Avalanche boxxer upgrade kit out! Will fit majority of forks!
- Thread starter bullcrew
- Start date
oh snap, he does exist!
So, Slipperysalmon and Limy, what's your final verdict on the rebound knocking issue? Does it cause any harm to the fork internals or fork performance, and did you get rid of it by reducing the midvalve float?
My fork is weird, first it didn't have the knock. I have ridden it only a few times before the snow came, but couple of months ago it was fine. After that my DH bike have been sitting in a cold storage room, and yesterday I was preparing the bike for riding next weekend, when I noticed it knocking at the transition of compression and rebound after a fast compression.
Could the cold weather (yesterday it was around -4 Celsius) affect it? I mean, now the oil is thicker than when I was riding last time, could this make the fork knock?
My fork is weird, first it didn't have the knock. I have ridden it only a few times before the snow came, but couple of months ago it was fine. After that my DH bike have been sitting in a cold storage room, and yesterday I was preparing the bike for riding next weekend, when I noticed it knocking at the transition of compression and rebound after a fast compression.
Could the cold weather (yesterday it was around -4 Celsius) affect it? I mean, now the oil is thicker than when I was riding last time, could this make the fork knock?
So I haven't had the opportunity to re-read through all the posts... You guys with the knocking, do you all have this in a Boxxer?
I've got my fork all boxed up and ready to go out to Avy. I have a 2004 Marzocchi 888 though. Just hope that this knocking either won't affect 888's, won't affect my particular fork, or can get figured out. Figured it would be worth the extra $100 to have Craig do the install so that if there are issues with it, there is no question about the install process, settings etc. In other words, remove one variable from the equation (ME).
So other than the knocking, how are you guys liking your forks?
I'm assuming/hoping that I see a noticeable difference since I'm coming off of an ancient (in DH standards) fork with super basic technology.
I've got my fork all boxed up and ready to go out to Avy. I have a 2004 Marzocchi 888 though. Just hope that this knocking either won't affect 888's, won't affect my particular fork, or can get figured out. Figured it would be worth the extra $100 to have Craig do the install so that if there are issues with it, there is no question about the install process, settings etc. In other words, remove one variable from the equation (ME).
So other than the knocking, how are you guys liking your forks?
I'm assuming/hoping that I see a noticeable difference since I'm coming off of an ancient (in DH standards) fork with super basic technology.
At least I have a 2011 Boxxer RC.
Apart from the knocking, the cart works fine. Doesn't feel that much different to the stock fork, except in fast harsh hits, like braking bumps. On that kind of hits it is quite a lot smoother.
I have a medium tune midvalve, but it resists diving less than I expected. If I ever open up the cart, I'm going to reshim it a bit firmer.
Apart from the knocking, the cart works fine. Doesn't feel that much different to the stock fork, except in fast harsh hits, like braking bumps. On that kind of hits it is quite a lot smoother.
I have a medium tune midvalve, but it resists diving less than I expected. If I ever open up the cart, I'm going to reshim it a bit firmer.
So to all you folks that have done the Avy cartridge, are you all doing the straigh "DH" tune? Fast rebound with linear compression? The DH I do is a mixed bag. Some of it is slow speed with chunky rock roll-ins and a few slower drops (think Bootleg Canyon and Orange County stuff). Some of it is more "lift" style resort DH. Fast repetitive hits, chunder and some higher speed jumps and drops.
So I'm not sure if I want more of the trail tune, the DH tune, or mostly DH with a slight bit more progression than DH, but not as much as the trail tune. Craig seems to thing straight up DH tune, so I'm leaning that way. Just wanted some additional opinions.
So I'm not sure if I want more of the trail tune, the DH tune, or mostly DH with a slight bit more progression than DH, but not as much as the trail tune. Craig seems to thing straight up DH tune, so I'm leaning that way. Just wanted some additional opinions.
Oh, another question... When you give your weight, do you give what you weigh "in the buff" or all geared up?
weight plus gear if that's how you ride. If you ride naked I assume you wear shoes so include weight for that and post where you ride so we can avoid that trail system for the day. 
I just revalved and resprung my 888 Avy card and OMG it's like a crazy soft pillow in the chunk. I'm absorbing rock ledges that I have no business absorbing. I need to tune a little more, make it a little firmer, ramp up LS a little, put some oil in the spring side to give me a little more, but I can't believe how "moto-plush" my fork was last weekend (first ride after revalve).
weight plus gear if that's how you ride. If you ride naked I assume you wear shoes so include weight for that and post where you ride so we can avoid that trail system for the day.
Flip flops and a thong, so max would be about 1lb. The real question is do I weigh myself before or after the morning "dump". That could be as much as 5 lbs depending on what I ate the night before.
