Fox Racing Shox Motorcycle PDF Setup Manual

Installation and Basic Set-Up Instructions
Follow this sequence of steps to properly install and set up your new FOX shock.
1) Remove the stock shock absorber from the motorcycle.
2) Set the FOX shock length (if equipped with length adjustment). See section below.
3) Install the FOX shock on the motorcycle. Torque the mounting fasteners to the motorcycle manufacturer’s recommendations.
4) Set the static sag and rider sag. See section below.
5) Set the rebound damping. See section below.
6) Set the compression damping (if equipped). See section below.
Shock Length Adjustment / Ride Height Adjustment (If equipped)
On some FOX shocks, it is possible to adjust the rear ride height of your bike, by increasing or decreasing the length of your shock. It is best to start out with your FOX shock set to the same length as the stock shock absorber. Once you have adjusted your spring preload and damping to your liking, you can experiment with different rear ride height settings. See Tuning Instructions for more information on adjusting rear ride height.

Setting SAG / Spring Preload
After fitting your FOX shock you need to set the static sag and rider sag. You will need a bike stand that will let your suspension “hang” down in an unloaded position. The rear stand should mount onto the foot pegs or the frame somewhere (not the swingarm), so that the rear wheel is off the ground. If your motorcycle is equipped with a centerstand, that will suffice. If you do not have this type of stand, a couple of strong friends should be sufficient.
1) Set the bike up on a suitable stand or get your friends to lift up the rear so the shock is fully extended. Take a measurement from the rear axle to a point on the chassis directly above the rear axle (see Figure 1). This is L1; write down this measurement.
2) Have a friend hold the front end of the bike. Sit on the bike in your normal riding position. It is also a good idea to have your normal riding gear on including your helmet. If you normally carry luggage on your motorcycle, leave it on the motorcycle for this measurement. Push down on the
rear of the bike then let it settle. Measure the distance using the same points as above. This is L2; write down this measurement.
3) Rider sag = L1 – L2. On a street bike this should be 25% to 35% of the total wheel travel, or typically 1” – 1.5” (25-35 mm). On a road race bike this should be ¾” – 1” (20-25mm). (Your motorcycle owner’s manual will tell you the total wheel travel.)
4) To set rider sag to the correct amount, use the “C” wrench provided and adjust the preload adjuster nuts on top of the spring. Tighten the nut onto the spring to decrease Figure 1: Measuring from the rear axle to a point rider sag; loosen the nut to increase rider on the chassis directly above the rear axle sag. Repeat steps 2 through 4 until the rider sag is in the desired range.
5) Push down on the rear of your motorcycle a couple of times and let it settle with no rider on board. Measure using the same points as before. We will call this L3; write down this measurement.
6) Static sag = L1 – L3. The static sag should be between 0.25 – 0.5 inches (7-13 mm). The following chart will enable you to determine if your spring rate is correct. The measurements given are a guide only; there are no absolute settings that you must stick to.

Damping Adjustment (if equipped)
Your FOX shock has up to two External Damping Adjustments – rebound damping and compression damping. Rebound damping controls how quickly the shock extends after hitting a bump – more rebound damping means slower extension. Compression damping controls how quickly the shock compresses in response to a bump. More compression damping means the shock is more difficult to compress. The blue knob at the lower end of the shock absorber is the rebound adjuster and has approximately 25 positions (see Figure 2). The position of maximum rebound damping is when the knob is turned all the way up towards the main body of the shock until it stops. Do not attempt to force the knob after it stops turning. To check the rebound damping setting, always count the number of clicks as you turn the knob to maximum damping. For example, setting rebound damping “8 clicks out” means turning the rebound damping knob all the way towards the shock body until it stops, then turning it 8 clicks back.

The red knob on the reservoir is the compression damping knob and has 8 settings – with 1 being soft and 8 being hard. The numbers line up with a notch on the reservoir. Default compression damping setting: #3 Tuning Instructions Now that you have the spring preload and shock length set correctly, it is time to tune the shock to your liking. It is vital that the spring preload be set correctly before any damping changes are made – otherwise you will be starting from a faulty baseline and will have difficulty getting the shock to work properly.

Spring Preload
You might want to experiment with different sag settings to suit your own personal riding style. The settings that you like will also change from bike to bike, and from track to track if you race. Also, different tires make a difference in the settings that you prefer. Try keeping a note book and experimenting with different set-ups; you will see differences in how your bike steers: more rider sag will make it steer “slower”, less rider sag will make it steer “quicker”. Ride Height / Shock Length Adjustment (if equipped) The overall length of some FOX shocks can be adjusted. This adjustment changes the ride height and can provide a useful tuning tool. The main reasons to adjust ride height are to change the steering geometry of the motorcycle or to change the ground clearance of the motorcycle. Raising the rear ride height steepens the steering head angle; lowering the rear ride height slackens the steering head angle. If the cornering clearance on your motorcycle is too low, increasing the rear ride height can reduce the problem. On the other hand, you can lower the seat height by reducing the rear ride height. The shock length may be adjusted while the shock is mounted to the motorcycle. To adjust, place the bike on a stand so the wheel is in the air and the suspension is unloaded. Loosen the jam nut and turn the extension. The eyelet or clevis at the lower end of the shock will remain stationary and the shaft will
rotate inside the shock. Be sure to take note of the above warnings.

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