Giant SUSPENSION, Faith, DH, AC, Warp DS Quick Start Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction....................................................................pg.4

Basic Terms & Shock Set-up Overview........................pg.6

General Maintenance.....................................................pg.9

Coil Shock Set-up...........................................................pg.10

Setting and adjusting sag................................pg.11

Suspension Settings

Faith.................................................................pg.13-14

DH....................................................................pg.14-15

AC.....................................................................pg.15-16

Warp DS/MTX 260 ............................................pg.17-18

Air Shock Set-up............................................................pg.19

Setting and adjusting sag................................pg.20

Suspension Settings

Trance..............................................................pg.20

Reign................................................................pg.20

NRS..................................................................pg.21

Setting and Adjusting Rebound Damping.....................pg.22

Front Suspension Travel & Sag Guide..........................pg.24

Suggested Front Suspension Sag Chart.........pg.26

Giant Bicycle Limited Lifetime Warranty

.....................pg.27

Contact Info....................................................................pg.30

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INTRODUCTION

This booklet is intended as a quick-start reference guide to help familiarize you with your new
Giant full-suspension mountain bike. It is not meant to replace the general bicycle owner’s
manual or the shock and suspension fork manufacturer’s technical manuals that also came
with your bicycle. If you did not receive these manuals, please contact your Authorized Giant
Retailer. We encourage you to read all manuals relating to your bicycle and its suspension
components before your first ride. All manuals contain important information regarding the
safety and operation of your bicycle.

CAUTION Please refer to the manufacturer’s technical information that came with your

bicycle for specific details regarding shock function and set-up prior to riding your Giant bi

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cycle. If you did not receive these technical booklets, contact your Authorized Giant Retailer.

CAUTION If you do not understand the quick-start instructions or have difficulty with

set-up, please see your Authorized Giant Retailer before riding your Giant bicycle.

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WARNING Only Giant DH, Faith, and AC model bicycles are engineered for
use with dual crown suspension forks. Use of dual crown suspension forks
on any Giant bicycle other than these models will void the warranty and may
result in frame failure, which can cause injury or death. Giant Bicycle, Inc. is
not responsible for damages to the bike and rider resulting from the use of
dual crown forks.

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Basic Terms & Shock Set-Up Overview

TERMS

Bottomed Out: When a shock absorber or suspension fork (herein after referred to as “shock”)

is compressed completely and all the suspension travel has been used.

Compression Stroke: The motion of the shock in response to an impact.
Damping: Internal mechanism to control the speed of compression or rebound.
psi: Pounds per square inch
Rebound: The extension or return stroke of the shock.
Sag: Compression of the shock caused by the rider’s weight.
Spring Rate: The amount of force required to compress the spring.

Topped Out: When all the suspension travel is available (shock is fully extended).

SET-UP

Please refer to the individual shock manufacturer’s technical manuals for specific information
on how to adjust the shocks on your Giant dual suspension bicycle.

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The shocks on your Giant dual suspension bicycle can be adjusted to meet your riding style and
weight. This booklet is intended as a quick-start guide to help you get started. It may take a few
rides to find your preferred settings.

Platform Valve

On bikes equipped with a Stable Platform Valve (SPV) rear shock, you can adjust the bike’s
pedaling efficiency by increasing the air pressure in the SPV air cartridge. Increasing the air
pressure will resist pedal-induced bobbing. Decreasing the air pressure will make the suspen

­sion more sensitive to small bump forces. Please refer to the individual shock manufacturer’s
technical manual for specific information on how to adjust your SPV shock.

Sag

All Giant dual suspension bikes except the No Resonance System (NRS) rely on sag for their
suspensions to work efficiently. Please take a few moments to read through this guide to
understand sag as it applies to your bicycle (pgs. 11, 20). Setting your bike’s sag will greatly
enhance your riding experience and the performance of your bicycle.

