This document is a comprehensive suspension setup guide for Pivot mountain bikes, designed to help riders optimize their bike's performance for various terrains and riding styles. It covers setup procedures for different Fox suspension components, including Float, Float X, Float X2, DHX2, Float Air Fork (FIT4 and GRIP), and GRIP2 Float Air Fork.
Function Description:
The primary function of this guide is to provide detailed instructions for setting up the sag, rebound, and compression damping on Pivot mountain bikes equipped with Fox suspension. Proper suspension setup is crucial for achieving the best riding experience, ensuring comfort, control, and efficiency. The guide aims to simplify the process for riders, offering baseline settings and explanations of key suspension terms.
Usage Features:
The guide begins with a "General Information on Suspension Setup" section that defines essential terms such as:
- Sag: Measured in millimeters or as a percentage of overall travel, sag indicates how much the bike compresses under the rider's weight at rest. It's critical for optimal riding. A QR code is provided to scan and watch Pivot Factory Racing star Bernard Kerr demonstrate sag setup.
- Click: Refers to the audible or tactile indications when turning suspension dials, making it easy to track adjustments.
- Rebound: Controls the speed at which the fork or shock extends after compression. Rebound dials are typically red. "Fully open" (fastest extension) is achieved by turning counter-clockwise or to "-", while "fully closed" (slowest extension) is clockwise or to "+". Rebound settings are dependent on air pressure.
- Compression: Controls how the fork or shock react to bumps and weight shifts. Compression dials are blue and black for Fox products, and golden or black for Marzocchi. "Fully open" is counter-clockwise or to "-", and "fully closed" is clockwise or to "+" or "FIRM".
- Low-Speed Damping: Affects loads resulting in low shaft speeds during compression or extension, such as weight shifts.
- High-Speed Damping: Affects loads resulting in high shaft speeds during compression or extension, like square-edged bumps.
To set up suspension, riders primarily need a shock pump for sag adjustment. Damping adjustments on Fox and Marzocchi forks, as well as Fox Float and Float X, typically do not require tools. However, 2mm, 3mm, and 6mm Allen keys are needed for Fox Float X2 and DHX2 shocks. A tape measure is required for sag setup on coil shocks, and dedicated tools and a bike stand are needed for spring changes on coil shocks.
Pivot Details:
Most Pivot bikes feature a sag indicator on the rear shock, which simplifies sag setting. Riders align the o-ring on the shock with the indicator. The guide notes that Pivot's setup recommendations may differ from Fox's guidelines due to calibration for rocky southwest terrain, serving as a starting point for riders to adjust based on their specific riding environment (e.g., steeper terrain, smoother trails).
General Adjustment Procedure:
- Set Sag
- Adjust Rebound
- Adjust Compression
Before setting sag, all dials should be turned to the fully open position. Pivot counts clicks from the fully open position to prevent damage from overtightening and to save time, unlike Fox, which counts from closed.
Specific Suspension Component Setup:
Fox Float & Float X (Air Shocks):
- Setting Sag:
- Always set sag with the blue compression lever in the open position.
- Ensure all compression and rebound adjustments are fully open (softest compression, fastest rebound).
- Attach the sag indicator to the shock body with a zip-tie.
- Mount the bike on a level surface, with a partner holding the handlebars for stability.
- While standing on pedals, sit down hard to cycle the suspension, then slide the O-ring against the air can.
- Gently step off the bike without compressing it.
- Adjust air pressure until the O-ring aligns with the red line on the sag indicator. Cycle the shock after each air adjustment to equalize pressure.
- Some models have blue (RACE) and red (TRAIL) lines, allowing for preference-based sag settings.
- If no sag indicator is present, use the provided tables for specific Pivot models and shock lengths (e.g., Indicator A: 0.74" (18.8mm) for Mach 5.7, Mach 6; Indicator B: 0.65" (16.5mm) for Switchblade, Shuttle; Indicator C: 0.49" (12.4mm) for Mach 4 XXS-XS; Indicator D: 0.55" (14.0mm) for Mach 4 S-XL).
