How To Adjust Mountain Bike Rear Suspension

The first step in adjusting your rear suspension is to identify the type of suspension you have. There are three main types: coil, air, and oil.

Coil suspensions are the most common type of mountain bike suspension. They use a spring that compresses under pressure and then decompresses when pressure is released. Air suspensions use air pressure to compress and decompress a spring. Oil suspensions use hydraulic fluid to compress and decompress a spring.

How do I adjust the rear shocks on my mountain bike?

Setting your rear shock sag Bounce firmly up and down to charge the negative spring and free up the travel. Assume your normal seated position and after allowing the bike to settle for at least 5 seconds have your assistant push the rubber O-ring on the shock stanchion up (or down) to the rubber wiper seal.^[1]

How does rear suspension work on a mountain bike?

Rear suspension is only found on full-suspension mountain bikes, and is commonly referred to as the rear shock, or “shock” for short. The shock allows the rear wheel to soak up impacts, helping to keep the tire in contact with the ground, increasing rider control and decreasing rider fatigue.^[2]

What pressure should my rear shock be?

The exact PSI you end up with depends on how plush/firm you want the rear shock to be, but a good starting point is 1 psi for 1 lbs in weight of the rider (including riding gear).^[3]

What pressure should my MTB suspension be?

As a rough guideline, you should aim for a sag of about 20 % for the fork and 30 % for the rear shock. If yours is less than that, you can simply let some air out. If it’s more than that, you can add air with a shock pump.^[4]

When should I lock my mountain bike suspension?

The best time to lock out the suspension on your mountain bike is when you are doing a long non-technical trail climb or riding a long distance on a flat surface. Lockouts are typically used at specific times to help prevent wasting pedaling energy in the form of bobbing of the suspension.^[5]

When should I lock my suspension fork?

Usually the only times you would lock out your rear shock (or front fork) would be when on a long non-technical climb, or other long distance ride. Mountain bike suspension often features multiple modes, to better set up the bike to climb or descend, and one of these common features is the lock out.^[6]

How much sag do you get from rear suspension?

For the rear shock – 20% – 30% sag is recommended. For the most part, this can be used across the board for trail bikes and downhill bikes. Again, keep in mind you may want more or less sag depending on your bike, weight, and riding preferences. For the front fork- 10% sag is recommended.^[7]

What is damping in suspension?

Suspension damping is the process of controlling or stopping the spring’s oscillation, either when it compresses or rebounds (usually both). This typically works by introducing a hydraulic cartridge into the mix, with a fluid and some controlled valving.^[8]

Are lockout forks worth it?

You definitely don’t need a lock-out on your fork. On steep smooth climbs where you’re out of the saddle a lock-out is nice – as it prevents the front end from bouncing up and down. However it’s not necessary, and unless you spend a lot of time out of the saddle it isn’t important at all.^[9]

What is the difference between high and low speed compression?

High speed refers to a high speed shaft movement, not how fast you going, like a sudden big root you hit or g out. Low speed is like when you are pedaling and the ahaft is moving back and forth.^[10]

How can I make my suspension softer?

Start by installing softer shocks and struts. If you have adjustable shocks, adjust them to a softer setting. Install softer springs. Replace the bushings in the suspension. Replace the sway bars with smaller bars.^[11]

Should Rebound be higher than compression?

The more compression, the harsher the bumps, but the harder it works in the turn. The more rebound, the slower the shock will return to ride height, and the more it will smooth out the ride; in a turn, it will help reduce some of the roll on the inside wheel.^[12]