Bike check: Jordan’s World Cup Winning Myst

Jordan Williams and his Saracen Factory Racing Team Myst are on run. But what makes this combination fast enough to win junior World Cup races – and set times good enough for a top-5 in the elite category?

We asked Jordan about his race bike, how he likes it to be setup and how he gets there…

Jordan Williams and his Saracen Factory Racing Team Myst are on run. But what makes this combination fast enough to win junior World Cup races – and set times good enough for a top-5 in the elite category?

We asked Jordan about his race bike, how he likes it to be setup and how he gets there…

SETUP NOTES

Frame: Saracen Myst – Factory Racing Team edition
Size: XL  
Headset reach: 0
 
Fork: Fox 40
Crown height: 7mm
Damper:  Prototype
Pressure: 75psi

Shock: Fox DHX2 
Spring: 450

Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHR II
Front pressure: 24psi
Rear pressure: 27psi
Tubeless 

Bars: PRO Tharsis 3FIVE

Width: 780mm

Rise: 20mm
Setup notes: I like my bars rolled quite far back as I feel it makes the bike more stable on World Cup tracks 

Brakes: Shimano XTR 
Feel: Sharp 
Lever setup: I like them quite far out as my hands are pretty big 



What are you looking for most in your setup?
The main thing is making sure the suspension is balanced and that it’s fast against the clock. If the bike feels good but is slow against the clock, then of course I’d change the setup to something that feels worse on track but is quicker.

What do you feel has had the most influence over your bike setup?
I think finding a good base setup that you can then stick with. When you’re changing settings all the time you can’t get used to the bike and how it is going to react in every situation. If you can get a good base, really learn the bike and only change very small things that works better for me. I can better predict how it will handle when I’m on the limit and that helps me go faster.

What is the best strength of your bike setup?
The balance is really good. Last year my bike felt a bit too soft on the shock and I felt like I was sitting in the bike but this year it’s a lot better. 


How has your bike setup evolved to help you set faster times on track?
Before I started racing World Cups I wouldn’t change the bike setup at all. Last year was my first year on the circuit and things changed quite a bit. I got the bike feeling good then left it. Nathan has the BYB telemetry system and got a good base setup.

What process did you go through to make that happen?
It was just a case of attaching the telemetry, doing the runs and telling my mechanic if changes to my setup felt better or worse.

Are you the sort of rider that likes to have the telemetry data to back up decisions on bike setup?
I do like the telemetry but I’m not afraid to go against it if the bike doesn’t feel good.

Do you ever do timed test sessions at home and change the suspension setup yourself?
If I’m riding on my own I won’t ever change the suspension – it’s only with my mechanic that I’ll make those changes. I only adjust my brake lever height or bars myself.

When I’m riding at home I do time myself, but I don’t do it to test my suspension and bike setup. You can feel if you’re riding good or not. If I feel good and fast on the bike that’s all I need really and that transfers into the time.

How important is your relationship with your team?
I’ve got 100% trust in my team manager Will and my mechanic Nathan because they know what they are doing. But sometimes a lot of things don’t work for you.

The most important thing I’ve learned is to try new things, try it, see if it works. Then take what you need and what you want. You don’t need to take everything but you have to be open to trying new ideas.

Can you think of a time when you’ve applied this?
Yeah – a common one is trying new lines on track. Will might suggest something and it’s important to have a go. Sometimes it’s not great and other time’s it’s amazing, but you’ll never know unless you try it out.

There seems to be a lot of puzzling over suspension setup at the World Cup races – is this not something you get involved in?
I do go over to Fox occasionally but I’m not changing loads of stuff all the time. If the bike is doing something that I don’t want it to, then of course I’ll go over and get advice. But if it feels good then there’s no need.

Do you feel left out from all of the puzzling action going on with some of the top riders over at that tent?
Yeah I guess it’s funny having watched it from the outside. But I take what I need, I won’t just copy what the top riders are doing just because they’re winning; a lot of it won’t work for you as an individual so you have to find your own way.