GasGas EC 300 2011 need new shock spring

[drorsdd]

Hi All
I am very happy i found this forum, been reading most of the suspension posts but still have some questions.

I have a new GasGas EC 300 Racing 2011, i am from Israel so the racing model here comes with the Marzocchi 48 mm front and Ohlins 888 rear.

my weight is 200 pound witout gear (so i assume 10-20 pounds more with gear)
rear shock stock spring is 5.2, and here is the problem:
with shock spring preload at 10mm from full open i get a static sag of 35mm and rider sag 135mm, so i had to close shock preload to 25mm from full open and now i get the desired 105mm rider sag but the static sag is only 20mm.

all this tells me my rear shock spring rate is too soft, any idea what spring rate i need and where can i get it in the USA or Europe?

Thanks for the help. (can add pictures if its any help)

 

[lankydoug]

I weigh within 5 lbs of you and the 5.6 spring worked perfectly for me. The Sachs and Ohlins spring can be interchanged but the 5.6 Sachs aftermarket spring I bought happened to be slightly bigger ID so Les at LTR made me a spacer.

 

[drorsdd]

it may help someone..

after speaking with the main tech guy for Ohlins in Sweden, i need a 5.8 spring.
he also noted that adding preload beyond the max 10mm can damage the shock internals.

ordering a 5.8 shock from a dealer (those springs are hard to find as dealers hardly stock them)

must say Stacy at Ohlins USA and Lars from Ohlins Sweden where super friendly and very happy to help.

for now will set it back to 10mm preload and live with the sag i get, rather then push to 105mm with too much preload that can hurt the shock.

 

[GMP]

5.8 sounds too high. I'm 190 lbs and run a 5.4. I'd say you could go 5.6. I never heard of shock damage from too much preload, but it will make for a harsh action, especially on rebound from small impacts. You want to try to keep it under 10mm.

 

[drorsdd]

5.8 sounds too high. I'm 190 lbs and run a 5.4. I'd say you could go 5.6. I never heard of shock damage from too much preload, but it will make for a harsh action, especially on rebound from small impacts. You want to try to keep it under 10mm.

well both Stacy at Ohlins USA and Lars from Ohlins Sweden said i am borderline between 5.6 & 5.8 , Lars said that with my height 1.90cm i should go with the 5.8.

with gear i am easily at the 220 pounds, not sure what i should do

 

[lankydoug]

well both Stacy at Ohlins USA and Lars from Ohlins Sweden said i am borderline between 5.6 & 5.8 , Lars said that with my height 1.90cm i should go with the 5.8.

with gear i am easily at the 220 pounds, not sure what i should do

I'm 205 without gear and the 5.6 is perfect for me. I think it depends on your riding level, the kind of riding you are doing and your personal preference. My riding consists of lots of roots and rocks, mostly single track with very few jumps. I need my suspension to provide great traction on the choppy stuff rather than land a triple jump.

Why does height become a factor for a stiffer spring? I'm 6'6" tall so if there is a factor that makes a difference it should apply to me.

 

[drorsdd]

I'm 205 without gear and the 5.6 is perfect for me. I think it depends on your riding level, the kind of riding you are doing and your personal preference. My riding consists of lots of roots and rocks, mostly single track with very few jumps. I need my suspension to provide great traction on the choppy stuff rather than land a triple jump.

Why does height become a factor for a stiffer spring? I'm 6'6" tall so if there is a factor that makes a difference it should apply to me.

Hi
i am not in a point to argue with your experience, i am having hard time deciding on which spring to go with, but 3 different Ohlins professionals Stacy from Ohlins USA, Lars from sweden and the Italian technician from Ohlins Italy that actually have that spring in stock say to go with the 5.8, and that in worst case i can always loosen preload to even 5mm to get the right sag and softer feel.

they also said that if lars which is the top Ohlins technician say 5.8 than i should listen to him. so hard for me to argue.

most of my riding is single tracks and special tests at fast speed, most of my rides are not relaxed with the boys but training for races or racing

in worst case i just get a 5.6 later on.

btw with the 5.6 what preload, static/rider sag you have now?

thanks

 

[GMP]

Yes, terrain and speed, while not the main factor, will have an influence as well. A fast sand rider will want it stiffer than a slower technical rider. Whats your terrain and ability?

 

[lankydoug]

Hi
i am not in a point to argue with your experience, i am having hard time deciding on which spring to go with, but 3 different Ohlins professionals Stacy from Ohlins USA, Lars from sweden and the Italian technician from Ohlins Italy that actually have that spring in stock say to go with the 5.8, and that in worst case i can always loosen preload to even 5mm to get the right sag and softer feel.

they also said that if lars which is the top Ohlins technician say 5.8 than i should listen to him. so hard for me to argue.

most of my riding is single tracks and special tests at fast speed, most of my rides are not relaxed with the boys but training for races or racing

in worst case i just get a 5.6 later on.

btw with the 5.6 what preload, static/rider sag you have now?

thanks

Sorry if I gave the impression that I was arguing. I think a 5.8 might work for me as well but I went off LTRs recommendations. Maybe it's because I'm older and slower than you. I am curious as to why and how height comes into play. Les asked my height and even wrote it on my spec sheet but I never asked him how it changed things. Since getting back in to riding I've been changing my riding style to more of a trials/technical style than the motocross style of my youth but if you are more of a hard charger maybe a 5.8 is best.

