Suspension Quick Setup Guide

Timbersled ARO Suspension Quick Setup

Step 1: Ride your Timbersled ARO snow bike.

Ride the snow bike on the type of terrain you most often intend to ride to fully experience the existing suspension settings before making any adjustments. Optimal suspension settings can change depending on the terrain you ride.

Step 2: Adjust the spring preload to tune vehicle balance.

caution

DO NOT EXCEED MIN/MAX preload values (as shown in the tables on Front Track Shock Spring Settings and Rear Track Shock Spring Settings). Failure to comply may result in personal injury or damage to equipment.

After riding, you should be able to determine if the snow bike needs more or less weight transfer and ski to ground pressure. In general, the more spring preload that is added, the less weight will be transferred. Heavier riders, will typically require more spring preload than lighter riders.

NOTE

Always perform shock spring preload adjustments with the weight of the vehicle removed from the shock and the shock at full extension. Make spring preload adjustments in small (approximately 1/16th of an inch) increments and test ride quality between adjustments.

If your ride requires less weight transfer to the rear suspension, increase the rear track shock’s spring preload.
If your ride requires more weight transfer to the rear suspension, decrease the rear track shock’s spring preload.
If it feels like the ski to ground pressure is too heavy, making it difficult to steer, increase the preload on the front track spring and decrease the preload on the back track spring.
If it feels like the ski to ground pressure is too light (i.e. the ski lifts from the ground too readily), decrease the preload on the front track spring and increase the preload on the back track spring.

NOTE

For Timbersled ARO bikes with monotube shocks (i.e. shocks with NO clickers), the rear track spring preload can also be decreased to increase ride softness and increased to increase ride stiffness and reduce bottoming out.

However, for Timbersled ARO bikes equipped with clickers, using the clickers is typically the best way to adjust for these ride quality characteristics.

Step 3: Adjust shock clickers (if equipped) for ride quality.

For ARO models with shock clickers, you can adjust the clickers to control bottoming and adjust ride comfort.

NOTE

To learn more about compression and rebound damping with shock clickers, see the sections on QS3 Shocks ( FOX QS3 Shocks) and 1.5 Zero LSC-R Shocks ( FOX 1.5 Zero LSC-R Shocks).

For a softer ride, turn the clicker(s) counter-clockwise to decrease compression or rebound damping.
For a stiffer ride or to stop bottoming out the front or rear suspension, turn the front or rear track shock clicker clockwise to increase compression or rebound damping.

Test ride the snow bike and continue making small spring and clicker adjustments until you achieve the perfect ride.

NOTE

For improved handling and additional control of the front ski, the Timbersled TRIO front shock can be added to the front forks and spindle of ARO and RIOT models.

Timbersled RIOT Suspension Quick Setup

Step 1: Ride your Timbersled RIOT snow bike.

Ride the snow bike on the type of terrain you most often intend to ride to fully experience the existing suspension settings before making any adjustments. Optimal suspension settings can change depending on the terrain type you ride

Step 2: Adjust the spring preload to tune vehicle balance.

caution

DO NOT EXCEED MIN/MAX preload values (as shown in the tables on Front Track Shock Spring Settings and Rear Track Shock Spring Settings). Failure to comply may result in personal injury or damage to equipment.

After riding, you should be able to determine if the snow bike needs more or less weight transfer and ski to ground pressure. In general, the more spring preload that is added, the less weight that will be transferred. The Timbersled RIOT’s front track shock and spring supports most of the bike’s weight, while its rear track shock and spring primarily controls ski to ground pressure.

NOTE

Always perform shock spring preload adjustments with the weight of the vehicle removed from the shock and the shock at full extension. Make spring preload adjustments in small (approximately 1/16th of an inch) increments and test ride quality between adjustments.

If your ride requires less weight transfer, decrease the front track shock’s spring preload.
If your ride requires more weight transfer, increase the front track shock’s spring preload.
If it feels like the ski to ground pressure is too heavy, making it difficult to steer, you can decrease the preload on the rear track spring.
If it feels like the ski to ground pressure is too light (i.e. the ski lifts from the ground too readily), you can increase the preload on the rear track spring.

NOTE

For Timbersled RIOT bikes with monotube shocks (i.e. shocks with NO clickers), the front track spring preload can also be decreased to increase ride softness and increased to increase ride stiffness and reduce bottoming out.

However, for Timbersled RIOT bikes equipped with clickers, using the clickers is typically the best way to adjust for these ride quality characteristics. Ski to ground pressure can also be adjusted with the rear track shock clicker alone or in combination with spring preload settings.

Step 3: Adjust shock clickers (if equipped) for ride quality.

