How To Setup Your New Falcon Shocks

	Many people ring up enquiring about the best way to set up their new shocks or their front forks. There really is no one correct way, as the settings to suit one rider, may not suit another, but most suspension can be set up to get the best from a bike. From experience, I have found that it is best to start with the rear suspension first of all, as it handles all the power from the engine. Then set up the action of the front forks so that the movement compliments that of the rear suspension, so that forks and shocks work together as a team, instead of fighting each other, as they so often do on many bikes.
1)	As a starting point, the spring preload should be adjusted to a position, so that when you stand alongside the stationary bike and push down on the seat, the springs should have enough strength to return the suspension to the top, or nearly to the top, of it's travel. The preload adjuster is simply a ride height adjuster, and does not make the springs any stronger or softer.
2)	If the spring rate is correct, then with the riders weight on the bike, (Please note; with motocross and trials bikes the riders weight should be on the foot pegs, and with road and road race bikes, the riders weight is on the seat), your suspension should compress around 25% of the total travel. It is best to get someone to measure this for you, as your estimate of the travel whilst astride the bike can be very inaccurate. Please note, that this setting, is only a starting point for your suspension experiments.
3)	The rebound damping should be set so that the rear suspension will return reasonably rapidly over the first half of it's travel, and then slow up as the suspension extends to it's full movement. Rebound damping is usually set up with regard to the strength of the main springs being used, but can, on our Falcon shocks be varied to suit individual requirements.
4)	Front fork damping action should have a similar feel as the rear shocks, on compression and rebound speed, so that they works together providing a balance between front and rear suspension. If the forks tend to be too soft, more oil can be added to help them stop bottoming out. Air caps can also be fitted, and with a small amount of air pressure in each leg can help to prevent bottoming out of the forks. The speed of the fork movement can be changed by varying the oil viscosity inside each leg and also the ride height can sometimes be increased at the front end, by putting spacers on top of the springs to bring the ride height to the top of it's travel.
5)	We strongly recommend that every 3 months you check the rubber shock absorber bushes are capable of easy rotation in the shock absorber eye. it is important that this maintenance is carried out to ensure smooth action of the rear suspension. A few drops of oil each side of the bush and worked between the surface of the rubber and the shock eye will ensure that this bearing surface is free to rotate.
	Any suspension settings are always experimental, and are best tested under the actual working conditions. All operation of the suspension should then be assessed, with a view to make any adjustments you feel may be necessary to correct any behaviour problems that you come across while riding the bike. If you need any further advice on setting up your suspension, then please contact us during our telephone answering hours. Click here for our contact details