Trek Powerfly 4

[Peter Ball]

Evening all I'm really new to my present bike and not too techy anyhow, so, I've got a question which much seem pretty basic to most of you but here goes.

On my Trek Powerfly 4 which has front suspension what do I need to do to make it softer? I've turned the knob on the left side from hard but it doesn't seem to make much difference. It's like riding a real boneshaker even on the road which really is all I pretty much do a lot of the time.

I absolutely love this bike in general and by putting in a bit of work I can easily get between 60 and 75 miles and being at the ripe old age of 84 not too bad eh.

 

[cyclebuddy]

The left side knob adjusts pre-load - sag, how hard or soft. The right side lever is lock-out - whether the spring works at all or not. Did you try flipping the right side lock-out lever 180 degrees?

 

[Peter Ball]

Thanks for that information I'll have a look in the morning

 

[GLJoe]

On my Trek Powerfly 4 which has front suspension what do I need to do to make it softer? I've turned the knob on the left side from hard but it doesn't seem to make much difference. It's like riding a real boneshaker even on the road ..

What tyres are on it and what pressures are you setting them to ?

 

[Peter Ball]

Thanks for that information I'll have a look in the morning
[/QUOTE

Looking over the handle bars from back to front, I've turned the knob on the left side of the suspension from lock to open (which is as was). You mention turning the right side 180 degrees is that clock or anti clock wise?

The tyres are, Bontrager XR3. 27.5 X 2.35 and I must admit I usually have them quite hard on the road.

 

[cyclebuddy]

Sitting on the bike, the Lockout lever (on the right*) needs to be in the open/unlocked position for the suspension fork to work. The lever only turns in one direction. You need to turn the knob on the other/left* stanchion to adjust how hard the fork spring is tensioned - and to set "sag" according to your weight: There'll be a youtube video showing you how to do that I'm sure. Usually, the locked/not working position is suggested for normal road riding to stop the bike bobbing up and down. You can let some air out the tyres as GLJoe suggests which can help quite a lot, and/or add a suspension seat-post: The Suntour SP12 NCX seems a very popular choice here with soft, medium or hard springs depending on your weight.

EDIT * Based on the SR Suntour XCM 34, coil spring, preload for your Trek as far as I can see.