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| The ASV Solo Sag Scale is one sweet addition to your toolbox. Billet construction, laser-etched graphics, and a plastic carrying case, are all cool features, but it's the function that we like. |
If you’ve been riding for any time at all, you know how important it is to set the rear suspension sag measurement on your bike for your weight…and that’s something that needs to be checked frequently, since you’ll get variances depending on what you weigh at a particular point in time, changes to the gear you wear, etc. In the simplest terms, it can mean the difference between having a headshaking monster, a bike that’s riding choppered out, or one that’s working correctly.
If you’ve ever hung out in the pits before practice, you’ve no doubt seen teams working with their riders to set the rear suspension sag. It’s one of those weekly rituals that they all go through for each rider in the quest for optimum handling. Fortunately, most teams are blessed with plenty of personnel to help out. Most often, you’ll see the rider in full gear climb aboard his bike, while one mechanic stands at the front to hold the bike upright, while another uses a long ruler to gather the before and after measurements to determine the sag.
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| Here's the standard arrangement for setting sag with a pro rider, with the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki crew working on dialing in Tyla Rattray. |
Unfortunately for most of us, we don’t have nearly that kind of support, so we’re left to attempt it ourselves, which is pretty much impossible using the standard tools. That’s where the ASV Solo Sag Scale is a bit of genius.
The Solo Sag Scale features a telescoping design, so it’s compact, and it’s constructed from CNC-machined 6061 aluminum, with laser-etched measurement numbers. (Check with your owner’s manual or suspension tuner for the recommended spec for your bike.)
By attaching the upper clamp of the Solo Sag Scale to your rear fender, and sliding the extension on the lower end into the center of your rear axle, you reset the scale, and then settle onto the seat in your normal ride position. After you carefully climb back off the bike, the Solo Sag Scale maintains the mark from maximum compression, so you can instantly see the result. There’s no math involved to get the difference between the first and second measurement, you just get a direct readout. That’s very cool.
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| The upper end of the Solo Sag Scale clamps to a sideplate or fender. (We opted for the fender on this RM-Z250.) |
We’ve been using one of these for a while now, on a variety of bikes, with excellent results. No more waiting around, trying to get someone to help out, trying to bribe your wife or girlfriend to try and learn how to do it (and dealing with that frustration). If you’ve been able to get them to figure it out? Well, you’re better than we are, or you just may have found a real moto girl.
The Solo Sag Scale comes in a sturdy plastic case to protect it, and it even has a convenient hole molded into the case so that you don’t have to remove the rear axle extension each time you’re done using it.
Oh, and for those of you who look for this kind of thing, it’s also made in the USA, and comes with an unconditional five-year guarantee. Suggested retail? $125.00. Yep, while pricey, it’s a high quality tool, and has saved us at least that amount in frustration.
For more info? Check out www.asvinventions.com
