MTB Suspension Tuning Principles

Simple rule: use the calculator numbers as a baseline, then bracket one variable at a time. Good setup is measured by sag and ride feel, not by copying someone else's exact pressure or click count.

1. Service first

Make sure your fork and shock are clean, recently serviced, holding air, moving smoothly, and responding to adjusters before chasing setup changes. Suspension that suddenly feels harsh, sticky, noisy, dead, inconsistent, or needs strange settings may need service, not more pressure or clicks. Check the Component Database for service intervals and service type for your exact product, and check Interested In New Gear? for rebuild kits, seals, oils, and parts links as they are added.

2. Set sag

Forks usually start around 15-20% sag. Trail shocks often start around 25-30%, and enduro/DH shocks often sit closer to 30%. Wear riding gear and equalize air chambers after pressure changes.

3. Set rebound

Higher air pressure or coil spring rate generally needs more rebound damping. Too slow packs down; too fast feels like a pogo stick or tops out. Balance front and rear return speed together.

4. Set compression

LSC controls body movement, support, brake dive and pumping. HSC controls sharp hits, landings and square-edge impacts. Use only the adjusters the selected tier actually has.

5. Volume spacers / tokens

Add progression when sag is correct but bottom-out happens too easily. Remove progression when sag is correct but you cannot reach full travel or the bike feels harsh in the middle of the stroke. Heavier riders, park/jump riding, rocky/high-speed terrain, and repeated bottom-outs start with a bias toward more progression; lighter riders and riders struggling to use full travel start with a bias toward less progression.

6. Rear travel, leverage, and e-bike weight matter

Rear shock settings are affected by rear-wheel travel, shock stroke, rear weight bias, bike weight, and the frame leverage curve. The calculator uses rear travel divided by shock stroke as an average leverage estimate, then increases rear shock pressure or coil spring rate when needed because higher leverage bikes need more shock force for the same wheel support. The E-bike option adds a small extra load correction, but exact linkage curves remain frame-specific, so measured sag is still the final check.

7. Symptom tuning

When a current issue is selected on the calculator, the quick-look settings are moved away from the neutral baseline. Bottoming/dive add support, never-using-full-travel and harsh-mid-stroke remove support/progression, packing speeds rebound up, and pogo/topping-out slows rebound down.

8. Bracket changes

Change one thing at a time. Use 2-5 psi / 0.1-0.3 bar pressure changes, one damping click, or one spacer/token step. Record your baseline.

Fork + shock interaction

The fork and rear shock should be tuned as one chassis. A good front setup can still feel wrong if the rear rides too low, rebounds too fast, or needs far more support than the fork.

Ride height

Set sag first. Too much rear sag makes the bike wander, sit back, and lift the front end. Too little rear sag makes the back of the bike harsh and tall.

Rear travel + shock stroke

Average leverage ratio is rear wheel travel divided by shock stroke. Higher leverage around sag generally needs more shock spring force for the same wheel support.

Leverage at sag

If you know the exact leverage ratio at sag, use it. If not, frame profile estimates are only a starting point. Easy Sus can raise rear shock pressure or coil rate from the component baseline, but it does not reduce below the component baseline because of leverage ratio.

Rebound balance

Match rear sag and rebound so the bike returns as one chassis, not with one end kicking faster than the other. If the bike bucks, slow the rear rebound first; if the front deflects in repeated hits, speed the fork slightly.

Hardtails

With no rear shock, rear balance is mostly frame, tire, pressure, wheel, and rider-position dependent. Tune the fork around front traction, support, and hand comfort.

Compression order

Pressure or spring rate first, rebound second, compression third, and volume spacers last. Make small one-click changes and repeat the same trail section.

Quick tuning order

Step	Why it matters	Typical change size
Service check	Bad seals, dry lowers, sticky bushings, low damper oil, or air leaks can imitate bad setup.	Clean, inspect, service if needed.
Sag / spring support	Sets ride height and the amount of travel available for bumps, pumping, braking, and cornering.	2-5 psi, 0.1-0.3 bar, or one coil spring-rate step.
Rebound	Controls how quickly the suspension returns after compression.	1 click at a time.
Compression	Controls chassis support, dive, wallow, hard hits, and landings.	1 click at a time.
Volume spacers / tokens	Changes end-stroke progression after sag and damping are close.	One spacer/token step.