Hi,
I've recently bought a new to me G1 with a ext coil shock.
I'm off to the Dyfi bike park tomorrow and have the choice of a 450 or 525 spring.
The 525 got 50% travel in the progressive 175mm or a ride with some big ( for me) hits.
The 450 hit 100% travel in the 160mm less progressive setting on a ride with some tables that are as big as I can manage (3m ISH)
The Dyfi reds are fun but tough for me, the blacks are right at the top of what I can ride on a good day, the double black are not happening.
I've been trying to buy a 475 and 500 springs, but they are not arriving tomorrow.
I'm 95kg in riding kit.
Both setups above have felt great.
Which spring would you ride in which travel setting?
Both setups above have felt great.
525 if it feels good and don't worry about how much travel you use.
Guessing you can't run the 450 in the more progressive setup?
It used to be the fashion on off-road motorbikes to under sprung and over (compression) damp them. You end up with slightly more sag when stationary but can adjust the ride height by adding compression damping so over rough ground it tends to ride higher with the wheel falling into the dips rather than rising over hits.
I found the EXT generally feels best slightly under sprung and riding the damping a bit, but I've not ridden Dyfi and if it's fast and rugged there then the stiffer spring might be the way to go.
Sorry, that's not much use, I know.
I could run the 450 in the 160/ more progressive position. But I've not tried it and I'm reluctant to try something while riding fast and rough stuff that's super tough for me.
I could add a load more compression damping, again I'm a bit wary of messing with my settings somewhere new
I've only managed about 5 hours on the bike so far, so good to hear about others experiences.
The Dyfi is fast and rugged
Guessing you can't run the 450 in the more progressive setup?
Presumably the difference in leverage ratio would work against you. Ignore the progressive/linear bit and asusming it's a 65mm stroke shock:
60/160 * 450 = 168 lb/"
60/175 * 525 = 179 lb/"
The long travel /hard spring, is a much harder setup inspire of the greater leverage ratio.
But..... as the 175 setting is more progressive (i.e. the leverage ratio is probably even higher and thus effective suspension rate is even lower in the beginning) it's probably not far off the compromise spring rate in the 160mm travel mode. It's just going to use far less of the shocks stroke.
I could add a load more compression damping, again I'm a bit wary of messing with my settings somewhere new
I'd have thought you'd need/want completely different settings between those spring rates anyway.
Presumably the difference in leverage ratio would work against you. Ignore the progressive/linear bit and asusming it's a 65mm stroke shock:
60/160 * 450 = 168 lb/"
60/175 * 525 = 179 lb/"
The long travel /hard spring, is a much harder setup inspire of the greater leverage ratio.
Thanks for this. The shock is 65mm stroke.
Why have you done 60/160* shock rate to get a weight in lb? Is this a force to compress the spring in the different travel settings?
I'd have thought you'd need/want completely different settings between those spring rates anyway.
Almost certainly, but I've only had a chance to ride the bike in 160mm with 450 spring once, it was with a mate so I didn't want to consistently mess with the bike while we were out.
My mate, who I'm riding tomorrow, with has offered me a 500 rock shock spring.
I'll give that a go if it fits 🙂
You say you don't want to "mess with your settings". But with only a few hours on the bike I'd call it setting it up. If you feel you're blowing through your travel on the lighter spring just add one click of High Speed Compression. If it feel better maybe add another. If it feels worse take it back off. One click will not cause any massive changes to the handling. Just remember - Only change one thing at a time.
Have fun 😀
Can you not either run the harder spring in the more linear setting or the softer spring in the more progressive setting?
I went up one size when i went, from a 500 to a 525, its big but not rampage big
Also on a G1, slightly heavier at 98kg, I run a 500 for bike park stuff and a 475 for steep trails (get the back to sit down more).
G1/EXT for me prefers to be slightly on the softer side, using the damping to give you support.
I always run the C75 springs, as for me they feel like they give a slightly less harsh feel off the top.
Sounds like a Sprindex might be useful as an upgrade in future. I'd be running the softer spring and adding a bit of compression damping if needed. If you're not hitting the big stuff then you won't need a hard spring.
The RS spring might need an adapter to fit, I know they're different size to Fox but not sure what EXT use.
Why have you done 60/160* shock rate to get a weight in lb? Is this a force to compress the spring in the different travel settings?
Sorry, should have been 65/160 and 65/175, but the results still directionally valid.
In terms of units it doesn't matter as that part of the calculation is just a ratio. 65/160 is the same as 2.56/6.29. Shock springs are in pounds per inch. So one times the other tells you the actual suspension rate at the rear wheel.
My point in a roundabout way was trying to get towards the fact that if you only use half the shocks stroke (in 175mm + progressive) to get similar suspension load (to 160mm + linear) then you need a lot more damping because the shock is being asked to dissipate the same energy in a shorter distance.
Sounds like you've solved the problem by getting a compromise spring anyway.
You say you don't want to "mess with your settings". But with only a few hours on the bike I'd call it setting it up. If you feel you're blowing through your travel on the lighter spring just add one click of High Speed Compression. If it feel better maybe add another. If it feels worse take it back off. One click will not cause any massive changes to the handling. Just remember - Only change one thing at a time.
I always do it by making larger changes first, if I think it needs a change, make a big change that will definitely be felt.
e.g. if you think there's not enough compression, make a change that will likely be too much compression, then when you ride again you'll have a better feel for what too much/little is and can go back to a halfway point.
If you just do 1 click at a time you might never notice, like the apologue of the frog in boiling water.
Sprindex might be useful as an upgrade in future.
I agree. However I can't find one to fit in the 450-500 65mm stroke.. They seem out of stock everywhere I've looked.
The 450 spring felt fine for the first lap, then my mate needed to faff with is brakes and I tried his 500 in the 175mm travel. It felt awesome 😊
Thanks, that makes sense.I left the settings as they were and it felt great.
But of fiddling with the fork- more pressure and faster rebound and compression and the bike was calm and predictable. 
