VANILLA R REAR SHOCK

Installing Your Shock  |  General Maintenance  |  Before You Ride  |  Setting Sag  |  Changing Springs  |  Measuring Sag  |  Adjusting Rebound  |  ProPedal  |  Service Intervals  |  Important Safety Information

 

weight

0.39 lbs./175 g
(6.5" x 1.5" No reducers or spring)

features/adjustments

factory-set ProPedal Technology that provides pedaling efficiency as well as control and sensitivity for big and small hits., coil spring preload, speed-sensitive compression damping, rebound adjust

spring

coil

intended use

freeride A style of riding that is defined by short course technical acrobatics and athletes that defy gravity. Generally, the bikes and components required for freeriding are stronger and heavier than their lightweight cross-country brethren. Combine the aerial pyrotechnics of freeriding with some longer trails and courses, as is typical of cross-country riding, and now you're looking at all-mountain riding., all-mountain A style of bicycle riding that melds the stamina and conditioning required of cross-country with the technical abilities of freeriding., cross-country A style of bicycle riding that is defined by long rides, lightweight bicycles and stamina.

Installing Your Shock

If you are installing your shock on a bike in which the shock is not original equipment:

  1. Install the shock with the spring retainer, but without the spring. (To remove the spring, read Changing Springs.)

  2. Carefully cycle the suspension through its entire travel.

  3. Check that all parts of the shock are clear of the frame and swingarm as it cycles through the travel.

  4. Properly place the spring back onto the shock.

  5. Set sag.

General Maintenance

Some things to consider:

Before You Ride

  1. Clean the outside of your shock with soap and water and wipe dry with a soft dry rag. Do not use a high pressure washer on your shock.

  2. Inspect entire exterior of shock for damage. The shock should not be used if any of the exterior parts appear to be damaged. Please contact your local dealer or FOX Racing Shox for further inspection and repair.

  3. Check that quick-release levers (or thru-axle pinch bolts) are properly adjusted and tightened.

  4. Check headset adjustment. Adjust headset if loose, according to manufacturer’s recommendations.

  5. Check that brake cables or hoses are properly fastened.

  6. Check that the front and rear brakes operate properly on flat land.

Setting Sag

You can also view a Flash video on Setting Sag.

To set sag on your VANILLA R:

  1. Measure sag, and compare it to the recommended sag setting shown in the Coil Spring Setting Guidelines table below. Continue if the sag is not to specification.

  2. Adjust the preload ring accordingly:

If sag is lower than on the table, turn the preload ring counterclockwise. Always ensure that the spring is secure and does not freely move.

After the preload ring engages the spring, turn the preload ring clockwise one turn. If the preload ring needs to be turned counterclockwise from this point to achieve proper sag, you will need to obtain a lower rate spring.

If sag is higher than on the table, turn the preload ring clockwise no more than full two turns after the preload ring engages the spring.

If after the preload ring engages the spring and more than two full clockwise turns are needed to achieve proper sag, you will need to obtain a higher rate spring.

  1. If necessary, contact FOX Racing Shox or an Authorized Service Center to obtain a higher- or lower-rated spring.

coil SPRING SETTING guidelines

Shock Travel
(in./mm)

Recommended Sag
(in./mm)

1.5038.1

.38/9.5

2.00/50.8

.50/12.7

2.25/57.1

.56/14.2

Changing Springs

  1. Loosen the preload ring until the spring freely moves.

  2. Remove the preload ring.

  3. Slide the spring off the shock body. Depending on your bike model, you may need to remove the reducers to remove the spring.

  4. Orient the new spring correctly (see Spring Orientation below) and slide it onto the shock body.

  5. Place the preload ring back on the shock.

  6. Tighten the preload ring just until the spring no longer moves.

  7. Turn the preload ring one additional full turn.

Reading Your Spring Rate

Adjusting Rebound

Rebound controls the rate at which your shock returns after it has been compressed. The proper rebound setting is a personal preference, and changes with rider weight, riding style and conditions. A rule of thumb is that rebound should be as fast as possible without kicking back and pushing the rider off the saddle.

The rebound knob has approximately 15 clicks of adjustment.

For slower rebound, turn the red adjuster knob clockwise.

For faster rebound, turn the red adjuster knob counterclockwise.

ProPedal

The ProPedal on your VANILLA R is set at the factory, and cannot be adjusted.

eng052