FOX AVA Air shock

[knucklebuste]

Anybody know how to set one of these up? There are numbers on the collar, 1-5, that's not for the travel is it? I heard Iron Horse say to keep it in the middle. I have no idea what I'm doing. How much air should I put in this thing? I'm 180 stock (naked) and probably 200 with gear and whatnot. How much air, and what do I put the AVA adjuster at - 1,2,3,4,5? I guess if you bump up the AVA too much it can cause the swingarm to hit the frame when full travel is used? This might have been fixed. And yes, I read the Fox manual and I don't understand it because I'm an idiot and I can't find the English section. Just kidding, I just don't understand this Air Volume Adjuster and the principle behind it. Should I replace this thing with a romic do you think? Also, I know how to measure the eye to eye length, but how do I measure the stroke?
Knuck (the mentally challanged idiot)

[Drew]

Changing the AVA air sleeve setting has the effect of changing the volume the air chamber inside the Float shock. Changing the volume of the air chamber changes the spring rate of the shock. The larger the air chamber volume, the less progressive the spring rate is. Air shocks tend to “ramp up” rapidly, or become much harder to compress as they get down in their travel. This is often a desirable feature when properly matched with the suspension design of a particular bike, as it helps to prevent the bike from bottoming out. However, this progressiveness is often optimized for the persons of “average weight”. A heavier rider will require more air pressure in the shock, which has the additional effect of increasing the ramp up towards the end of the shock’s stroke. A heavy rider may set a shock for the suggested sag, but never be able to use the full travel of the shock at that air pressure. In front air shocks, this can often be tuned by reducing the volume of oil in an open bath air shock, thereby increasing the volume of the air chamber. Light riders, however, will find that the higher air pressures required to get the correct sag can cause the ride to be harsh. Light riders require a smaller air volume, less air pressure, and therefore have less of a problem with ramp up.

In simplest terms, the AVA shock will have less ramp up and use more of its travel at the 5 setting. It will, in effect, act more like a coil shock. Given your weight, you probably want to run it at 4 or 5. To change the setting, you must first let all the air out of the shock. You will need more air pressure at the 5 setting to get the required sag than would be required at lower settings. The bike will feel firmer at first, but will be able to use much more of its travel. If you find the bike bottoming out too much at this setting, reduce the AVA to 4 and try again.

Your best bet may be to give Iron Horse a call. Every suspension design is different. They may have suggestions on which setting to use for your weight. They will also be able to give you the correct eye to eye length and stroke of the shock. The bike may or may not perform better with a coil shock given its suspension design. I have found that a properly set up AVA Float shock rivals, and is often better than, many coil shocks I have tried.

Knuckledonger -

Good summary by Drew.

I would try to get more information from Iron Horse. I run the AVA on my Blur and run it all the way backed out for a more "linear spring rate" which prevents the common problem with some air shocks of blowing through the travel. So I run it pretty much what Drew described as a 4 or 5 setting. I also run the recommend air pressure for my weight and then add or subtract till the sag is on the money.

However, every suspension design is different. For mine (VPP) it is imperative I have the sag set correctly.

I wouldn't give up on this shock just yet. Give a whirl first.

NOO

[knucklebuste]

Sounds good there donkey breath. I rode this for its maiden voyage yesterday at nembafest. Of course I could only do the 4 mile loop >:(, which according to my wife was 16 miles. So I diddn't get to really feel the bike out too well, as I was STRESSED out about her freaking out on me (too many people) (my hair) (I'm cold) (people are going to think I stink)
I say "I stink, you stink, everybody stinks, WGAF" but to no avail. So I got to spend a whole 2 hours there. Oh well, at least she goes with me right?
Knuck
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