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Rebound Damping

Rebound damping controls the rate of speed at which the shock returns to its original position
after responding to a bump force. Rebound damping prevents the shock from springing back
too quickly. This is desirable because it improves the rear suspension’s sensitivity to small
bumps and the tire’s ability to stay in contact with the ground. It also helps reduce the “pogo
stick” motion from the rear suspension when the bike encounters a bump while the rider is
seated. Typically, the heavier the rider, the more rebound damping is required. Please refer to
this guide for details on how to set rebound damping speed. You should also refer to the indi

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vidual shock manufacturer’s technical manual for specific information.

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GENERAL MAINTENANCE

1) Inspect all suspension bolts and tighten if necessary to required torque settings. If unsure,

take your bicycle to your Authorized Giant Retailer immediately for inspection.

2) Do not use high-pressure water sources to wash or rinse your bicycle. Doing so can displace
any lubricants that are present, as well as possibly forcing water and/or contaminants into the
bearing that can harm the pivot and bearing, reduce performance, and cause premature wear.
Use only water at low pressure, or fill a bucket with water and use a soft nylon bristle brush
and mild dish soap to clean the frame and components.

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COIL SHOCK SET-UP

Faith
Downhill (DH)
All Conditions (AC)
Warp DS
MTX 260 DS

All coil shock-equipped Giant bicycles use the same formula to determine “sag” and “rebound
damping” (see Basic Terms & Shock Set-Up Overview for definition of sag and rebound damp­ing).

WARNING Please refer to the manufacturer’s technical information for specific details
regarding shock function and set-up prior to riding your Giant bicycle. If you have difficulty
with set-up, please see your Authorized Giant Retailer.

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SETTING AND ADJUSTING SAG (coil shocks)

1. Turn the spring’s tension collar counter clockwise until there is minimal tension on the

spring (figure 1).

2. With a felt-tip marker, place a dot on the edge of the collar so you can measure full rotations
of the shock collar.

Spring tension collar

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3. With no load on the bike, measure the distance between the two fixing bolts (eye-to-eye
distance) at the top and bottom of the shock (figure 2).

4. Position your bicycle next to a wall so that you can sit on the bike with both feet on the pedals
while steadying yourself with one arm. Gently sit on the saddle without bouncing. Have a part­ner measure the eye-to-eye distance while the rider is seated on the bike (figure 3). Dismount
gently.

5. Subtract the weighted eye-to-eye distance from the unweighted eye-to-eye distance to
determine sag. See Sag Recommendations charts for sag distances. For your convenience,
compressed shock measurements have been provided.

6. For general purpose riding, the shock should compress approximately one quarter of its
travel. Turn the shock’s tension collar clockwise to increase spring tension/decrease shock
sag.

7. If you sit on the bike with minimal tension on the spring and there is less than one quar­ter shock travel, a lighter weight spring is needed. If you turn the shock tension collar three
turns and the shock compresses more than a quarter of the shock’s travel, a heavier spring is
needed. Consult your Authorized Giant Retailer for replacement springs.

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CAUTION Never tighten the spring tension collar past three turns from minimum tension
as doing so can cause damage to the spring and internal workings of the shock.

Suspension Settings and Recommendations (coil shock-equipped bikes)
Faith with Maestro™ (8” rear suspension travel)

Giant’s Maestro rear suspension design precisely positions the pivots and linkages to give
you efficient pedaling and small bump compliance. Maestro’s pivot placement allows the rear
suspension to be completely active under braking, allowing the rear wheel to react constantly
to the terrain.

Maestro-equipped mountain bikes rely on rear suspension “sag”. Sag (see Basic Terms &
Shock Set-Up Overview on page 6) is a critical performance component and is relative to the
individual rider’s weight. See previous sag setting instructions on page 11 for details.

Faith’s frame design and travel is intended for aggressive freeriding and recreational/competi­tive downhill riding. The sag range can accommodate a wide variety of riding styles and terrain.