For RIOT models with shock clickers, you can adjust the clickers to control bottoming, adjust for ride comfort, and adjust ski to ground pressure. The clickers on the front track shock should be used to increase or decrease bottoming resistance and ride quality and the clickers on the rear track shock should be used to increase and decrease ski to ground pressure and weight transfer.

NOTE

To learn more about compression and rebound damping with shock clickers, see the sections on QS3 Shocks ( FOX QS3 Shocks) and 1.5 Zero LSC-R Shocks ( FOX 1.5 Zero LSC-R Shocks).

For a softer ride, turn the front track shock clicker counter-clockwise to decrease compression damping.
For a stiffer ride and less bottoming, turn the front track shock clicker clockwise to increase compression damping.
To decrease weight transfer, turn the rear track shock clicker clockwise to increase rear shock compression damping
To increase weight transfer, turn the rear track shock clicker counter-clockwise to decrease rear shock compression damping

Test ride the snow bike and continue making small spring and clicker adjustments until you achieve the perfect ride.

NOTE

For improved handling and additional control of the front ski, the Timbersled TRIO front shock can be added to the front forks and spindle of ARO and RIOT models.

Timbersled IFP Shocks

All standard ARO and RIOT models have Timbersled Internal Floating Piston (IFP) Shocks for both front track and rear track. Timbersled IFP shocks are spring preload

adjustable ONLY as they do not have clickers for adjusting compression and rebound damping. Although the factory spring preload settings are usually sufficient for most riders, if you find adjustment is needed, NEVER adjust the spring preload beyond the minimum and maximum spring preload settings (see Front Track Shock Spring Settings and Rear Track Shock Spring Settings).

NOTE

A spanner wrench (Part Number: 2871095–329) is needed to adjust the Timbersled IFP shock spring preload.

FOX QS3 Shocks

All Timbersled ARO LE and RIOT LE Models, including the Timbersled 3” Model, have QS3 shocks for both front track and rear track. Fox QS3 Shocks are spring preload adjustable

and have clickers

for adjusting compression damping. Remember to adjust your snow bike’s spring preload first, before moving on to adjust the clickers. If spring preload adjustment is needed, never adjust the QS3 shocks beyond their Min/Max preload values (see Front Track Shock Spring Settings and Rear Track Shock Spring Settings). Compression damping slows down (i.e. dampens) the shock compression that happens when the snow bike hits a dip, bump or other disturbance. The higher the compression damping, the slower the shocks will compress when encountering a disturbance.

QS3 clickers have the following three positions:

#1 Soft: Turn the clicker all the way to it’s farthest counterclockwise position to achieve a softer or more plush ride with the least amount of compression damping.
#2 Medium: Turn the clicker one click clockwise from its soft position to achieve a intermediate ride (between plush and stiff) with a medium amount of compression damping.
#3 Stiff: Turn the clicker two clicks clockwise from it’s soft position for a stiffer ride with the highest amount of compression damping.

TIP

When ascending steep inclines with the Timbersled RIOT LE, temporarily turn the rear track clicker on the QS3 shocks clockwise to it’s highest compression damping setting to help the ski remain in contact with the ground during the ascent.

FOX 1.5 Zero LSC-R Shocks

Timbersled ARO 120 SX Models, have FOX 1.5 Zero LSC-R Shocks for both front and rear track. In addition to being spring preload adjustable

, Fox 1.5 Zero LSC-R Shocks have 2 clickers which adjust compression damping

and rebound damping

. Remember to adjust your snow bike’s spring preload first, before moving on to adjust the clickers. If spring preload adjustment is needed, never adjust 1.5 Zero LSC-R shocks beyond their Min/Max preload values (see Front Track Shock Spring Settings and Rear Track Shock Spring Settings).

Compression damping and rebound damping work hand-in-hand to provide a softer or stiffer ride. Increasing compression damping creates a stiffer ride by slowing down (i.e. dampening) the shock compression that happens when your bike hits a dip, bump or other disturbance. Increasing rebound damping also creates a stiffer ride by causing the shocks to rebound (i.e. extend back to their normal position) more slowly after compressing when the bike hits a disturbance. Too much rebound damping on bumpy terrain may not allow the shocks to recover quickly enough after a bump to allow the shock to be ready for the next bump.

The 1.5 Zero LSC-R shock clickers have a total of 24 compression damping clicker positions and a total of 25 rebound damping clicker positions which allows for more minute changes and finer tuning of ride quality. The shock clickers can be turned all the way counterclockwise for a softer or plusher ride with the least amount of compression or rebound damping and can be turned all the way clockwise for the stiffest ride with the most amount of compression or rebound damping. Keep in mind that adjustments to the spring preload will require you to reset the compression and rebound damping to find the best settings once again.

