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In no other discipline of biking, the suspension is as important as in mountain biking. It dampens bumps, making biking not only more enjoyable, but also much more stable! Because when mountain biking you will often find yourself in uneven terrain, going up and down over roots and bumpy trails. And for that you need suspension on your mountain bike. Here we distinguish hard-tail and full-suspension bikes, both of which offer different suspension travel for different bikers and their preferences. And for the suspension to actually work well and for it to do so as long as possible, you have to adjust it properly, and then maintain it well. This guide will give you all the needed info on how to do so!
- Important terms explained
- Hardtail vs Full Suspension
- Spring rate
- How to adjust your suspension
- Maintenance
Mountain bike REbOUND? COMPRESSION!? THE MOST IMPORTANT TERMS SIMPLY EXPLAINED
The entire topic is not that easy, which is why we have gathered you all the important terms:
Suspension springs: These regulate the compression and rebound in the suspension fork. Here, there are three different systems. The air spring is the most common one. With the help of air pressure, the suspension can be adapted to the rider and his needs. A less common option is elastomers. These rubber blocks are located inside the suspension fork and absorb shocks. Here, however, the suspension can not be adjusted. The third option are oil pressure systems. These are only found in downhill bikes of the highest price category, a very complex system that is used less and less frequently. The advantage of this is that tension and compression levels can be adjusted very well and precisely.
Dampers
Many people think the damper is the same as the springs, but that is not the case. The dampers control ringing in the system. Meaning: vibration is decreased.
Air pressure
The higher the air pressure, the greater the spring rate. It is important that the spring elements do not penetrate to the stop. The appropriate air pressure should be chosen, which depends not only on the terrain, but also the weight of the biker.
Rebound
This regulates the speed at which the spring element rebounds after compression. So if this is turned off, then the rebound effect is very low, meaning bumps that occur shortly after each other, will not be dampened enough. When the rebound is completely open, the bike feels almost like a bouncing ball.
Compression
It is the counterpart to the rebound. This regulates the compression speed. The pressure level can be adapted to the conditions with a simple handgrip.
SAG / Negative suspension
This describes the travel you compress using your own body weight plus equipment, as part of the entire possible spring deflection. Meaning: How far the forks will go while you are sitting on your bike without moving.
The right SAG value depends on the application area of the mountain bike:
Downhill/Freeride: 30-40%
Enduro: 25-35%
All-mountain: 25-30%
Cross-Country/Marathon: 20-25%
Lockout
This feature (often found on the handlebars, otherwise on the fork) blocks the entire system. For example, when pedaling while driving uphill, a possible rocking can be prevented quickly and easily.
HardTail vs Full-Suspension: IS LESS MORE?
Hardtail: suspension only in the front
These bikes only really dampen bumps in the front. In the back, you only have your wheels to dampen. What is the great advantage? The very direct transmission of power by not losing any of it through the suspension in the back. As of this, it is also a bit harder to ride this bike in rough conditions but perfect for paved trails!
If you head onto trails with your hardtail, you will have to go a bit slower to compensate for less suspension. Also you need more skills to be able to do so! Another advantage is the maintenance – obviously having less pieces will ask for less work.
Full suspension: When you need more suspension
Fullys have suspension both in the back and in the front. The advantage is obvious: more shock absorption. Bumps are dampened more and better, which is easier on your body and muscles. Also, riding in uneven terrain is more stable with such a bike because the back wheel will have more ground contact.
It is perfect for all those heading off paved trails down the mountains! But these bikes are more work when it comes to maintenance.
Spring rate: LENGTH MATTERS
The spring rate is very different between different bikes. Generally, you can adapt these to your needs both on fullys and hard-tails but we will get to that. First off, the rate itself.
Fully’s spring rates can be put in different categories:
Freeride bike: 180-230 mm spring rate
Enduro: 160-180 mm spring rate
All-Mountain: 140-160 mm spring rate
Touring fully: 120-140 mm spring rate
Race fully: ungefähr 100 mm spring rate
HOW TO ADJUST YOUR SUSPENSION FOR THE GREATEST FUn
The whole process is not quite as complicated as it seems at first glance. In addition, the basic settings – if it fits the driver well – later no longer needs to be changed.
First the spring rate of the rear suspension fork is adjusted
First you have to open the rebound and dampers completely. This is done using the small (mostly) red and blue elements.
Open rebound and damper
Then the actual rate is measured. For this you release all the air from the fork with a pump. What the rate is, can be determined using the often provided rubber ring.
Release all air
If your bike does not have a rubber ring on the suspension fork, then you can simply attach a cable tie and push it up to the gasket. Then push onto the saddle with full bodyweight and release. The distance between rubber ring / cable tie and the gasket is the maximum rate.
Find the maximum rate
This must then be adjusted: If you are in central position on your bike, then the fork should sink to about 1/4 to 1/3 (to find the right value, check the manufacturer’s recommendation, and use our guidelines as seen before when discussing SAG). To reach this value, you simply push the rubber ring / cable tie back against the seals, climb onto the saddle, get back off and measure. The distance between the rubber ring and the seal is then the SAG value. Next, adjust the air pressure with a fork pump.
Sit on your bike in a central position
Best way to check whether it really fits, you need to ride your bike outside. If you notice that the suspension fork will hit a stop at the bottom when going through bumps the suspension is set too soft.
Next up: The rebound
When having found your spring rate, you need to set the rebound. To do so, you push the saddle downwards with your entire body weight and then let go explosively. When doing so, the back part of the bike will go up quickly. But it should not lose ground contact! If it does, you need to adapt using the small red element. Just test again and change it accordingly.
Push the saddle and let go quickly
Now to the front suspension fork
Again, the same principle applies. Start with closing rebound and damper and release all the air. Next, you need to measure the maximum spring rate. This time, this is the distance between the ring and the dirt scraper above the wheel.
Find the maximum spring rate
And again, you need to adapt the rate to your needs. Find the right SAG value. Test this, by sitting on the bike and activating the suspension by slowly going back and forth. Measure the distance between the ring and the dirt scraper and fill with air accordingly.
Fill with air according to your needs
To set the rebound, you need to stand next to your bike, pull the brakes and push down using your entire body weight. Then let go. Again, the wheel should not lose ground contact and if it does, the rebound needs to be increased.
Use your entire body to test the rebound
Maintenance of your suspension: CLEAN ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Equipment which is used a lot needs to be taken care of properly. Therefore: make sure you clean your bike! Just do so after every bike ride with a soft cloth. Do not use high-pressure cleaners or any similar devices. These will push dirt into your seals and thereby ruin them. Generally, all parts of the suspension are sealed properly but you still need to make sure that no dirt gets in there. Also, you can easily use water to do so. Last but not least, put some Teflon oil onto your tubes every once in a while.
You can find more info on how to maintain and take care of your bike in our → bike care guide!
And once a year, you should get a proper → bike service! Our experts will gladly assist you with this in one of our stores!