23
It is swivel-mounted onto the rear part of the
frame and spring-suspended and damped by a
shock absorber.
Shock absorbers may be based on a metal
spring or an air chamber. The damping function
that controls the speed during compression and
release can be adjusted on high-quality shock
absorbers.
Your rear shock absorber can look like this:
Please read the attached manufacturer’s instruc-
tions for detailed information.
Avoid washing your bicycle with a
high-pressure cleaner as the cleaning
fluid can penetrate sealed areas due
to the high pressure and then eventually de-
stroy them.
The shock absorber’s sliding pistons and gas-
kets should be carefully cleaned with a soft
cloth as part of your regular bicycle clean-
ing routine. Spray lubricant on the running
surface of the shock absorbers and gaskets
helps keep the system working effectively.
Special spray lubricants is available specifi-
cally for this purpose, e.g. from Brunox
®
.
You should regularly check the links of the
rear fork for play. Grip the frame securely and
attempt to move the rear wheel sideways. You
can also test for play in the shock absorber
attachment by rapidly lifting and dropping the
rear wheel. If you a) notice play anywhere or b)
hear rattling, you should immediately take your
bicycle to be checked by a specialist retailer.
Avoid riding the bike until it has been re-
paired.
The functionality and firm attachment
of the spring elements is essential for
your safety! Clean and check your full
suspension bicycle on a regular basis! Warm
water with a little washing up liquid or light
cleaning agents are suitable for cleaning this
part of the bicycle.
Tighten all screws to the recommend-
ed torque. Otherwise the screws
could break and parts could fall off
(see page 37).
Full suspension bicycles are not suit-
able for use with trailers and child
bike trailers!
The bearings and attachments are not de-
signed to withstand this sort of force. This
could result in strong wear and breaks with
serious consequences.
If you have a full suspension frame
with a short seat tube which is open
a the bottom, the seat post can only
be lowered to the point that it does not touch
the spring element when it uses its full travel.
Please have your bicycle checked by
a specialist retailer on a regular basis.
These experts can identify damaged
and worn parts and are able to advise you in
selecting replacements. Refrain from repair-
ing key parts yourself (frame, fork, handle-
bars, stem, headset, brakes, lights).
As is the case for all mechanical parts,
bikes take on wear, tear and heavy
use. Because of heavy use different
materials and components can react to wear
and tear in different ways. If a component is
used for longer than it is designed for, it may
suddenly stop working and possibly lead to
injury or cause additional damage. Any kind
of rip, puncture or colour change seen in an
overused area indicates that the component’s
use has reached its limit; the component
should in this case be replaced.
Screws and torque spanners
When working on the bicycle, please
ensure that all screws are tightened
to the correct torque. The required torque is
printed on many parts with a screwed con-
nection.
This amount is stated in Newton metres
(Nm) and this work should be carried out us-
ing a torque wrench. The best sort of torque
wrench for this is one that clicks when it
reaches the prescribed torque. Otherwise
screws can snap or break. If you don’t own a
torque wrench then you should always leave
this work up to a specialist retailer!
A table listing the most important torques for
bolted connections is provided on page 37.
Maintenance/upkeep
Shock absorber
adjustment
Spring stiffness
adjustment
!
!
IDEAL MANUAL 2016_eng.indd 23
6/27/16 11:39
