Forks & Suspension

How to Choose the Right Mountain Bike Suspension

Upgrading your mountain bike suspension is one of the most impactful investments you can make in your ride. A quality fork or rear shock doesn't just absorb big hits—it improves traction, reduces rider fatigue, and allows you to carry more speed through technical sections. Here is what you need to know before you upgrade.

Front Forks vs. Rear Shocks

• MTB Forks (Front Suspension): The front fork handles the initial impact of obstacles and dictates your steering precision. Modern forks feature adjustable damping, rebound, and compression settings to tune the feel precisely to your weight and riding style.
• Rear Shocks: Found on full-suspension bikes, rear shocks work with your frame's linkage to keep the rear wheel tracking the ground. They are crucial for maintaining traction on loose climbs and absorbing the force of heavy landings.

Air vs. Coil Suspension

Choosing between an air spring and a coil spring depends entirely on your discipline and personal preference.

• Air Suspension: Significantly lighter and highly tunable just by adding or removing pressure with a shock pump. Air springs offer a progressive feel, meaning the suspension naturally gets stiffer as it compresses, which helps prevent harsh bottom-outs. This makes air suspension perfect for Cross-Country (XC), Trail, and All-Mountain riding.
• Coil Suspension: These use a physical steel or titanium spring. They are heavier and less instantly tunable (changing the stiffness requires physically swapping the spring). However, coil shocks offer incredibly low friction and a linear, predictable feel throughout the entire stroke. They are the go-to choice for Enduro, Downhill (DH), and gravity-fed Freeride.

Understanding Suspension Travel

"Travel" refers to how much the suspension can compress. Matching your travel to your riding style and your bike frame's geometry is critical. Putting a massive fork on a lightweight frame will ruin the bike's handling and can even risk snapping the headtube.

• 100mm – 120mm (Cross-Country): Lightweight and efficient. Built for climbing speed, smooth trails, and maximum pedaling efficiency.
• 130mm – 150mm (Trail): The ultimate middle ground. Capable of handling rough descents while remaining efficient enough for long, steep climbs.
• 160mm – 180mm (Enduro): Built for aggressive, steep, and chunky descents. Designed to absorb massive impacts while still being pedal-able to the top of the mountain.
• 200mm+ (Downhill): Heavy-duty, dual-crown forks designed exclusively for gravity-fed riding, massive jumps, and World Cup-level rock gardens.

Maintenance Matters

Even the best MTB suspension requires regular maintenance. Dirt, dust, and mud eventually work their way past the wiper seals, degrading the oil and scratching the stanchions. We highly recommend servicing your lower leg oil and seals every 50 hours of riding, and completing a full damper rebuild every 100 to 200 hours to keep your suspension feeling plush and responsive.