Oh, and I ride in a lot of the same places as you... Recognized those San Juan parking lot pics you posted. I've never done anything on the "back" side of that Mtn. Sam Hill etc. Try to stay far away from the 909 and 951.
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Flip flops and a thong, so max would be about 1lb. The real question is do I weigh myself before or after the morning "dump". That could be as much as 5 lbs depending on what I ate the night before.
Oh, and I ride in a lot of the same places as you... Recognized those San Juan parking lot pics you posted. I've never done anything on the "back" side of that Mtn. Sam Hill etc. Try to stay far away from the 909 and 951.
Yeah 951 isn't bad as far as riding some good stuff San diego has really dialed it in with some solid stuff. I'm glad I'm back SD, some good stuff and the weathers spot on. I cant tell you what tune I have on mine but it works and I have tools for reshimiing here so if you dont like something we can snag a few shims if I don't have em ask craig and set it up for you? It only takes about 10-15 minutes start to finish.
Sounds like a good plan. I'm all about not having to send it back in later. just figured that the safest way to have the initial setup was to have Craig do it.
Well I have finally got round to changing the mid valve float on my forks and also tried different mid valve shim stacks, different compression stack and rebound stack and nothing has worked for the knocking noise unfortunately. The fork feels great and soaks everything up its just annoying that there is a knock when compressed fast (doesn't matter if compressed 6 inches or just a couple of inches).
Damn. If it is not the midvalve float, what else could make the noise?
Ah that sucks, a few rides after posting i did notice a very faint knock, dunno if you could really call it a knock anymore. i have no idea what i could have done as the float is all i altered.
did you measure your float?
Yes and nothing special aside of install which is straight forward and some oil. The ti will require a different oil lock ring than a standard 66 being the stanchions are bigger Id on them.
Mine was a 66rc3 but aside of oil lock ring the I stall is the same.
Yes it was 0.6mm and changed it to 0.4mm. That didn't do anything so I changed the mid valve which again didn't solve it and then finally the rebound shim stack as I had already changed the compression shim stack from the DH to FR then back to DH again previously. I was wondering if it was something to do with the check plate opening and closing on the compression piston?
Try adding a 10 mm x .20 shim behind the rebound check valve cup to let the holes in the cup bleed through. The noise could be a hydraulic lock of the oil behind the check plate, if so this will help, it will not hurt anything.
Top notch customer service... Right here on RM.
One of the reasons I've sent my fork in for a build. That and I can get the same tech in my 2004 888 as the new 888's for a fraction of the price. Now I'll just have to learn how to work on forks so I can tinker with it if needed.. not a bad thing in my opinion.
The beauty with the Avalanche stuff is the detailed instructions on the website that you can download and follow to make any changes you want. I followed them and made changes to the shim stacks even when they felt great just to see how things changed on the track and try to understand the workings of suspension a bit more.
Got my AVA tuned 2004 888 in the mail today and put it back on the bike. So far, only a "parking lot" test, but I did run full speed into a few curbs w/o even trying to pull up at all. Seemed to handle them with ease. Will hopefully get some trail time on the bike on Sunday. Hope to have a full ride report for you afterwards.
Does anyone know of any oil avaliable in the UK/Ireland that I can use in my cart? All of the suggested ones seem to be only avaliable in the US.
i ordered mine in the us, this ebay shop ships really cheap (took like 8 business days in total?)
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400270364427
Just use any quality oil that has about the same viscosity as the suggested ones.
Here's some good information on viscosities:
http://www.peterverdone.com/wiki/index.php?title=Suspension_Fluid
Here's some good information on viscosities:
http://www.peterverdone.com/wiki/index.php?title=Suspension_Fluid
It took me ages to find but I got the recommended golden Spectro oil from Battistini in bournemouth. They are one of 2 UK importers as specto oils is used on a lot of Harley motorbikes. http://www.battistinis.co.uk/
Cool, thanks, think im just gonna stick with rock oil 5wt, I've heard it works fine and is only 1.9cst off golden spectro as far as I know. How is everyone getting on doing lower lubes with the cart? Is it the same deal except without putting the 15ml 15wt into the damper leg?
You will not need the 15wt in the damper side, the damper oil is now also your oil bath. Hence the term open-bath.
Took my cartridge apart yesterday an moved a couple shims around holy cow this thing rides unbelievable now! Will post moar shimz tech when i get home...
Took my cartridge apart yesterday an moved a couple shims around holy cow this thing rides unbelievable now! Will post moar shimz tech when i get home...
Ive just added this whilst altering my rebound stack a little. Fork is silent after the carpark bounce, will find out if its still silent after a decent smash tomorrow.
