Guides
How to set up your suspension
The calculated values are a starting point. These basics will help you find your personal setup.
Measuring SAG step by step
- Set the air pressure from the calculator or the manufacturer’s chart and fully open the compression.
- Wearing all your kit, stand on the bike in your normal riding position, ideally leaning against a wall.
- Bounce gently a few times, then stand still.
- Push the O-ring against the seal and carefully get off.
- Measure the distance and divide it by the travel (fork) or shock stroke. Too much SAG → add pressure; too little → release pressure.
If the frame manufacturer specifies its own target SAG, that always takes priority.
Read the full guide →
Tuning rebound
Rebound controls how quickly the fork and shock extend after compressing. Too fast and the bike feels bucking; too slow and the suspension “packs down” over fast repeated hits.
Rule of thumb: more air pressure needs more rebound damping. Close the dial fully, open it by the clicks shown and compare in steps of two on a familiar test section.
Tyre pressure: tube, tubeless or insert?
Tubeless lets you run about 0.2 bar (2.9 psi) less than a tube because there is no risk of pinch flats. Inserts such as CushCore, Rimpact or Procore also protect the rim and support the sidewall.
Wider tyres and heavier casings need less pressure. The rear usually needs 0.1–0.3 bar (1.5–4.4 psi) more than the front.
Read the full guide →
What’s different on an e-MTB
E-MTBs weigh 20–25 kg. The extra mass sits low in the frame and loads the rear wheel in particular, so they need a little more pressure in the shock and tyres as well as tougher casings.
For bike parks and steep descents, coil shocks or extra volume spacers are worth considering.
Read the full guide →
Volume spacers and progression
Air springs get stiffer the deeper they compress. Volume spacers (tokens) reduce the air chamber and increase end-stroke progression.
If the suspension regularly bottoms out hard with the correct SAG, add a spacer. If you never use full travel, remove one.
Care and service intervals
Wipe the stanchions clean after every ride. The lower-leg service (dust wipers, foam rings) is due roughly every 50 hours depending on the manufacturer, the full service every 100–200 hours or once a year.
Exact intervals are in the manuals from FOX, RockShox and others.