NOTE

After setting the spring preload, it is suggested that you start with both compression and rebound damping set at their softest settings (i.e. clickers turned all the way counterclockwise) and slowly try out more compression and rebound damping until you achieve your perfect ride.

Front Track Shock Spring Settings

Factory settings, combined with user adjustments to the front track shock spring, should be sufficient in providing the best riding experience for most riders. Always perform shock spring preload adjustments with the weight of the vehicle removed from the shock and with the shock at full extension.

NOTICE

Never adjust spring preload to an installed length longer than the factory length or shorter than the minimum length as shown in the following chart. Damage to the suspension could result. When decreasing preload, make sure at least two turns of preload are holding the retainer against the spring.

Model	Front Shock	Spring Rate	Factory Installed Length	Min. Allowable Installed Length
RIOT 120	Timbersled IFP	250	8–1/2”	8–1/4”
RIOT 120 LE	FOX QS3	250	8–1/2”	8–1/4”
ARO 129	Timbersled IFP	150	7–13/16”	8–7/16”
ARO 129 LE ARO 129 LE 3” ARO 137 LE	FOX QS3	150	7–3/4”	7–7/16”
ARO SX 120	FOX 1.5 ZERO LSC-R	200	7–13/16”	7–9/16”

Rear Track Shock Spring Settings

Always perform shock spring preload adjustments with the weight of the vehicle removed from the shock and with the shock at full extension.

NOTE

If adjustments to the factory-installed springs are not sufficient for riders over 300 lbs. (136 kg), optional stiffer springs are available. Your Timbersled dealer can assist.

Model	Rear Track Shock	Spring Rate	Factory Installed Length	Min. Allowable Installed Length
RIOT 120	Timbersled IFP	80	8–1/2”	7”
RIOT 120 LE	FOX QS3	80	8–1/2”	7”
ARO 129	Timbersled IFP	175	7–13/16”	8–7/16”
ARO 129 LE ARO 129 LE 3” ARO 137 LE	FOX QS3	175	7–7/8”	7–7/16”
ARO 120	FOX 1.5 ZERO LSC-R	200	7–13/16”	7–9/16”

TSS Shock Tuning

The TSS suspension system is intended to work in harmony with the in track rear suspension to create a dual rear suspension feel that is unique to a Timbersled snow bike. It is not intended to have a soft squishy feel like the stock motorcycle rear suspension, and it’s important that you do not try to tune it to feel this way. For maximum suspension performance follow the tuning instructions.

The TSS shock is preset from the factory with 260 psi. Use a Fox Float air pump to adjust the spring rate and preload of the TSS shock. Your shock will have a sticker on it with the minimum, maximum and factory pressure settings.

Suggested TSS Pressures
Setting	PSI
Minimum Setting	200
Factory Setting	260
Maximum Setting	400

To tune the TSS shock:

Take the weight off the shock by lifting the bike from under the engine or tipping it on its side.
Remove the shock’s silver valve cap.

Thread the pump onto the shock’s valve-stem until the pump pressures up and you are able to see the supplied pressure on the gauge.

NOTE

When the pump pressures up the shock instantly loses 20 psi from the volume it takes to fill the pump hose. You will need to compensate for this when checking pressures.

When finished, unthread the pump. You will hear a release of air when unthreading the pump, but this will not affect the exact pressure you gave the shock.

NOTE

When tuning your TSS shock, it is best to add or subtract air pressure in increments of 25 psi at a time. Be very careful to not get snow or water inside the valve stem; this can cause the shock to leak air.

For a more refined tuning method, you may use the TSS shock O-ring which can be found on the outer shock body. The O-ring is designed to be a gauge for measuring the amount of shock travel you are using when riding.

To measure the amount of shock travel:

Slide the O-ring down to it’s lowest point.
Ride the snow bike for approximately 10 minutes.
Stop the bike and measure the amount the O-ring has moved. To measure O-ring movement, measure the distance between the O-ring’s starting point (when moved down to it’s lowest point) and the O-ring’s current location (after a 10 minute ride).
The O-ring movement equals the amount of TSS shock travel. The TSS shock has a max travel distance of 1.5” to bottom out. It is recommended that the targeted amount of shock travel be about 1-1/8” of stroke.

Tune the TSS shock in increments of 25 psi to reach the targeted amount of shock travel (1-1/8”) and accomplish perfect calibration.

NOTE

Each time you make a pressure adjustment (of 25 psi), slide the O-ring back down to its lowest point and ride for approximately 10 minutes before rechecking your shock travel distance.