Values in "( )" are "standard" setting in manual.
Date = Sept 23, 2011
Type of bike = FE450
Year of bike = 2010
Weight of Rider = 185lbs/87kg nekkid, + approx. 7kgs with all gear, fanny pack and camelback.
Type of riding you do = 90% enduro 1st-3rd gear, standing, head low/butt back Ryno z-style (or trying to).
Location = Sweden
How you like your suspension to feel = compliant. Soft in rocks, hold up in whoops, firm to handle well in fast turns.
Fast or slow rider (be honest) = medium
Bike and Rider Sag Settings:
Front bike sag (without rider) = N/A
Front rider sag = N/A
Rear bike sag (without rider) = N/A
Rear rider sag = 98-100mm (105)
Type of Forks = open cartridge
Hight of mounting = 5mm/bottom line
Fork spring rate = 4.6N/mm (4.4)
Turns of Pre load (from full off) = 0
Fork oil weight and brand (if known) = Shell Advance 5wt
Fork oil air gap ( to top of fork) = 115mm (110)
New or old oil (recently changed??) = recently flushed and changed
Fork rebound clicker = 21 (20)
Fork Compression clicker = 22 (22)
Fork Valving (Stock or Revalved) = stock
Type of Shock = N/A
Shock spring rate = 80N/mm (72)
Pre load (-mm from full length) = N/A
Shock (high speed.) setting = 1.0 (1.5)
Shock (low speed.) setting = 18 (20)
Shock rebound (lower screw) setting = 22 (24)
Shock Valving (Stock or Revalved) = stock
Other conditions, change from above settings:
MX: front C:20, rear C:7
Slow/slippery/big rocks: front C:29 R: 24, rear C:24 R:22 (same)
Changed from 22mm to 19mm clamps, Renthal Fatbar CR-Hi in front/forward position.
Stock settings with stock springs were off, did lots of strange things. Stock settings with new springs and broken in and flushed forks were better, but extreme pushing of front end entering and exiting corners even when hanging over bars. Tilting the bike forward by increasing the rear high-speed compression, going to 100mm of rider sag and changing to 19mm clamps and it all comes together: entering turns, staying in turns (flat/bermed/smooth/bumpy), exiting turns, stable at speed (plans for stabiliser cancelled).
Previous bikes Sherco 4.5i and GasGas EC300 had fantastic handling, so the contrast to the new bike was plenty obvious.
One happy camper now!