Project Frankenbike Pt 2 | TF Tuned action

April 20th, 2016

By Adam Wight in Features

Frankenbike PT 2 – TF Tuned sort out the shock

Last month we visited TF Tuned one of Europe’s leading mountain bike suspension specialists.

In a couple of hours, I had the forks from my newly appointed Mondraker Crafty r+ #frankenbike fettled, to get them feeling better for the way I ride.

Check out Part 1 of our visit detailing TF’s fork fiddles right here 

TF Tuned

All the TF Tuned crew keep meticulously clean work spaces – and are always ready for the next job. Murray is particularly tidy though – don’t be messing with his work space!

The Crafty r+ came with a very basic Rockshox Monarch Plus rear shock, which despite going in and out effectively made the bike feel a little underdamped and wallowy for the way I like to ride. With limited adjustment and tuning available, I swapped it out for the more tuneable Fox Float X with EVOL air can.

Murray – or the suspension wizard as I’m now calling him – was pretty excited about this change as it meant some real push tuning trickery could begin.

TF Tuned

Adam, our resident upside down faced ranga was let loose with an Allen key to get the stock shock out, whilst Murray sorted his shims.

 

TF Tuned

There’s not much room in the Crafty – the Evol Float X is a snug fit, but offers everything I need in a shock.

Coffee quaffed and stock shock removed, Murray pulled up the Crafty’s suspension kinematics on his Bench mounted flat screen. Despite the various scribbles on the backs of hands, there’s no guesswork done here – by examining linkage graphs and progression curves, TF can ensure your shock gets the perfect tune for your bike, body weight and riding style.

TF Tuned

Those TF Tuned boys love geeking out on graphs, and really know their stuff. They also make a point of riding loads of different suspension bikes – which helps them uncover the traits of different bikes.

Mondraker’s proprietary ‘Zero’ linkage system is pretty progressive as standard, meaning it’s well suited to the natural ‘ramp up’ offered by air shocks. That said, big g-outs or gas-to-flats can still create a firm bottom-out, so a decent sized volume reducer was sought to further increase ramp-up.

TF Tuned

Although changing the volume spacers is an easy job you can do at home, Murray wanted to Push tune my shock – giving me the firm and supportive feel I wanted. So he pulled the whole shock apart and started fresh.

A nice trade-off to this is that you can get away with running a bit more sag, improving small bump sensitivity.

TF Tuned are Europe’s only Push certified service centre. Push Industries have been in partnership with TF for over 10 years, allowing continued development of top-end suspension products and services and truly bespoke fork and shock tunes.

The plan for the Crafty was a Push fettle to improve small bump sensitivity and initial breakaway, increase end stroke ramp up and improve low speed rebound and high speed compression – resulting in a shock which resisted bottom out and offered more mid-stroke support.

TF TunedCustom shim stacks can be chosen to produce the specific ride characteristics you would like – if like me, you need your hand held a little, the guys will be more than happy to help and explain exactly how the different shims offer different qualities.

Essentially, it’s all about moving oil through holes and past shims that deflect – you put thinner shims in and they deflect more and easier. Bigger holes let more oil through, faster, and smaller holes provide resistance. Subtle differences make a big change to ride feel.

TF Tuned

My Fox Float X shock in pieces at TF Tuned – ready to be cleaned, fettled and put back together.

Push re-valving options offer more bleed holes in different places to the stock versions which increases the speed at which the shock reacts to changes and ultimately keeps the temperature down – which alters the way the oil performs in the holes and shims.
Everywhere you look in the TF Tuned workshop, there are bits of kit and machinery installed to do a precise job, from the hand operated shock dyno, to the Nitrogen gas filling machine and the industrial sized coffee maker – all designed to make suspension better and engineers happier.

It’s a joy watching the guys at work – repetitive actions are completed with consummate ease, and more technical adjustments are approached with the utmost confidence. A plethora of cheeky little ‘pro’ tips and homemade tools all help where necessary – all learnt from decades of experience.

TF Tuned

Sometimes at TF Tuned you’ll hear things whirring and will see parts being modified. All part of the service.

TF Tuned

Before fitting the shock to the bike, it gets cycled through this to make sure it feels right.

 

TF Tuned

Red Bushes you say? Loving your work TF Tuned!

With both the forks and shock of the Crafty now fettled with, its time to get out there and ride some rough stuff to see how the custom tuning has helped. Keep an eye on Factory Jackson for the next instalment of the #frankenbike series to see the outcome.

TF Tuned

My Mondraker Crafty R+ – rolling on 150mm travel Rockshox Yari forks with TF Tuned hop ups, and a Push Tuned Fox Float X Evol shock. Looking pretty sweet eh?

In the meantime, head over to TF Tuned and get your bouncers booked in for some love –  you genuinely won’t be disappointed! Excellent service chaps!


 

Anyone else had their forks or shock tinkered with?

How did you get on?

Let us know in the comments below!

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