Like many, I have read about setting the rider sag through all the years – and mostly ignored it with any bike I have owned. Pretty much like tyre pressure, I didn’t consider the topic sexy enough to be bothered (actually I am anal about tyre pressure, but you know what I mean) and spent my time daydreaming about spending a fortune on Ohlins stuff instead.
But the last weekend I felt a compulsive urge to mess with my bike so I asked my wife to help and actually set the rider sag properly. Weighing in close to 90 kg (198 pounds) ATTGAT, I ended up with waaay more preload than before, with the sag of 35 mm. Based on what I read somewhere, I also dialed the rebound damping full two turns out, again much more (or less in this case) than what I would do instinctively.
Weather didn’t permit a test ride at the time and I mostly forgot about it later.
Only yesterday I got a chance for a brief ride after the lunch. And I was amazed with the transformation. The ride is way smoother, especially on big bumps and sharp-edged potholes, and the handling is even more precise and confident now. There’s also more weight on my wrists. And thus loaded, even the subpar front fork works perceptibly better (or should I say "less bad") on a moderately rough stuff.
Seriously, people, if you are like me and can’t be bothered with setting the rider sag, do give it a try. Your mileage may vary, but as far as I am concerned, this simple and quick task gave me a better bike.
But the last weekend I felt a compulsive urge to mess with my bike so I asked my wife to help and actually set the rider sag properly. Weighing in close to 90 kg (198 pounds) ATTGAT, I ended up with waaay more preload than before, with the sag of 35 mm. Based on what I read somewhere, I also dialed the rebound damping full two turns out, again much more (or less in this case) than what I would do instinctively.
Weather didn’t permit a test ride at the time and I mostly forgot about it later.
Only yesterday I got a chance for a brief ride after the lunch. And I was amazed with the transformation. The ride is way smoother, especially on big bumps and sharp-edged potholes, and the handling is even more precise and confident now. There’s also more weight on my wrists. And thus loaded, even the subpar front fork works perceptibly better (or should I say "less bad") on a moderately rough stuff.
Seriously, people, if you are like me and can’t be bothered with setting the rider sag, do give it a try. Your mileage may vary, but as far as I am concerned, this simple and quick task gave me a better bike.
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