What You Feel with Pro Tune Suspension
Alright, you hung in through the description of the non-secret ingredients. But what will you actually feel on trail with Pro Tune Forks and Rear Shocks?
If I tell you you’d have a more plush feel with better support you’d say that’s what every suspension ad for ten years has promised right? Well, BikeCo Pro Tune Suspension has the individualized balance to make that happen.
First, let’s look at something that has created more than a little bit of confusion over the years. The difference between what you and I likely mean when we say “small bump compliance” and what a lot of the engineers in the industry mean.
If you’re like us, when you think of small bump compliance you’re picturing the trail chatter that begins to compress your suspension past the point of sag. Makes sense right? Like the sag point would be your “zero” and the beginning of travel past that would be the “small bumps”?
Most suspension designers disagree. That’s why your last four forks all with “improved small bump compliance” feel similar. Generally they are assigning the “small bump compliance” area of travel to the section between full extension and sag.
The way these designers have marketed improved small bump compliance is by utilizing more aggressive ramp rates through volume or compression settings. So the suspension IS “lighter” until it has to pick your weight up. And then, from there, it’s going to frankly be harsher. Which, is the “more support in the mid-stroke”.
We see it a little different.
When our team is chatting with clients we reference Small Bump Compliance as the area of initial compression past the point of sag. We feel that this is what clients are referring to when they tell us about small bump issues and we agree.
Understanding that riders want support to minimize brake dive as well as to provide additional support in fast corners without creating hand numbing abuse over the small stuff has driven our tune philosophy.
Narrowing the rebound and compression damper’s performance window also gives each click a more finite adjustment window. This makes your suspension more precise and easier to tune to your ideals.
Improving the fork’s upper and lower fitment eliminates a good deal of sticktion allowing riders to run a higher main PSI which improves support while minimizing brake dive. A softer feeling fork at a higher PSI.
Improving the compression circuits also allows more finite tuning with both the hydraulic dampers as well as volume tuning options to change ramp rate. Pro Tune riders tend to find they are able to run more clicks of compression in order to dial in mid and end stroke support without losing suppleness and traction.
Once again coming back to the support from our team – our staff is trained to help you define how tire sidewalls, rim width and volume, rim protection options, tire PSI, brake setup and other attributes will critically effect your suspension’s performance.
Are Pro Tunes only for Racers?
Absolutely not! This is one of the compromises of naming something I suppose. But BikeCo Pro Tune Services might have even more impact for less experienced riders.
That’s because with suspension designed to work in a more finite window as well as having access to our team to help you tune and adjust the tune as your riding improves you can concentrate on riding techniques, reading terrain and worry less about the myriad of adjustments required to dial in your bike.
Read more about BikeCo Pro Tunes below!