HP Velotechnik Spirit - Manual (Page 23)

Adjusting y
our ne
w bik
e
HP
Velotechnik
21
Adjusting the rear suspension ele-
ment
For the rear suspension of the Spirit a steel
spring is combined with a hydraulic damping
unit in a spring element.
The damping results from fluid friction of an
oil flow through thin holes of a throttle valve
in between two chambers inside the damper.A
slightly noticeable sound that may occur from
this oil flow is normal.
Due to the fluid friction the spring element
may heat up, therefore touch the spring ele-
ment after a ride only when it has cooled off.
Your Spirit comes standard with a steel spring
rear shock.As an Option, the air shock DT-
S
WISS
XM-180 can be installed. Please read the
manual of the rear shock manufacturer for de-
tails.
For the rear wheel the same guidelines as for
the suspension fork are valid: for maximum ri-
ding comfort the suspension should compress
by about 30% of the total suspension travel
(100 mm) while you mount the bicycle in dri-
ving position.This corresponds to about 30
mm (1 1/5 inch).
For that purpose measure for example the di-
stance between the end of the main frame and
the rear wheel while the bike is unloaded as
well as while sitting on the bicycle in riding po-
sition.Also take into account possible luggage.
You can affect this negative suspension travel
depending on how much you weigh and how
much you load your bike either by adjusting
the suspension pre-load for fine tuning or by
replacing the spring with a spring with a diffe-
rent stiffness in the rough tuning.
Rear suspension element of the Spirit
Danger! Take care that the rear wheel or
the mudguard or the suspension element
never hit the frame or the rear rack while
the suspension is fully compressed.
Therefore, relax the spring completely by
turning the spring retention disc on the
thread of the spring element as far as possi-
ble. Have a second person mount the bicycle
and make the suspension bottom out by lea-
ning on the seat or the rear rack.
Danger! While adjusting the rear suspen-
sion element never load the bicycle, e.g.
through resting on the seat or loading the
rear rack, when your hands or tools are clo-
se to the suspension element. Otherwise
your hands may get caught and squeezed
when the suspension compresses.
Danger! The suspension elements are filled
with gas under high pressure. Never try to
open the damper or to remove the screw at
the gas tank. Inside the damper there are no
user serviceable parts. In case of damage
you will have to take the complete suspen-
sion element to your dealer.