Front suspension q

[kovacsa]

Hi All, When the front suspension "speed lock" ("lock-out") feature is on, is there suppose to be any sort of small "give" when pressing down on the suspension? I was told this small amount of compression is to prevent the speed lock from breaking in case anything hard is hit when it is on. I've only seen this give on one fork so far, all others are rock solid.

Thanks!

 

[Levo-Lon]

Some forks lock out and some will still compress..but at a very slow rate
what fork have you got? It may need a small amount of oil adding to the damper to remove play .
low oil will give you what you describe on certain forks

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Hi All, When the front suspension "speed lock" ("lock-out") feature is on, is there suppose to be any sort of small "give" when pressing down on the suspension? I was told this small amount of compression is to prevent the speed lock from breaking in case anything hard is hit when it is on. I've only seen this give on one fork so far, all others are rock solid.

Thanks!

Yes. You will not find a fork or shock with complete mechanical lock-out. Because the system is hydraulic and the components under compression are not infinitely rigid, there is quite a bit of give when in lock-out. Some more sophisticated forks even have a lock-out blow-off that can be adjusted to simulate "give" or just pop open with a silent bang.
It takes a bit of experience to distinguish between what's normal and what Meta Ion describes as a fork with a low oil level. The latter presents as a couple of mms of free movement before the hard lockout kicks in.

 

[kovacsa]

Some forks lock out and some will still compress..but at a very slow rate
what fork have you got? It may need a small amount of oil adding to the damper to remove play .
low oil will give you what you describe on certain forks

Hey Thanks, The bike in question is:
http://www.bikes.com/en/bikes/whistler/2015#/models/whistler-70
and the fork in question is:
SUNTOUR NRX D HLO. 63MM. HYDRAULIC SPEED LOCKOUT / PRELOAD

The level of compression is far more than 2mm or so. It's closer to 1/2", so I'm not sure if it's an oil issue.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Hi ,its a low priced fork so i cant really say...
if it were my fork and its rock solid after the small movement id simply add about the same oil to the lock out as you have travel...so when its locked its as you want..my cheap Rockshox Dart forks were the same if i didnt fill the oil to the correct level..
My wifes fork ,again a cheap Rock shox spring type same as the Dart also locks fully..no movement when locked out..

my Pike forks with 150mm of travel will tottaly compress but with a lot of resistence with the lock out applied but there a serious fork and cost a small fortune, reason they still move is for when you forget to un lock..and avoid damage or falling off going downhill with a rigid 150mm fork..
sorry i cant really help any more than that..

 

[bonsaibilly]

Hey Thanks, The bike in question is:
http://www.bikes.com/en/bikes/whistler/2015#/models/whistler-70
and the fork in question is:
SUNTOUR NRX D HLO. 63MM. HYDRAULIC SPEED LOCKOUT / PRELOAD

The level of compression is far more than 2mm or so. It's closer to 1/2", so I'm not sure if it's an oil issue.

Sounds like the fork is acting as it should in your case... although both times I've had a Suntour with the Speedlock lockout, they didn't have any "blow-off" at all.

And all three Rockshox forks I've had the blow-off was easily an inch without pushing down on the thing.

bb