[Ole]

I've got a SLX with a 5th Element shock. The bike is set up as a heavyduty trailbike, so I ride it uphill as well as down.

The problem I have is with the compression damping giving the ride height. For this to work, the shock has to be moving. So on slow, steep climbs, the shock doesn't see enough movement to keep it high, and it sags way down.

Then, on smooth decents, it rises up some. As speed increases, and the terrain gets rougher, the rear end rises more. Not exactly the traits I'm looking for in a bike.

I've got the bike set up at 6", with 60-75psi pressure, minimum beginning and ending stroke compression, and rebound 1 turn from max to keep the extension somewhat in check. I use a 400 spring, but the recommended for my weight and travel is 350. With the softer spring, the difference is even larger. Maybe using way more pressure or compression damping will keep the bike higher during climbs, but since it's often wet and slippery where I ride, I need as much small-bump sensitivity as I can get.

My best bet is to run the bike in the 7" position, to increase the leverage on the shock, and therefore lowering the extention-effects of the compression damping. Using a stiffer spring (500) will supply more of the ride height. And maybe even more rebound to counter the stiffer spring.

Anybody got any input on this? I'm really starting to doubt if this shock is capable of all-round riding.

 

[dhmtbj]

This might help: http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38250&highlight=5th+element

 

[ChrisKring]

I would try to run a little higher pressure (100psi) and reduce the low speed compression. If that doesn't work, I would call Gerald Leighton at Progressive. He is very helpful and probably has a recomendation.

 

[Tweek]

I agree with CK. You're running way too low a pressure and too stiff a spring for the shock to actually do the work of the suspension.
Sounds like you're on your way to the solution, tho'.

 

[Dave]

more pressure, less rebound.

 

[Ole]

The thing is, with more pressure, the shock becomes too unresponsive to small bumps. And more pressure also increases the problem with ride height at different speeds. The bike is set up for general trail use, so I can't shift my weight as far back as on a pure freeride/DH rig. And this in turns, makes the ride height problem harder to compensate for by leaning a little more back.

What I've done now, is to set the bike up with 7", and increased the spring rate to 500lbs and the pressure to 100. I backed off the volume adjuster to 3 turns from max, and use 7/8 turns rebound from max. Now the bike climbs steep gravel roads better than my 20lbs 3" racebike, and goes down like a dream, with. No more rising up as speed increases. The only ride height change I now experience is from my weight shifting. Increasing to 7" gives enough increase in leverage that I have to run 100psi to get any kind of pedaling platform.

Since everything here is covered in snow now, I haven't been able to really test the bike on rought ground, but I've hit setions of hard snow that has been pounded to a mess by horses, and even at 30mph I experienced no rising. And the rear is plusher than ever.

 

[ChrisKring]

So are you saying that it works better after the pressure increase?

The pressure adjust both the effective spring preload and the point at which the compression damping transitions from the low speed circuit to the high speed circuit.