As someone who has been in the bike industry for a number of years, I can honestly say this was an excellent video for those looking to do more of their own suspension setup on their bikes. Nice work Clint.
I was going to take my Specialized FSR to the bike shop! After watching your Video on Air Suspension I was able to get my bike in Riding Order! Thanks for sharing this information Brother 😎✌️
This is by far the best setup video I've seen to date, simple, clear concise information anyone can digest. I already knew a fair deal about setup from other videos and experience but what a great tip locking out the suspension before getting off the bike, I have had a bike shop once set me up and they had 2 people helping me off, another holding the bike, it was amusing. The front tire bounce test I also never was aware of, I only knew of the curb test for rear suspension damping. As others have commented I would love to see a video discussing the pros and cons of using different levels of compression damping as per trail conditions. I used to run my shock always open but recently down here at Santos started using the "trail" setting on my fox 32. Quite a few drops and jumps so rather than put in more air I use that then switch back to plush when I just want a smoother ride on the xc trails (which are amazing in Santos, you can ride over 30 miles one way from one end to the other). Also looking forward to your 2017 trance review, I actually got to shortly demo that bike and loved how lively it was, a bit more trail oriented than my Pivot 29er. Only thing that was downright awful on the new Giants were the dropper posts weren't functioning correctly on all 3 bikes I demo'd... Giant really needs to get on their game with demo days as the one I attended was nothing short of an embarrassment for the company, I believe they had 4 maybe 5 working bikes mtb's total, all the rest had something broken and I had to ride my demo with the seat in a lower position than I wanted because the dropper post kept falling on every bump. One last note, on my fox fork I find the o-ring actually does get pushed totally up to where it's touching the crown after a big drop or jump, maybe some shocks vary and I never felt a hard bottoming. Taking the first day off from riding today and hoping we don't get a tornado, tomorrow should be a lot nicer.
You mentioned two really useful tips that helped me: 1) flipping the compression to firm before hoping off 2) the cardboard cutout 'Sag-O-Meter' for the rear is an awesome idea. Much easier than a tape measure. Oh and a third, using a cell phone video to check both rebound. Appreciate the insights.
Great Video... I'm a suspension guy from the motocross scene/Days and you did a great job trying to translate some technical info and explain it in easy to understand Layman's terms. Good job!
Absolutely spectacular! I don't usually leave comments but I had to. Clear, well explained for someone of my knowledge base which is limited but I am not brand new to mountain bike set up. Thank you!
Just received my Canyon Neuron 7.0 and it being my first full sus, I was a bit intimidated by the amount of things to adjust! I feel a little more confident now after watching this video and hope to implement them as soon as I reach home!
Thanks for the video. Nearly 3 years on and it's still a great primer to get a reference point for setup. Now just need to hit the trails and fine tune a little.
Have had a few hard tails that i built myself, but I never messed with fork adjustment due to lack of knowledge. I would just pray that the fork was adjusted to someone similar to me in the past. This video really helped me understand and gain confidence to finally try and adjust my forks along with all of my other buddies who have adjustable forks. Thanks a ton.
Ugh, you are a life saver, possibly literally. I had it backwards, i thought turning rebound to the + meant it rebounded faster, and - it rebounds slower. Its really the other way around, + means it dampens rebound more, and minus means it dampens rebound less. I always feel like my bike is trying to buck me on jumps... 🙄. I owe you a beer.
Love your videos!! . I am new to MTB ing....and am older ....I find your videos both informative and extremely encouraging.They are well edited and interesting. Your video on why MTB's are so expensive led to my recent purchase of a used Pivot. I am hooked beyond belief. So much so that I found your video on keeping it all in balance a must see lol...I am a single dad with two kids and have taken up the sport as part of my new fitness program. I have lost 35 lbs and am beating heart disease and Diabetes which run in my family. Your life and dedication to family and the sport is an inspiration to me.Please keep up the good work!
From a technical point of view perfectly described. I also like the calm and unbiased way you are presenting all this. It's a pleasure to watch. A small advice when checking rebound: you can also lift you bike aprox. 30-40 cm from the ground and let it drop. It should not bounce off, if rebound has been set up properly. Of course this is only an indicator of one being on the correct way. Unfortunately, this video is not talking about setup of coil suspension systems. So a little bit on the specialties (friction, sensibility, linear/progressive springs, no volume spacers etc.) to deal with there might be worth a separate video. Most other stuff applies there as well.
I measure the sag. Also on the front, hold on the brake. Push as hard as you can and see how much suspension is being used. I like soft suspension. Subbed, I like your teaching method. Excellent work.
for a newbie like me this is incredibly helpful I have read a lot of articles and watched a lot of videos on this and none of them made as much sense as this and all the other videos go through so fast and with no detail. awesome information thanks clint great video as always.