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Faith Sag Recommendations:

EYE-TO-EYE SAG COMPRESSED SHOCK LENGTH

8.75” (222mm) Freeriding: .69” (17.5mm) 8.1” (204.5mm)

Downhill: .83” (21.0mm)

7.9” (201.0mm)

DH (8.25” rear suspension travel)

The Giant DH is a downhill-specific bicycle made for both recreational and competitive downhill
riding and extreme freeriding. The multi-tunable shock can be almost infinitely adjusted for all
types of terrain and riding styles. See previous sag setting instructions on page 11 for details.
Please refer to the Sag Recommendations chart on page 15 to set up your Giant DH bicycle.

For Manitou 6-Way coil shock tuning set-up (high-speed and low speed compression damping,
SPV pressure and volume), please refer to shock manufacturer’s technical manual.

NOTE: These settings must be made prior to standard sag and rebound damping settings.

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DH Sag Recommendations:

EYE-TO-EYE SAG COMPRESSED SHOCK LENGTH

9” (229mm) Freeriding: .69” (17.5mm) 8.3” (211.5mm)

Downhill: .83” (21.0mm)

8.2” (208.0mm)

AC (5.3” and 6.3” rear suspension travel)

Your AC bicycle is a versatile all-conditions bike that can take you up and down any trail on
the mountain.

The dual-position shock mount gives you the ability to change
the travel from 5.3” to 6.3” with a single bolt. This is accom­plished with two positions of the upper shock pivot
bolt (figure 4).

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To Change the AC’s Travel:

1. Using a 6mm Allen wrench, remove the upper shock mounting bolt.

2. Pivot the shock backward or forward to align the eyelet with one of the two holes. The forward

most position is 5.3” travel and the rear position is 6.3” travel.

3. Install the bolt and tighten to the proper torque of 100-120 Kgf/cm (86-95 in.-lbs.).

4. After any adjustment is made to travel, readjust sag/spring tension and damping. See previous

sag setting instructions on page 11 for details. Please refer to the Sag Recommendations chart
below to set up your Giant AC bicycle.

AC Sag Recommendations:

EYE-TO-EYE SAG COMPRESSED SHOCK LENGTH

7.5” (190mm) Freeriding (5.3”): .49” (12.5mm) 7.0” (177.5mm)

Downhill: (6.3”): .69” (17.5mm)

6.8” (172.5mm)

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WARP DS/MTX 260 DS

The Warp DS and MTX 260 DS are great all-purpose dual suspension cross country mountain
bikes that can also take on the urban landscape with equal agility. Their single-pivot swing­arms are strong and efficient with minimal moving parts for durability. The Warp DS offers four
or five inches of adjustable rear wheel travel that works equally well on climbs and descents.
Please follow the guidelines below in setting up your Warp DS or MTX 260 DS.

To Change Warp DS Travel (See figure 5):

1. Using a 5mm Allen wrench, remove the rear shock

mounting bolt (rear position attached to swingarm).

2. Pivot the shock up or down to align the eyelet with one of
the two holes. The upper position is 4” travel and the lower
position is 5” travel (figure 5).

3. Install the bolt and tighten to the proper torque of 90-110
Kgf/cm. (78-95 in-lbs.).

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4. After any adjustment is made to travel, readjust sag/spring tension setting. See previous
sag setting instructions on page 11 for details. Please refer to the Sag Recommendations chart
below to set up your Giant Warp bicycle.

Warp DS Sag
Recommendations:

EYE-TO-EYE SAG COMPRESSED SHOCK LENGTH

7.5” (190mm) XC/urban (4”): .49” (12.5mm) 7.0” (177.5mm)

Aggressive XC (5”): .69” (17.5mm) 6.8” (172.5mm)

MTX 260 DS Sag
Recommendation:

EYE-TO-EYE SAG COMPRESSED SHOCK LENGTH

5.5” (140mm) XC/urban: .30” (7.3mm) 5.2” (132.8mm)

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AIR SHOCK SET-UP

Trance
Reign
No Resonance System (NRS)

Giant mountain bikes equipped with air shocks utilize two different styles of rear suspension
designs. The Maestro-equipped Trance and Reign rely on sag (see page 13 for details on Mae­stro), while our No Resonance System-equipped NRS bikes use a “no sag” set-up.

