5th Element Air, Rear Shock

[Syphanx]

Hey people,
I have a blur and it's running a 5th element. Was just having a browse on the Santa Cruz website and it says the range for the IFP pressure is 50 - 70psi (For my weight) and on the actual shock it has written on the side of it, IFP Pressure (70 - 125). So which one do I go by?

Thanks,

- Michael -

[One-Nut]

what do you weigh?
i'm 75kgs and run about 85 psi in my ifp.
i've ridden a blur for 2+ years.
the ifp pressure sets your pedal platform, so if you like the hard tail feel, go for more pressure.
why don't you start at say 75psi (if you weight less than 75kgs) and see how it goes, just make sure you set the main pressure correctly.
DO THE FOLLOWING
push the little o-ring against the shock body, put say 75 psi in the ifp (the valve on the shaft), now sit on the bike and cycle the shock (bounce up and down to counter act the ifp pressure).
now (whilst still on the bike) push that little oring against the shock body.
get off the bike and measure the distance the oring is away from the shock body - it should be say 17mm.
if it's less - reduce the main pressure and try the above again.
if it's more - add pressure and try the above again.
this sag is critical to get the bike set up,in the sweet spot.
good luck - it's easy

[Syphanx]

Well I'm only a light weight, 58kgs. This is my first dulie so i can't really say which one i like better (Hardtail or dulie) cause my experiences are limited. But yeah I've got the whole cable thing going. I'm gonna try and set it up to it's potential cause i dont think at the moment it's performing at it's peak!

I'll give what you said a go! Thanks for the advice. So what your saying is that the main pressure is more critical to the ride set-up than the IFP pressure?
So do you think it would be safe lowering the IFP pressure below 70psi? Cause as I said it says 70 - 125 on the actual shock but on the santa cruz website the lowest stated pressure on the IFP valve is 50... (Im confused)

- Michael -

[liamo]

So what your saying is that the main pressure is more critical to the ride set-up than the IFP pressure?
Definitely. Get the sag sorted. That'll make the biggest diference to how the bike handles. Play with IFP and rebound settings after you've got the main pressure right.

So do you think it would be safe lowering the IFP pressure below 70psi? Cause as I said it says 70 - 125 on the actual shock but on the santa cruz website the lowest stated pressure on the IFP valve is 50... (Im confused)
It's fine to run the IFP on a 5th between 50-150psi.

Set your main pressure to 100psi, set your IFP to 60psi and rebound 3 turns out from full slow. Compare that setup to how it is now.

Use that as a baseline. If you are still unhappy, then play with the settings, but make sure you only change one setting at a time so you can tell exactly what effect it has. You'll soon find out what works for you and, more importantly, what each of the settings does and how the IFP and main pressure changes the ride.

Liam

[One-Nut]

mate,
the sag is critical, especially in the blur.
the vpp design was set up to function properly in a neutral zone (which is set by the sag - 17mm) to reduce pedal induced feed back.
SO GET THE SAG RIGHT.
you can lower the ifp to say 50-60psi (min).
you need this min pressure to insure the system has enough pressure to allow the conntrol valve to do its thing (i won't get to technical)
with your weight (or lack there of) go with the minimum ifp setting (say 60psi), this will give you better small bump compliance and if the sag is set right the pedal induced feeback will be negligible due to the vpp linkage system so the low ifp pressure is okay.
go and ride and enjoy