First scenario you pose: you want more support, and WANT more sag (please explain how/why you want more sag (asa percentage) vs. simply wanting more sensitive feel).
In your answer you say more pressure (to reduce sag) and increase progression by adding volume spacers. Why did you adjust two variables? You should first increase setup pressure, see how it feels. Realize that it will increase 'support' at all stages of travel and incidentally decrease bottom out as you have set your bike up as though for a heavier rider.
If you have issues with harsh bottom out only then should you increase progression by adding spacers. Adding spacers initially won't really do much for mid-travel support, it really tunes the lower 1/4 of travel more than the 50% level. That is where setup pressure (sag) comes in.
As for the second scenario, I'm assuming you mis-typed that, but here goes in case you didn't.
"if I want more small bump, I could remove air, but might end up removing volume to keep from bouncing off the bottom."
To in small bump, you should decrease setup pressure. Decreasing sag and decreasing the force needed to 'break away' suspension movement. BUT! As this will increase the tendency of harsh bottom outs, you would tend to find that increasingly progression by ADDING spacers is the correct course of action. Because adding spacers increases progression, therefore increasing spring strength towards the end of the stroke. Paired with lower pressure this is the way to more small bump compliance, not removing spacers. That will cause a soft soft suspension that will fall through through the travel.
Maybe we need more remedial suspension setup from true experts.
Oct. 31, 2022, 9:29 p.m. - BarryW
First scenario you pose: you want more support, and WANT more sag (please explain how/why you want more sag (asa percentage) vs. simply wanting more sensitive feel). In your answer you say more pressure (to reduce sag) and increase progression by adding volume spacers. Why did you adjust two variables? You should first increase setup pressure, see how it feels. Realize that it will increase 'support' at all stages of travel and incidentally decrease bottom out as you have set your bike up as though for a heavier rider. If you have issues with harsh bottom out only then should you increase progression by adding spacers. Adding spacers initially won't really do much for mid-travel support, it really tunes the lower 1/4 of travel more than the 50% level. That is where setup pressure (sag) comes in. As for the second scenario, I'm assuming you mis-typed that, but here goes in case you didn't. "if I want more small bump, I could remove air, but might end up removing volume to keep from bouncing off the bottom." To in small bump, you should decrease setup pressure. Decreasing sag and decreasing the force needed to 'break away' suspension movement. BUT! As this will increase the tendency of harsh bottom outs, you would tend to find that increasingly progression by ADDING spacers is the correct course of action. Because adding spacers increases progression, therefore increasing spring strength towards the end of the stroke. Paired with lower pressure this is the way to more small bump compliance, not removing spacers. That will cause a soft soft suspension that will fall through through the travel. Maybe we need more remedial suspension setup from true experts.