Help w/ EX clicker settings?

[SteveBaum]

I’m looking for suspension help with my ‘24 Stark Varg EX with the ‘medium’ suspension option. I’m at 50 hours on the bike. Suspension tuning is just something that frustrates the heck out of me. I feel like there is room for improvement in my bike. I mostly ride ‘semi’ hard enduro in Northern California (Hollister Hills SVRA). Terrain is mostly hard pack, with lots of braking & acceleration bumps on the main trails & anything goes on the unimproved single track including torn-up loam, as well as large rocks and roots. We have frequent elevation changes if that matters. No track riding or sand. Jumps are rare, topping out at 2-3 feet.
I’m 68 years old, slow B class, fast C in Hare Scrambles. I ride my bike every Saturday for about four hours. Just out of the shower, I weigh 175 pounds. I usually carry 1-2 liters of water, a two-way radio, a few tools & a handsaw.
Full gear I’m around 190 lbs.
My current settings are
Sag: 110 mm
Fork: 20 cc comp
13cc rebound
Shock:
20 cc comp. low
22 cc comp. high
11 cc rebound low
7 cc rebound high
Are these clicker numbers making sense & does anyone who rides similar terrain want to share their clicker numbers or have suggestions to find tune my numbers?

 

[OpaTsupa]

First, to answer your question with a question since those clicks are pretty far from the middle values.
Could you describe how the bike behaves with that setup and where do you find it lacking or performing well? Average and peak speed ditto.

If that setting isn't doing anything sinister, then work from there, otherwise start from the middle: 12-14 clicks anticlockwise from closed.
In my riding "elevation changes" (by which I guess you mean going up and down hills) matters a lot. Those are the danger areas where most compliance is required so I tune for them.
I weigh a bit less than you, and ride only rocky, stony hardpacked hills. I'm a bit disappointed with the performance of the rear shock and searching for acceptable setup. Currently around 14 clicks ±1 or 2.

 

[SteveBaum]

First, to answer your question with a question since those clicks are pretty far from the middle values.
Could you describe how the bike behaves with that setup and where do you find it lacking or performing well? Average and peak speed ditto.

If that setting isn't doing anything sinister, then work from there, otherwise start from the middle: 12-14 clicks anticlockwise from closed.
In my riding "elevation changes" (by which I guess you mean going up and down hills) matters a lot. Those are the danger areas where most compliance is required so I tune for them.
I weigh a bit less than you, and ride only rocky, stony hardpacked hills. I'm a bit disappointed with the performance of the rear shock and searching for acceptable setup. Currently around 14 clicks ±1 or 2.

if I was too boil it down to one thing that bothers me most, my biggest problem is multiple close braking &/ or acceleration type bumps on hardpack tight single track. My front end seems to unpredictably float over them rather then follow the terrain. The speed is maybe 15-20 mph.

 

[Erwin P]

if I was too boil it down to one thing that bothers me most, my biggest problem is multiple close braking &/ or acceleration type bumps on hardpack tight single track. My front end seems to unpredictably float over them rather then follow the terrain. The speed is maybe 15-20 mph.

Sounds like the bike is oversprung for you combined with your style.

I've had my first try on the EX yesterday (i own a MX since 2 years). That MX was on mid springs and i dialled it in to centre. I'm also close to 190lbs.
However i did feel it was setup for fast and hard riding. Not slow and technical. I really loved it but i can imagine it's too harsh for your riding.