Suspension Set Up Guide

Properly set up suspension doesn’t disappear; it works with you. When your fork and shock are dialed, your bike tracks the ground, carries speed through rough sections, and stays composed when things get steep or fast. Traction improves, fatigue drops, and the bike feels predictable instead of sketchy.

A good suspension setup isn’t about making things soft. It’s about balance; support when you push into the bike, control when the trail gets rough, and consistency from top to bottom. Get it wrong, and you lose speed, confidence, and control. Get it right and everything clicks.

We’ve put this guide together to help you understand the basics of suspension setup and make smart adjustments so your bike rides the way it was designed to. Small changes can make a big difference.

If you’d rather skip the guesswork, come by Lakeside Bike Co. We’ll help set sag, adjust damping, and fine-tune your suspension based on how and where you actually ride, so you can focus on the trail, not the dials.

Suspension Terms — What They Actually Mean on the Trail

Sag

How much your suspension compresses when you’re standing on the bike in riding gear. This is usually calculated by looking at the distance between the sag O-rings  and the seal on air forks and shocks. 
What it feels like: Too little = harsh and skittish. Too much = wallowy and vague.

Air Pressure

The main spring force in air suspension.
What it feels like: Low pressure = plush but uncontrolled. High pressure = supportive but harsh.

Rebound

How fast the suspension returns after being compressed.
What it feels like:

• Too fast = bouncy, nervous, loses traction

• Too slow = packs down, feels harsh in rough sections

Compression

Controls how easily the suspension compresses.

• Low-Speed Compression: Braking, pedaling, body movement
  Too much = harsh, too little = dives and wallows

• High-Speed Compression: Big hits, roots, rocks
  Usually left alone unless you know what you’re doing

Mid-Stroke Support

How well the suspension holds you up in the middle of its travel.
What it feels like: More support = better cornering and pumping. Too little = sinking into travel.

Bottom-Out

When suspension uses all its travel.
What it feels like:
Occasional bottom-outs are normal. Frequent hard bottom-outs mean setup or volume spacers need attention.

Volume Spacers / Tokens

Plastic spacers that change how progressive the suspension feels.
What it feels like:
More spacers = more support near the end of travel.
Fewer spacers = more linear, plush feel.

Lockout / Climb Switch

Restricts suspension movement for efficiency.
What it feels like:
Great on smooth climbs. Bad idea on technical terrain.

When to Stop Adjusting and Come See Us

If you’re:

• Chasing settings and getting nowhere

• Unsure what a change actually did

• Riding suspension that hasn’t been serviced in 12+ months

That’s the point where experience matters more than clicks.

At Lakeside Bike Co, we help riders dial suspension based on how and where you ride.