there tight and cant unscrew the cap by hand
2. other than Full open and Full lock out, what the heck are the 3 or 4 clicks in between mean?
3. From my understanding I first set my air pressure then I set the rebound screw to the clicks I want it at afterwards on the right bottom of the fork?
As for performance, I could not tell the difference between a good fork and a bad one.. reading through the 3000+ posts, its seems the recon and my Sektor are both crap.. I cant tell, it seems to work for me on downhill rock gardens..
Im a 180lbs, was going to go for 100 PSI and -17 clicks
1: To remove the air valve cap, just have to muscle up and remove it. They seem to magically tighten themselves over time and I have to use a rag and a pair of pliers on occasion.
2: That knob is for your Low Speed Compression (LSC). LSC basically refers to how the fork reacts and how easily it allows itself to compress when the fork is moving at lower speeds. Full open, the fork will allow itself to compress easily. Each click toward full closed will make the fork feel firmer. Many people see this as Open = descending, in between = "trail", closed = lockout. More advanced forks than the Sektor will typically have Low Speed Compression and High Speed Compression adjustments. Keep in mind, this is not in direct reference to how fast the BIKE is moving, but how fast the suspension is being asked to move.
3: Rockshox will give baseline, suggested settings. You're typically better off going off of sag for your pressure. Just sitting static on the bike you should use about 20-30% of the forks travel, the travel used just taking your weight is called "sag". More sag will give a softer feeling fork, less sag a firmer feeling fork. Once you set the pressure, dial in rebound to baseline settings. Now go ride the bike. Once you get some miles in, adjust pressure and rebound to suit your needs. If you feel like you're on a pogo stick and the suspension wants to shoot up too fast, slow down rebound. If you find the fork is "packing down", successive hits are blowing through your travel, speed up rebound. If you feel like your fork is blowing through its travel too easily, add air pressure. If your fork feels too stiff and rough, remove air pressure. I think the Sektor can take air volume spacers as well. These are good if you want to add progressivity to your suspension (as you use travel, it gets harder to bottom out). Typically this allows you to run lower pressure to keep small bump compliance, but the fork does not want to bottom out easily.