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SETTING AND ADJUSTING MAESTRO (TRANCE, REIGN) SAG (air shock)

1. Pump the main air chamber to a psi (pounds per square inch) equivalent to rider’s body

weight .

2. Push the rubber O-ring that is around the shock’s shaft all the way against the base of shaft
(closest to shock body).

3. Position your bicycle next to a wall so that you can sit on the bike with both feet on the pedals
while steadying yourself with one arm. Gently sit on the saddle without bouncing. Dismount
gently and look at how far the O-ring has moved down the shaft. Measure distance O-ring has
moved (figure 6).

4. Add or remove air until desired shock movement is obtained. Refer to the Sag Recommenda­tion Guide below for proper sag measurements.

Maestro Sag Recommendations:

Trance: 3/8” (9mm) O-ring movement

Reign: 1/2” (12mm) O-ring movement

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SETTING AND ADJUSTING NRS SAG (air shock)

1. As a starting point, set the air chamber’s pressure at the rider’s body weight. For example, if

the body weight is 160 lbs., set the shock at 160 psi.

2. To check sag, position the rubber “O” ring located on the shock’s shaft all the way against
the base of shaft (closest to the shock body). (see figure 6 pg.19)

3. Position your bicycle next to a wall so that you can sit on the bike with both feet on the pedals
while steadying yourself with one arm. Gently sit on the bicycle without bouncing. Dismount
gently. The shock should compress/move the rubber O-ring approximately one millimeter. If
the shock compresses more than two millimeters, add 5 psi to the air chamber and re-mea­sure sag distance.

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SETTING AND ADJUSTING REBOUND DAMPING

(See Basic Terms and Shock Set-up Overview for definition of rebound damping).

1. If you are unfamiliar with rebound damping, perform this procedure: With full body weight,
push down on the saddle forcefully to compress the shock. Watch (and feel) how the shock
rebounds from compression.

2. Next, turn the rebound damping knob clockwise until it stops and compress the shock under
full body weight. Note that the shock rebounds very slowly. Next, turn the damping knob coun­terclockwise a few turns and re-perform your compression testing until the shock rebounds
just slightly more slowly than with no damping.

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3. To check the rebound damping rate while riding, ride off a curb while seated. The rear
suspension should bounce only once upon rebound (the heavier the rider, the more damping
will be required). Adjust accordingly to accomplish this motion. If the suspension bounces more
than once, turn the damping knob clockwise until one bounce is achieved.

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FRONT SUSPENSION TRAVEL & SAG GUIDE

To determine your bike’s front suspension travel adjustments and recommended settings,
please refer to the fork manufacturer’s technical manual.

A suspension fork is effective at both absorbing bump forces and helping the tire to track the
ground for improved traction and braking control.

When in active mode, a fork will rely on sag to keep the front tire in better contact with the
ground during braking. The chart on page 26 should be used as a general guideline.

AIR SPRUNG FORKS

As a general guide, pump the main chamber (main spring) to a psi equal to 70% of your body
weight. Ride off a curb or similar object. If there is little or no movement from the fork, de­crease psi in 10-psi increments until desired movement is achieved. If the fork bottoms out,
increase the psi in 10-psi increments until desired movement is achieved.

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To check rebound, turn the rebound damping knob (if applicable) counter clockwise until it
stops. With full body weight, push down on the fork forcefully with the front brake on and watch
(and feel) how the fork rebounds. Turn the rebound damping knob clockwise until the fork
rebounds slightly slower than with no damping (the heavier the rider, the more damping will be
required).

