Set up your MTB suspension: Perfect setup explained in the video

The right basic setup on a mountain bike fully can be found in less than five minutes. Don't worry about air pressure, rebound and compression damping! We show you how quickly you can adjust the suspension fork and shock. A little dexterity is only required when the Damper already integrated in the frame is. However, the work steps described here remain the same.

Suspension fork and shock are best adjusted together

Air pressure, rebound and compression: once you have understood which cogs influence these three parameters on a modern mountain bike suspension, you can easily achieve the perfect basic setting for your bike with just a few tools. While the air pressure determines the spring stiffness of the suspension fork and shock and must always be adjusted to the rider's weight, the rebound and compression damping determine how quickly a suspension element extends or compresses.

In principle, the suspension fork and shock can also be adjusted individually. However, because the suspension on full-suspension mountain bikes needs to harmonise, it makes sense to adjust the front and rear at the same time. We show the suspension setup using a Rockshox SID suspension fork and a Rockshox Deluxe shock as an example. The steps are the same for all Rockshox suspension elements and also suspension forks from Fox & Co. In our video, we specifically address the needs of E-MTBs: Set up E-MTB

MTB suspension adjustment in just a few steps: the video guide

Tips for tuning the suspension on a mountain bike:

The air suspension on a mountain bike works depending on the weight of the person riding it. It is therefore best to set up the suspension ready to ride, i.e. in full bike gear - don't forget your rucksack!

• Small changes to the air pressure have a big effect.
• Set the suspension fork slightly firmer than the shock.
• Adjust the rebound: As fast as possible, as slow as necessary.
• Set the compression damping: Start with the compression stage open (turned fully anti-clockwise) and increase it gradually if necessary.
• For a harmonious suspension, always adjust the fork and damper together in the best case.
• 20 or 30 per cent sag? The more suspension travel the bike has, the more sag / negative suspension travel you should ride with. In very rare cases, it can be more than 30 per cent sag.

Before adjusting the suspension fork open all lockout or platform functionsby pressing the red and blue rotary knobs anti-clockwise turn. Rockshox (pictured), Fox and other suspension fork manufacturers often print an air pressure table on their forks, which you can use as a guide for your body weight. Trek, for example, also offers a calculator on its website that calculates the correct air pressure in relation to your weight.

For touring full-suspension bikes, we recommend 25 to 30 per cent sag on the fork. On race bikes with 100 millimetres of travel, suspension forks are often ridden a little firmer, with 20 percent sag.

The compression stage regulates the compression speed of the spring element. We recommend always starting with the compression stage fully open. If the suspension then sags too much, for example on bumps or very steep terrain, the compression damping can be gradually increased (turn the wheel clockwise).

The rebound adjusts the speed at which the spring element extends. On Rockshox forks and shocks, symbols help with the adjustment - hare = faster, tortoise = slower. The basic rule is: To increase the rebound, turn clockwise.

Take measurements when adjusting the shock: With Fox suspension forks and Fox dampers, you have to measure the distance between the dust wiper and the rubber ring; there is no printed marking. The negative suspension travel is then calculated in relation to the complete shock stroke - which must also be measured - or the stroke on the fork (sag/stroke).

The sag (or negative suspension travel) is the part of the suspension travel that is utilised by the body weight alone. To determine it, lean the bike against a wall with one end of the handlebars and assume the basic position on the bike. To do this, stand with your arms and legs slightly bent over the centre of the frame.