Congratulations on the purchase of your new DVO Diamond! The Diamond is a high performance, tuner friendly fork, that will change the way you ride. The first thing to do is learn the fundamentals of your fork so you can get it set up perfectly for you. Below is a breakdown of the features, adjustments, and settings you can adjust on your fork. Hopefully this will give you a better understanding of your product and give you the best experience possible!
To start things off, here’s a run-down of all the adjustments of your fork.
-Air Pressure
-Off the Top “OTT”
-Rebound
-High/Low Speed Compression
These are the main tuning features of your fork. We’re going to breakdown each one individually to give you a perfect understanding of each adjustment.
AIR PRESSURE
Setting the air pressure in the DVO Diamond is setting the spring rate for your fork. This is what is going to make the fork firmer or softer. Below is a base setting chart for air pressure to get you started.
Air Pressure Range: 90-170psi
Rider Weight | Air Pressure |
120-139lbs | 54-63kg | 90-100psi |
140-159lbs | 64-72kg | 100-110psi |
160-179lbs | 73-81kg | 110-125psi |
180-199lbs | 82-90kg | 125-130psi |
200-219lbs | 91-100kg | 130-135psi |
220-239lbs | 100-108kg | 135-140psi |
240+lbs | 109kg+ | 140-170psi |
Off the Top “OTT”
The Off the Top feature is located at the bottom of the left fork leg. This is one of the coolest features of the fork. This feature allows you to fine tune the small bump sensitivity of your fork without affecting the mid or end stroke. For example, if you love the way your fork feels deep in the travel, but you can’t seem to get the small bump sensitivity and traction off the top, this allows you to properly fix that.
The most important thing to remember with OTT is the air pressure and OTT work hand in hand. The amount of OTT you will use depends greatly on the air pressure you use. The higher the air pressure, the MORE OTT you will need. The lower the air pressure, the LESS OTT you will need.
So how do I adjust the OTT? The OTT is a simple adjustment located at the bottom of the left fork leg. It uses a 5mm allen key and spins in clock-wise or counter-clockwise rotations. We recommend doing 2 full 360 degree rotations every time you make an adjustment. Remember, if you lower your air pressure, reduce your OTT (counter clockwise). If you raise your air pressure, increase the OTT (clockwise).
Rebound
Rebound controls the speed at which the fork extends after compression. Rebound damping control is relative to the amount of air pressure used. Higher air pressure requires more rebound damping and lower air pressure will require less rebound damping so please adjust accordingly.
Slower = More Rebound Damping (clock-wise)
Faster = Less Rebound Damping (counter-clockwise)
The rebound adjustment is located at the bottom of the right fork leg.
- Why do you need rebound?
Rebound is how fast the suspension returns after it is compressed. It needs to be slow enough so the rider isn’t bucked off their bike but then fast enough so that in a series or impacts, the wheel returns in time to absorb the next impact - What happens if your rebound is too fast?
If rebound is too fast, your wheel will fall into more holes, instead of skipping over the top of them. Handling will feel twitchy and hard to control, it will be easier to be thrown out of control on jumps and landings. - What happens if your rebound is too slow?
If rebound is set too slow it will pack on successive hits because the fork cannot extend fast enough keeping you in the mid stroke. This will result in the wheel going deeper into the travel on every hit and riding towards the end stroke.
Low Speed Compression
The Diamond comes with a “Quick Range” low speed compression adjuster that has 6 clicks of adjustment. Setting “1” is wide open and recommended when descending or riding on technical terrain. When you are climbing, you can switch the LSC to “6” to give you the firmest setting and best pedaling platform. Don’t forget to change this back when you start to descend!
Low speed compressions controls the slower vertical movements such as climbing or slower paced trails and bumpy whoop sections. A good example of low speed is rolling slowly over a large rock and riding to its downside, this is where the suspension will fully compress but at a slower rate and low speed compression circuit comes into play. LSC refers to the shaft speed of the suspension and not the actual riding speed. LS compression is best controlled through a low speed oil circuit and or shim stack.
Low Speed Compression (LSC) Range: 6 clicks total
HIGH SPEED COMPRESSION
High Speed Compression controls the damping force under faster suspension movements regardless of the rider’s speed. HSC comes into effect on fast, rough, technical trails, g-outs and hard landings. If you find yourself easily going through the travel then 1st make sure your sag is correct then adjust your HSC accordingly.
High Speed Compression (HSC) Range: 29 clicks total
- Why do you need High Speed Compression?
High Speed Compression damping affects the suspension when the shaft is moving up and down at high speeds. High Speed Compression helps with large impacts or sharp/sudden impacts. High Speed Compression can be used to reduce bottom. - What happens if you have too much High Speed Compression?
Too much High Speed Compression may result in the fork not being able to reach full travel, and or spiking on large impacts. - What happens if you don’t have enough High Speed Compression?
If you don’t have enough High Speed Compression, The fork will blow through it’s travel to easily on jump faces, and will bottom out to easily on large impacts.
Axle Adjustment and Installation
- Insert the front wheel back onto the bike. Make sure the hub fits into the drop outs, then insert the thru axle from the non-disc side. Slide the axle until it makes contact with the threads of the axle bolt on the disc side.
- Rotate the axle lever clockwise until there is a small gap between the lever bolt and drop out on the non-disc side. The axle bolt should sit flush inside the grooves of the lower. If the axle bolt is not sitting inside the grooves release tension on the axle and line up the axle bolt so that you can lightly press it into the grooves. The axle bolt will secure itself when you tighten the axle again.
Axle Bolt Open |
Incorrect Position |
Correct Position |
- To secure the axle, position the lever in the open position. When you flip the lever half way you should feel resistance and the lever bolt should be touching the drop out. Flip the lever to the closed position by hand strength only. The lever should feel very secure. DO NOT USE ANY TOOLS FOR LEVERAGE.
Open |
Resistance Starts |
Closed |
- If there is too much or too little resistance adjust the axle bolt on the disc side. Unthread the axle 3 full turns then push the axle to the drive side. This will push the axle bolt out so you can adjust it. If the axle has too much tension then turn the axle bolt counter clock wise. If the axle did not have enough tension then turn the axle bolt clock wise. Rotate axle lever clockwise again and secure lever until there is proper tension in the closed position.
- Remove bike from stand. With the front brake on, lightly rock the bike back and forth to ensure the headset preload is at the appropriate torque value. THERE SHOULD BE NO PLAY IN THE HEADSET.
Hopefully this has left you with a better understanding of all the features and adjustments on your new DVO Diamond. For more information click HERE for the individual set-up pages.