You tried this yet limy?
edit: made no difference for me
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Got in a few runs yesterday on my 2004 888 with the Avy cart. Wow.. really good. I did a trail that has a bit of everything in it. Super fast open sections with chatter and braking bumps, super steep sections with a few mild drops thrown into them, super steep sections with hard tight bermed corners at the bottom and even a few jumps. I took it kinda mellow on my first run to feel things out, then pinned it on my second run.
My overall impression was that this was certainly worth the $$ and I'm glad I didn't spring for a whole new fork. I had a lot more control in the chunky stuff. The braking bumps were smoothed out and didnt make me feel like I had to use a death grip to hold on. Also felt that the fork rode much higher in the travel through the tight berms that you hit as you exit some of the really steep fast sections. Very little fork dive... still tons of action in it for rocks... buttery smooth overall.
I even felt confident enough on it to hit two of the jumps that I have always wussed out on bc they have decent gaps on them. These aren't the aggressive hard/steep lip style jumps that send you up, more high speed floaters with flatter lips that send you straight out instead of up. I say this bc I know that the fork is also supposed to help on the steep lip style jumps (keeps it from diving too much as you enter into them). I'll have to wait till summer and some of the a-line style jumps up in Mammoth and Northstar to report back on that.
Oh, and on the topic that is getting a lot of attention in this thread right now... No knocking sounds from my fork either (like some seem to be getting).
My overall impression was that this was certainly worth the $$ and I'm glad I didn't spring for a whole new fork. I had a lot more control in the chunky stuff. The braking bumps were smoothed out and didnt make me feel like I had to use a death grip to hold on. Also felt that the fork rode much higher in the travel through the tight berms that you hit as you exit some of the really steep fast sections. Very little fork dive... still tons of action in it for rocks... buttery smooth overall.
I even felt confident enough on it to hit two of the jumps that I have always wussed out on bc they have decent gaps on them. These aren't the aggressive hard/steep lip style jumps that send you up, more high speed floaters with flatter lips that send you straight out instead of up. I say this bc I know that the fork is also supposed to help on the steep lip style jumps (keeps it from diving too much as you enter into them). I'll have to wait till summer and some of the a-line style jumps up in Mammoth and Northstar to report back on that.
Oh, and on the topic that is getting a lot of attention in this thread right now... No knocking sounds from my fork either (like some seem to be getting).
Made no difference to the knocking sound, after riding the knock game back?
yeah, like last time the fork was silent after putting it back together then after riding for a bit theres still a faint clunk. its only noticable off the bike though so im not bothered
Hey peeps
im ordering an avy cartridge today and i was wondering what people think of the midvalve kit, im going to get it installed by Craig.
Is it worth the extra money? do you like the way the fork feels with the midvalve? and would you get it again?
some nice quick replys please!
Cheers
im ordering an avy cartridge today and i was wondering what people think of the midvalve kit, im going to get it installed by Craig.
Is it worth the extra money? do you like the way the fork feels with the midvalve? and would you get it again?
some nice quick replys please!
Cheers
Didn't try it w/o the mid, but yes I really like how the fork behaves, so I would not want it any different.
I did certainly notice that in a hard g-out berm at the bottom of a really steep section, the fork did not "dive" into the berm.
I did certainly notice that in a hard g-out berm at the bottom of a really steep section, the fork did not "dive" into the berm.
Ok im going to get it with the mid, ive had a problem at the riding spot in the uk called aston hill on a track called 423 where there are little drops into turns on a steep bit of the course, my current forks which is a 2005 boxxer team, dives far too much and i loose all my speed dispite hanging over the back of the bike.
really looking forward to getting the cart its going to be so much better, also just got a brand new DHX RC4 at the back to replace my rather dilapidated FOX vanila RC, and a new set of bearings and a bolt on axle conversion.
All i can hope is that i dont get a cart with that clicking people talk about.
really looking forward to getting the cart its going to be so much better, also just got a brand new DHX RC4 at the back to replace my rather dilapidated FOX vanila RC, and a new set of bearings and a bolt on axle conversion.
All i can hope is that i dont get a cart with that clicking people talk about.
My new demo with a boxxer rc should be here in a week or so should i put some hours on the fork then then up grade to the avy cart or up grade with out riding at All, thanks
If I change mine from a Totem kit to a 2011 888Avy kit all I need is the new adaptor kit?
888 feels good but it just seems a waste to have an AVY damper sitting in the bits box
888 feels good but it just seems a waste to have an AVY damper sitting in the bits box
Measure the tube you possibly have the 7" tube and rod which can both be replaced and the adaptors. Theres a 180mm version and a 200mm both interchangeable.If I change mine from a Totem kit to a 2011 888Avy kit all I need is the new adaptor kit?
888 feels good but it just seems a waste to have an AVY damper sitting in the bits box
And a sneak peak at the fox 40 cart installed.