 

[drorsdd]

Yes, terrain and speed, while not the main factor, will have an influence as well. A fast sand rider will want it stiffer than a slower technical rider. Whats your terrain and ability?

terrain is mostly rocky, with loose sharp edged stones but also the fast special test or single tracks in woods, we don't have ruts or roots and the soil is mostly dry and hard packed, but we also have sand and sand dunes really depends where you go, but i don's like the slow technical stuff too much and rather be on the move.

riding level is i am not sure as we don't have classes like in the US , i am on the top division but in the medium to lower end so i would guess a B/C class rider.

as it's pretty hot here most year long i always ride with 3 liter camelback (also in races) and tool pack , knee braces & leatt brace so i bet i am pushing 220-225 pounds with full gear.

 

[CACTUSREID]

drosodd,here's a vote for the 5.8 spring for you. i'm 195lbs without gear,225 all geared up inc toolbelt and 3 liters of water. i finally got my 5.6 rear spring that i ordered back in may. it tested out at 5.8 on a racetech spring tester. put it in and set my sag to approx 110. bike feels real good in a variaty of terrian. singletrack, square edge bumps,rocks roots etc are all pretty good. frt forks ,i have 4.6 springs installed. the bike feels plusher and more controlled on both ends now that the spring rates match my weight better. a 5.8 spring with very little preload should give you a very nice ride. i'm a firm believer in strong springs with very little preload. my 525 exc dualsport baja bike has 50's in the forks and a ps30 progressive (approx 9.3-10.4 ratio) in the rear. it rides nice with all my gear,coyote bag with spares and clothes and my big 25 liter acerbis fuel tank up frt. so my vote is bigger is better.

 

[stainlesscycle]

we don't have ruts...

where are you located? no ruts?

 

[drorsdd]

where are you located? no ruts?

thanks cactusreid, well hope the 5.8 won't be too stiff worst case ill just try and get a 5.6 later on...

i am in Israel, soil is very hard dry and rocky, the only ruts i bump into are winter left over from some 4x4 that got stuck they are deep and after they dry out its very dangerous to crush in them.

unfortunately winters became very very dry the last few years with little rain, so we don't get deep ruts at the special test/races , i can't remember a race since 2006 where it actually rained during...and the local enduro championship is from oct-jun with usually 80-120 riders participating.

http://vimeo.com/8907899

 

[lankydoug]

drosodd,here's a vote for the 5.8 spring for you. i'm 195lbs without gear,225 all geared up inc toolbelt and 3 liters of water. i finally got my 5.6 rear spring that i ordered back in may. it tested out at 5.8 on a racetech spring tester. put it in and set my sag to approx 110. bike feels real good in a variaty of terrian. singletrack, square edge bumps,rocks roots etc are all pretty good. frt forks ,i have 4.6 springs installed. the bike feels plusher and more controlled on both ends now that the spring rates match my weight better. a 5.8 spring with very little preload should give you a very nice ride. i'm a firm believer in strong springs with very little preload. my 525 exc dualsport baja bike has 50's in the forks and a ps30 progressive (approx 9.3-10.4 ratio) in the rear. it rides nice with all my gear,coyote bag with spares and clothes and my big 25 liter acerbis fuel tank up frt. so my vote is bigger is better.

Where did you buy the 5.6 that tested 5.8? Maybe I'm riding a 5.8 and recommending a 5.6

+1 on the 4.6 fork springs

 

[drorsdd]

Where did you buy the 5.6 that tested 5.8? Maybe I'm riding a 5.8 and recommending a 5.6

+1 on the 4.6 fork springs

by the way what is the stock rate for the front Marzochi?

 

[Synergy-Seals]

Cannon racecraft for springs

it may help someone..

after speaking with the main tech guy for Ohlins in Sweden, i need a 5.8 spring.
he also noted that adding preload beyond the max 10mm can damage the shock internals.

ordering a 5.8 shock from a dealer (those springs are hard to find as dealers hardly stock them)

must say Stacy at Ohlins USA and Lars from Ohlins Sweden where super friendly and very happy to help.

for now will set it back to 10mm preload and live with the sag i get, rather then push to 105mm with too much preload that can hurt the shock.

 

[toolmaker]

Height makes a difference because of more leverage a taller rider exerts on the frame. I'm 5'8" and one of my riding buddies is 6'5". We're about the same speed and weight and both ride 300's, but his spring rate is heavier than mine.

 

[lankydoug]

Height makes a difference because of more leverage a taller rider exerts on the frame. I'm 5'8" and one of my riding buddies is 6'5". We're about the same speed and weight and both ride 300's, but his spring rate is heavier than mine.

That's what I figured the reason was but besides being able to plant the rear tire a lot harder tall people can also tolerate the bike kicking around under them as well without disrupting their balance. I've just never had a suspension tuner tell me how they change the set up to take advantage of a tall rider.

 

[CACTUSREID]

my 5.6 spring that tested at 5.8 came right out of an ohlins box that said 5.6 on the end. the marrochi stock frt springs are 42's i believe. at least on my 2011 ec 300 they were.

 

[lankydoug]

my 5.6 spring that tested at 5.8 came right out of an ohlins box that said 5.6 on the end. the marrochi stock frt springs are 42's i believe. at least on my 2011 ec 300 they were.

My GasGas has Ohlins front and back and LTR installed a 5.6 rear spring that was an aftermarket spring that fit a Sachs or Ohlins shock. They put 4.6 in the forks which feel about the same as the stock springs in my 09 Husky WR250 with 50mm Zokes. I've asked a couple of tuners what the stock spring is in my Husky Zokes and never got a straight answer only that they should be close to what I needed for a 205lb rider.