- Damping Adjustments:
- Rebound Damping: Rebound setting depends on air pressure. Higher pressures require slower rebound. Turn the red rebound dial counter-clockwise to fully open. Refer to the "Suggested Rebound Setting Float & Float SL" table, which provides clicks from OPEN (and CLOSED) based on air pressure (e.g., <100 psi: OPEN; 280-300 psi: CLOSED).
- Compression Damping:
- 2-Position or 3-Position Lever: Pivot bikes pedal efficiently in full open mode. The 2-position lever (Open/Firm) is a tuning tool. Firm is for climbs and smooth XC. DPS or SL shocks have a 3-position lever (Open/Medium/Firm). Lighter riders (under 160lb) typically use Open, while heavier riders (190lb+) or aggressive riders prefer Medium. Firm is for climbs and smooth XC.
- Open Mode Adjust: Factory Series Float shocks have a black knob for three additional open settings (#1 most open, #3 firmest). Riders can experiment to find the best compression support.
Fox Float X2 Air:
- Setting Sag: The guide refers to page 2 for sag setup, noting that sag indicators may not be present on all shocks.
- Damping Adjustment:
- The X2 shock has extensive tuning options (LSC, HSC, LSR, HSR).
- The guide recommends 30% sag.
- The "Rebound & Compression Damping Settings Table for FOX Float X2" provides baseline settings for LSR (3mm hex), HSR (2mm hex), LSC (3mm hex), and HSC (6mm hex) based on air spring pressure. Settings are given in clicks from OPEN (and CLOSED).
- Example: For 200 psi, recommended LSR is 14 clicks from open, HSR is 5 clicks from open, LSC is 7 clicks from open, and HSC is 3 clicks from open.
- A two-position lever allows for on-the-fly adjustment between fully open and firm for climbing.
- For further details, riders are directed to the Fox website.
FOX Coil Shocks (DHX2):
- Setting Sag:
- Requires a friend and a tape measure (in millimeters).
- Measure the eye-to-eye distance of the shock (e.g., 205mm for Mach 6 and Firebird).
- Recommended sag is 18-20mm.
- Set sag with the blue compression lever in the open position.
- Ensure all compression and rebound adjustments are fully open.
- Install the coil spring and set the preload adjuster to just contact the spring (about 8 clicks on Fox shocks).
- Mount the bike on a level surface, with a partner.
- Cycle the suspension, then have a friend measure the eye-to-eye distance while seated. Subtract this from the initial eye-to-eye to get sag.
- If sag is less than 18-20mm, change to a lower spring rate.
- If sag is more than 18-20mm, turn the preload adjuster up to 26 clicks. If still too much sag, change to a higher spring rate.
- Once sag is achieved, follow recommended compression and rebound settings.
- A table provides recommended spring rates based on rider weight, coil length, and spring stroke (e.g., 350 lb. spring for <130lb rider, 650 lb. spring for >230lb rider).
- Damping Adjustment on FOX DHX2:
- The DHX2 shock offers extensive tuning options.
- Recommended sag is 30%.
- The "Suggested Settings FOX FLOAT DHX2" table provides baseline settings for LSR (3mm hex), HSR (2mm hex), LSC (3mm hex), and HSC (6mm hex) based on spring rate. Settings are given in clicks from OPEN (and CLOSED).
- Example: For a 400 lb. spring, recommended LSR is 10-12 clicks from open, HSR is 3-4 clicks from open, LSC is 4-6 clicks from open, and HSC is 2-3 clicks from open.
- The diagram shows the location of each adjustment knob.
FOX Float Air Fork:
- Setting Sag:
- Proper sag for the fork is 15-20% of full fork travel.
- The guide provides a table of "Suggested Fork Air Pressure" based on rider weight and fork travel (32, 34, 36, 40 FLOAT).