SPRING AND ELASTOMER SPRUNG FORKS

Springs on these types of forks are set at the factory. Most have a simple adjuster that allows
the rider to make the fork firmer or softer depending on rider weight. The heavier the rider, the
firmer the spring setting should be.

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SUGGESTED FRONT SUSPENSION SAG GUIDE (ALL TYPES)

FORK TRAVEL (mm) SAG* (mm)

75 12-15

80 12-16

100 15-20

120 18-30

145 29-37

170 34-50

180 36-54

200 40-60

*Manitou Forks with SPV may not sag upon initial rider weight. To check sag on an SPV fork,
inflate the main spring cartridge to 70% of rider’s weight, and the SPV cartridge to 30% of
rider’s weight (check the manufacturer’s technical info for details).

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GIANT BICYCLE LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY

Giant Bicycle, Inc. (“Giant”) warrants the frame and rigid fork of each new Giant brand bicycle
and Giant brand frameset to be free from defects in material and workmanship for as long as
the original purchaser owns the bicycle. Paint finish and all other original components, and all
Giant brand repair parts, replacement parts, and accessories, are warranted to be free from
defects in material or workmanship for a period of one year from the original date of purchase.
This warranty applies only to bicycles and framesets purchased new from, and assembled by,
an Authorized Giant Dealer.

REQUIRED ASSEMBLY WHEN PURCHASED

An Authorized Giant Dealer is required to assemble your Giant brand bicycle, without charge, at
the time of purchase.

FREE 60-DAY REPAIR LABOR

If your Giant brand bicycle is found to be defective in materials, workmanship, or assembly
within 60 days of purchase, it will be repaired for you without charge for labor or materials. To
receive this service, simply bring your Giant brand bicycle to the Authorized Giant Dealer from
whom it was purchased.

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LIMITED REMEDY

Unless otherwise provided, the sole remedy under the above warranty, or any implied warran­ty, is limited to the replacement of defective parts with those of equal or greater value at the
sole discretion of Giant. Unless within the free 60-day repair labor period, you will be respon­sible for labor costs associated with warranty replacements. IN NO EVENT SHALL GIANT BE

RESPONSIBLE FOR DIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITH­OUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR PERSONAL INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR ECONOMIC
LOSSES, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, WARRANTY, NEGLIGENCE, PRODUCT LIABILITY,
OR ANY OTHER THEORY. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of damages, so

the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.

EXCLUSIONS

THE ABOVE WARRANTY, OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY, DOES NOT COVER NORMAL WEAR
AND TEAR. ALL WARRANTIES ARE VOID IF THE BICYCLE IS MODIFIED FROM ITS ORIGINAL
CONDITION OR THE BICYCLE IS USED FOR OTHER THAN NORMAL ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING,
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FAILING TO FOLLOW THE OWNER’S MANUAL OR USING THE BICYCLE
FOR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES OR IN COMPETITIVE EVENTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO BICYCLE RACING, BICYCLE MOTORCROSS RACING, STUNT RIDING, RAMP JUMPING OR
SIMILAR ACTIVITIES, AND TRAINING FOR SUCH ACTIVITIES OR EVENTS, GIANT MAKES NO

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OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THE
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE
LIMITED IN DURATION TO THAT OF THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES STATED ABOVE. Some states

do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not
apply to you.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary
from state to state.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

Bring your bicycle, along with a purchase receipt or other proof of the date of purchase, to an
Authorized Giant Dealer, or write to the Customer Service Department at: Giant Bicycle, Inc.,
3587 Old Conejo Road, Newbury Park, CA 91320

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CONTACT INFO

Fox Racing Shox 831-274-6500 www.foxracingshox.com

Manitou 800-423-0273 www.answerproducts.com

RockShox 800-677-7177 www.rockshox.com

Marzocchi 661-257-6630 www.marzocchi.com

©2004 Giant Bicycle, Inc. Giant and its symbol are trademarks of Giant Bicycle, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in Taiwan.

www.giantbicycle.com