For many riders, the suspension is what separates a mountain bike from other types of bikes in the market. While not all mountain bikes have suspensions, most of the modern models are equipped with them. A mountain bike’s suspension is what makes it a mountain bike for many. Getting the right mountain bike suspension components is the difference between a bump-gobbling trail monster and an overpriced pogo stick. The rabbit hole is deep with all sorts of knobs and doo-dads to turn and flip, but we’ll cover the basics so you can get the most out of your new gear.

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Because mountain biking involves riding rough and bumpy terrains, the main purpose of the bike’s suspension is to dampen the shock that reaches the rider to give him/her a smoother and more controlled ride.

Types of Mountain Bike Suspension

Many modern mountain bike models are customized to the rider’s suspension preferences but in general, there are three ways to classify bike suspension:

1. Hardtail Mountain Bike

Some mountain bikes are equipped with only a front suspension which is also called a suspension fork or a hardtail.

2. Full-Suspension Mountain Bike

Also referred to as a “dual-suspension” bike, full-suspension bikes are equipped with suspension both on their front and rear parts.

1. Rigid Mountain Bike

Mountain bikes may also not be equipped with any suspension at all, and they are called rigid bikes.

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Suspension Adjustments

The amount of “travel” or the amount the suspension can compress depends greatly on the different riding disciplines which also have different demands on the biker and the bike itself.

Here are the different adjustment options for your bike suspension:

Air Pressure

A Schrader valve is used to pump air into the suspension using a special shock pump.

Sag

The right air pressure and coil spring for your suspension are determined by the sag which is the amount the suspension compresses under the rider’s weight when he is seated on the bike.

Damping

Here’s where mountain bike suspension gets confusing, so bear with us. Some people suggest using compression damping to “firm up” their suspension. While that’s a good way to describe how your suspension may feel, it’s not technically correct.

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Even though the total resistance force is still provided by the spring, compression damping controls the rate at which the suspension will compress. Imagine putting a hippo on the saddle of your bike: no matter what settings you use, the amount of compression will be the same, but the amount of time it takes to get there will change. This means that compression damping controls how much travel you will use in any given situation and can make the suspension feel softer or firmer without adjusting the spring rate.

Spring Preload

A preload is used to adjust a coil suspension and allows fine-tuning of the hardness or softness of the equipped spring.

When adjusting your suspension, note that precise pressure adjustment is critical to a safe ride. Too much will cause the suspension to offer poor traction while too little of it causes a hard stop on your suspension. The takeaway is to always make sure your suspension is adjusted accurately to ensure your safety on the trails.

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