- Example: For a 120-130lb rider, 32 FLOAT requires 58 psi, 34 FLOAT requires 3.3 psi, 36 FLOAT requires 62 psi, 40/49 FLOAT requires 3.1 psi.
- The sag indicator (O-ring) should align with the red line on the dust wiper.
- FIT4 Damping Adjustment on FOX Float Air Fork:
- Rebound Damping: Rebound setting depends on air pressure. The red knob on the bottom of the drive side fork leg controls rebound. Turn counter-clockwise for faster extension. The "FIT4 Damper Rebound Settings" table provides clicks from OPEN (and CLOSED) based on fork air pressure.
- Compression Damping: The Fit 4 damper has a blue 3-position compression adjustment lever (Open, Medium, Firm). The black inner dial adjusts low-speed compression damping in the fully open position. Turn counter-clockwise to fully open. Turn clockwise 2-8 clicks in (5 clicks is a good starting point, 2 clicks for riders under 120lb).
- GRIP Damping Adjustment on FOX Float Air Fork:
- Rebound Damping: Rebound setting depends on air pressure. The red knob on the bottom of the drive side fork leg controls rebound. Turn counter-clockwise for faster extension. The "GRIP Damper Rebound Settings" table provides clicks from OPEN (and CLOSED) based on fork air pressure.
- Compression Damping: The GRIP damper has a blue 2-position lever (Open/Firm). Most riders will use the open position, but the firm setting is for climbs.
- GRIP2 Damping Adjustment on FOX Float Air Fork:
- Rebound Damping: GRIP2 dampers have both low-speed (LSR) and high-speed (HSR) rebound damping. Both red knobs are on the bottom of the drive side fork leg. The "GRIP2 Damper Rebound Settings" table provides clicks from OPEN (and CLOSED) for LSR and HSR based on fork air pressure and fork model (34/36/38, 40).
- Compression Damping: GRIP2 dampers have both low-speed (LSC) and high-speed (HSC) compression damping. Both blue knobs are on the top of the right fork leg. The outer dial adjusts HSC, and the inner black dial adjusts LSC. Turn both counter-clockwise to fully open. Turn the outer blue dial clockwise 2-4 clicks in, and the inner black dial 2 clicks in.
Maintenance Features:
The guide implicitly suggests that proper setup helps maintain the suspension components by preventing damage from incorrect adjustments (e.g., overtightening dials). It also mentions that damaged adjustments may require service or repair.
Important Technical Specifications (Examples from tables):
- Sag Measurements:
- Float/Float X: 0.74" (18.8mm) to 0.49" (12.4mm) depending on bike model.
- DHX2 Coil: 18-20mm.
- Float Air Fork: 15-20% of full travel.
- Coil Spring Rates (DHX2):
- 350 lb. spring for <130lb (59kg) rider.
- 650 lb. spring for >230lb (104kg) rider.
- Coil length: 4.85" to 5.6".
- Spring travel: 2.65".
- I.D.: 1.385".
- Air Pressure Ranges:
- Float/Float SL: <100 psi to 300 psi.
- Float X2: 90 psi to 300 psi.
- Float Air Fork (FIT4): <65 psi to 114-126 psi.
- Float Air Fork (GRIP): <72 psi to 114-126 psi.
- Float Air Fork (GRIP2): <72 psi to 117-123 psi (34/36/38), <52 psi to 97-101 psi (40).
- Damping Clicks: Provided in tables for each suspension component, indicating clicks from OPEN (and CLOSED) for LSR, HSR, LSC, and HSC, varying by air pressure or spring rate. Hex key sizes for adjustments are also specified (e.g., 3mm, 2mm, 6mm).
The final page includes a "MY SETTINGS" section for riders to record their specific shock air pressure, rebound, and compression clicks for both shock and fork, along with a "Notes" section for additional observations. This allows for personalized tracking and fine-tuning of their suspension setup.
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