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I'm looking at getting both ends fully serviced. I've had the bike two and a half years without having done anything to it in all that time. I'd rather get a professional to do it than take it on myself, I appreciate a lowers service is supposed to be straightforward, but I'd rather get a proper job done.
Anyway, the question is, as a bog standard, talentless rider, am I really going to benefit from spending a lot more money on a service with TF tuned to get the "custom tune" they offer over a standard service at Bounce Suspension in Preston. I can physically take the bike to bounce quite easily, thereby saving postage costs as well.
Would a custom tune make a real world difference to Mr. Average!?
No, I doubt it.
I think you need to know what you want changed about suspension for custom tuning to be relevant. I know, for example that I can change my Pikes or Yaris with a variety of screw in devices such as the Luftkappe but I don’t feel that I’m missing anything from my forks right now, so I don’t. I don’t doubt there are people who will benefit but I doubt I’m one of them.
Unless you're really heavy or really light then a normal service would be fine.
As an (below...) average rider myself I know what the dials on my fork & shock do but unless I make massive changes I can't actually feel any difference.
I've read how Suspension comes with a standard tune out the box. I'm 6'3 and <11st and crap at riding mountain bikes, so probably don't quite fit the average rider tune! I absolutely don't think that getting my suspension tweaked will make me a better rider, I just wonder if I will see/feel any benefit at all.
Bounce do a great job.
You'll be fine. Frank is very helpful if you have questions.
APF
I would suggest assuming you ride a reasonable amount, that if you haven’t noticed a drop in performance from not doing even a lowers service, then a custom tune probably isn’t needed. j
I'd say it depends if you want something specific to be changed. Is there anything actually wrong with how your bike rides
Just take it to Bounce, they'll do a very thorough job.
And don't leave it so long next time.
Another vote for Bounce, top outfit.
I need to do this soon too, I'd say - though not at Bounce or TF for that matter but somewhere Bucks Beds. Figure its about £80 for forks? What about shock? Is such thing as "one price for both" type deal a thing?
Hi Richard,
First of all thanks guys for the kinds words, really means a lot and I'm glad we get your vote of confidence.
Re tuning - in our opinion it's a very sexy and seductive word, I prefer adjustment since any adjustment of the shim stack doesn't necessarily mean a better ride, just different. Tuning seems to imply that the suspension unit is in tune like a guitar or out of tune and wrong. The reality is there is no such thing as a perfect suspension setup.
We did a post on this very subject.
https://bouncecycles.co.uk/suspension-tuning/
As vinceup says the biggest battle is knowing what you want your suspension to do differently.
We do offer shim stack tuning no problem at all, but for most riders it's an unnecessary expense.
We also do lots of things to forks and shocks to reduce the biggest enemy of all suspension units - breakaway friction. The seals, lower leg bushes etc all contribute to this issue and there are lots of things we do to combat it as part of the service.
I don't like to refer this as tuning as it's just doing a good job, not something we would upsell on.
We are labouring away on several hush hush suspension mods that will provide all sorts of noticeable benefits. It's a long road, more to follow.
Incidentally I would say that we hold TF Tuned in high regard, so whether you come to us or go to them you will undoubtedly see an improvement.
Hope this helps.
Frank
Hi Frank. Thanks for that response. Just in case you didn't realise, it was me that dropped off the green Transition on Thursday evening!! You got this place to thank for me finding you in the first place and after coming in I know I made the right choice! Looking forward to getting it back 👍😎
Another thumbs up for the guys at Bounce - well worth it!
Thought it might have been! Speak to you in the week, probably Monday.