Hey racers. Is this Nitron rebound normal?

[StrayAlien]

Hey all,

I am on my third Nitron shock after the first two they sent were wrong or mal-configured. Since early September this has been going on.

I have finally got shock number three. Do I trust that this is now correct? So .. I put it in the bike and starting giving it a sanity check. To me, the rebound seems very odd .. well very very very slow. Here are some vids:

Rebound is at 2 clicks in from full-out (fastest). Both hi/low comps are somewhere in the middle. Man is it slow.

http://youtu.be/mh-yDSjkvXk

Just in case you were wondering if I had it all the way in, here is a video with it two clicks out from fully in. Still slow!

http://youtu.be/8QasHG2ZiN8

The Nitron guy (who is a new distributor - not the factory) says it is exactly as he would expect. From an email of his:

With regards to the rebound, the shock is doing everything i expect it to.

Also note that when you push on the bike like that you are really moving in the low speed range.. as the piston is a digressive one and the control of the rebound done with a bleed needle, there would only be a slight change in force in low speed but a much higher one in high speed.
Hence you're not feeling much of a difference between the clicks as you are putting the same amount of force on it each time.

Surely rebound it not related to the speed on compression? If it took an hour or a half a second to get the spring compressed it would not matter.

I have 5 other bikes and none of them behave like this, but the Nitron guy says this is exactly what he expects and I should get it on the track and try it. Last time I did that with a Nitron I ruined $270 worth of rear wheel.

All thoughts/opinions welcome.

[Drunkn Munky]

im no expert when it comes to setting up the bouncy bits but I appriciate good suspension and have spent money to get it right but none of my bikes have ever returned that slow!

[magg]

Curious as to what was wrong with the first two nitrons/ Was it a wheel or tyre you ruined and what was the result.

Have just had a play with my track nitron, it is still at the factory setting of ten clicks from full hard. At this setting the rebound is a little slower that the fastest compression rate I can muster. Also added ten clicks (close to full hard) and tried again. Rebound much slower as expected. Your nitron man sounds a little confused, yes it is a needle adjustment but affects low speed and you should see a change when you alter the setting. High speed rebound can only be changed by changing the internal shim stack.

Who is the new australian nitron agent so I can avoid him?

[StrayAlien]

Thanks Magg, when this is all over I may do a "tell all" here, but for now, it'll not help me get a working shock.

Your "ten clicks" factory setting was the rebound yes? When you did you test on you bike just now, did you push it at the rear like I did in the videos?

What shock did you get? I have three way race shock.

[StrayAlien]

Oh, it was a tyre that was ruined, sorry .. written before my morning coffee ... :-)

[magg]

Track shock - 2 way but rebound should be the same as race - 3way. Tested immediately before my post. Bum bounce on seat test, don't like pushing on plastics, but stroked the suspension a couple of inches. Rebound only was adjusted ten clicks.

The oz nitron agent?

[VFRkieran]

Yea it definatly shouldnt be that slow for sure, must admit im suprised to hear you have had 2 dodgy shocks from them and this one looks asif it could be too. I know Scott(builds the bike shocks) at Nitron is a top bloke and is very good at what he does so id bet he has left and they have got some other monkey in to do the work.

The annoying thing is its probably just an extra shim or two thats been added below the piston by mistake which is very easy to do as they are so thin, but still a careless mistake. In my opinion you should go to an independent suspension specialist for his opinion on it, and then send what he says and this video straight to Nitron UK for a full replacement/refund.

[StrayAlien]

Thanks. Good to know you guys agree. To me, it just looks and feels wrong - no matter how hard or soft I push it on what setting - the rebound is like cold molasses. Check out Dave Moss' series on youtube on suspension - the only time any of his rebound suspension settings look like mine is when he is demonstrating 'full in' rebound as an example.

Anyways, Scott at Nitron UK did build the first two. With the first shock nobody is quite sure what they sent to me, but it was whole 15mm shorter than stock. And it it took a full five weeks delivery time. The second attempt was the correct length, but was not sprung and valved correctly for racing - it was just way too soft - more like a softly sprung comfy street bike shock than a race shock.

This last attempt was not Scott, but their Australian office. Yes, there is now a Nitron Australia. The shock was sent to them to, again, be resprung and revalved.

So, this is the one I have now. Third attempt. Correct length, but hey, what it is like on the inside? Dunno. Nitron Oz say it is what he expects and is encouraging me to get it on the track and try it.

Credit to him, we have both been through the wringer on this one and patience has worn thin all around. As a plus for him, he has gone out of his way to try and set things right. Unlike the UK office he seems to understand customer service.

However three months later and all I have had is one day on a Nitron that ruined a $270 rear tyre (it did not last the day with such soft suspension), plus $250 for the day at the island to test it. That is already half the price of the shock and I've now got one again that seems not normal. Oh well.

So, I am out to the garage now to take it out and send it back. Enough is enough.

Shame really.

[magg]

mine came via RO whether that makes any difference don't know but mine appears to be setup correctly and functions as expected. Was considering upgrading it to a 3 way but maybe not given your problems with both the uk factory and the oz agent.

[CMSMJ1]

I would only point out that your shock us only going to work properly once it has some heat in the oil.

Can you take it for a ride, then film it? Would expect it to be faster?