20
HP
Velotechnik
Adjusting the rear suspension ele-
ment
For the rear suspension of the GrassHopper a
spring element is combined with a hydraulic
damping unit in a suspension 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 element after a ride very
carefully.
The GrassHopper comes standard with a steel
spring rear shock.As an option you can get
the air shock DT-S
WISS
XM180 that uses air as
spring medium.
Steel spring rear shock
The pre-load determines how far the suspen-
sion compresses when you are sitting on the
bicycle while standing still.
For the rear wheel the same guidelines as for
the suspension fork are valid: for maximum
riding comfort the suspension should com-
press by about 30% of the total suspension
travel while you mount the bicycle in driving
position.
For that purpose measure (similar to the
method described for the suspension fork) the
distance between the two suspension element
bolts or between rear rack and rear wheel
while the bike is unloaded as well as while sit-
ting on the bicycle in riding position.Also take
into account possible luggage. Find out the to-
tal suspension travel possible for your bicycle
with the method described above, depending
on the mounted add-on-parts and clips on the
piston rod.The static compression should
amount to about one third of the overall sus-
pension travel.
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 differ-
ent stiffness in the rough tuning.
In order to adjust the suspension pre-load
turn the knobby adjustment ring on the
threaded part of the suspension element by
hand.Turning the adjustment ring clockwise
(looking at it from behind) reduces the pre-
load, turning it anti-clockwise you screw the
adjustment ring towards the spring and in-
crease the suspension pre-load. It is helpful to
turn the spring together with the adjustment
ring.
Adjusting the suspension
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
close 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.