I need to 'set' my Scalpel for a heavier rider...me.

NavyGeo

NavyGeo

Member
Hello everyone! A few days ago I made a deal on a 2002 Cannondale Scalpel. It's been at home all morning getting cleaned and tuned. Anyways, I took it for it's first ride, and with one exception all is well. That exception is the suspension. I get the feeling that it was originally for a very lightweight rider. The front is the Headshok that came with it, and the rear is a Fox damper.

If I'm 'on the handlebars' and unlock the front suspension, it drops immediately to the bottom; there is no bound or rebound!
If I adjust the rear shock from anything other than 'high', it feels like it's nearly bottomed as well. How can I set/tune/rebuild my suspensions to carry a 225lb old guy?
 
NavyGeo

NavyGeo

Member
Replying to myself, but I still have some questions! I did some viewing and now understand that there is an air-adjustment for the HeadShok. I am in the process of finding a shock-pump this morning. I've read that I should use about 70% of my weight converted to psi for the pressure I set the front and rear suspensions to; does that sound correct? Lastly, this link...

types of Headshok by year

does not list a HeadShok Ultra SL for 2002. I'm inserting a photograph of the bike in the hopes someone can help me identify the front suspension. Since it bottoms out right now I'm worried it may have developed a leak, leading to the bikes retirement.

IMG_20250703_064138139.jpg


IMG_20250703_070708754.jpg
 
NavyGeo

NavyGeo

Member
Belay all that! I found article describing how to add air to the fork and shock. I picked up a little Fox 'suspension pump', ran them up to about 200 psi each, and things work MUCH BETTER now!
 
JohnnyD

JohnnyD

Well-Known Member
NavyGeo said:
Belay all that! I found article describing how to add air to the fork and shock. I picked up a little Fox 'suspension pump', ran them up to about 200 psi each, and things work MUCH BETTER now!
Click to expand...
If the phrase Belay all that doesn't scream Navy nothing else does except bell bottoms ...
Happy 4th of July
 
NavyGeo

NavyGeo

Member
Porter, I've ridden it every day this past week, and I've had no leakage. Thanks for asking! Both the front and rear are VERY stiff, so I'm going to drop the air-pressure down to 180psi and see how that feels. I'm 225lbs, so 180psi is 80%. I might even drop it to 170psi(75%).
 
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