What a great tutorial! I wish I would watch it first before I sift through dozens of BEGINNER tutorials that through out terms that I did no know the meaning off. Thank you, Clint :-)
I would suggest making adjustments after changing any volume spacers as this will change the amoutn of air pressure you likely will want to run as well as the rebound.
I wear the exact same socks and flippers in my workshop. :)) Can't help noticing and giving you a thumbs up. Awesome content! Thank you for the lesson.
Thank you so much for posting this video you have helped me in relation to setting up the suspension on my new bike, for someone that had no idea after watching this video I've got a fair idea on what to do, thanks again much appreciated.
Great advice, I watched other vids and. Got it wrong. After watching this a couple of times I went to work on my bike. 😎 What a transformation!! THANK YOU 🤘🏻
Really enjoy your videos Clint, I like the way you really explain things thoroughly. You've really helped me understand how to set my suspension up, and the compression as well. I'm looking forward to seeing how you get on with the Five-Ten shoes and flat pedals. Trying to work out if these shoes are really worth the money.
Thanks for this video, the volume spacer information was just what I needed, I wanted my shocks to ride more "Linear" as you put it. I'm just looking to turn it into the bike version of uncle bucks car so I don't rattle my hands to death along bumpy roads, don't care about performance or jumping off sky scrapers over a pool of alligators and through a ring of fire etc.
Extremely helpful content, thank you. Quick input - I have same Fox pump you're using, mine has proven to be inaccurate and unreliable. I cross-check pressures w/ Topeak D2 Smartgauge and found anomalies. I'm looking at Lezyne or Cane Creek digital pumps as more reliable options. Your helpful guidance on the importance of accurate settings is predicated on pump gauge accuracy, by no means a foregone conclusion at least in my case. Appreciate the education, many thanks.
The best know how and diy for newbies..... Planning to buy mtb soon... Hard tail probably because of a tight budget.... But this vid is very helpful.... Keep it up mate.. And thank you for good informative video...
owwww dammm I've been setting my fork up in the standing attack position. same forks as you 30% sag . No wonder I've been getting dead hands and the feel harsh . great video thanks
Thanks for the great guide on setting up my shocks. I just purchased new Fox front and rear shocks for my 09 Reign and I’m ready to kill it this weekend!
just picked up a trance 29 2 and have it set up for some trials. Thanks for this video as I set the rebound based on my the local NE FL trails here. (roots!).
Hi am supprised so few likes compared to views.!!! I know enough and good on bikes general so its not totally necessary for me to watch this to me its easy to see you've done a really informative clear interesting vid and I learned a few tips. Also Ill add I hardly like or comment on any vids an only subscribed to 2 people I think, 1 of them causes I felt sorry, arrrr, and I found myself liking your vid without thinking about it at all. Then noticing as I said so few likes compared to views! so thought id big you up for all those people who watched your vid and gained loads of clear knowledge but couldn't be bothered to thank you in any way........ so yeah, thnx bro good tutorial, peace
Loving watching your videos! Most of the people out there hurry up in explaining this stuff assuming that all bikers would know it already. Great content as always! Keep it coming :D
Hi Clint. Fabulous video! Very informative and easy to follow. Looking forward to setting up the shock on my new bike properly. Thank you for taking the time to put this together.
Excellent Clint, I'm new to this technical facet of mTbiKing. I had the special pump specifically made for the front forks, RocxShox and small shox. imma test it out tomorrow :) ! thnx Sir.
The thing about pumps is, read how much is the max pressure the pump can withstand or deliver, there are floor pumps that can pump to 120 psi, and there are also shock pumps that can only go 50 psi. It's a mtb vs road tyre pumping, mtb tyres generally are low pressure but high volume while road tyres are high pressure but low volume. Using a road bike pump to an mtb tire will take much more time, while using a mtb pump to a road bike tyre will destroy the pump
This is really helpful. What do you think about how are these settings are affected on a hardcore hardtail? I would love to see a detailed video on aggressive hardtail suspension
Really good video Clint. you do realize that you're making me bleed money by showing me that bike... lol looking forward to the 2017 Trance review. it kinda has the same colour scheme the 2015 giant stance 1.
M888 cheers seeing the rebound in action has helped me understand it so much better and be able to set it up and make adjustments as needed thanks so much:-)
I notice the drop in psi is when I remove the top screw to release pressure on main screw before removing it from top of shock. Also installing the shock pomp again loses some pressure. It’s about 2.5 points each so equals about 5 pounds every time you disconnect and reconnect the shock pump. So what you think it’s set at could be few pounds off when you take the pump off so you may want to be a few pounds over before you remove the shock pump.
You really only lose pressure when you connect the hose as the air pressure comes out of the shock and into the hose. When you disconnect you should not lose pressure.
Trying to figure out the best rebound setting for my shock when riding fast downhill (Pisgah/Dupont trails) since I feel I'm bouncing around too much going over things. And I noticed you are very close to 100K subs!!
I have been watching videos on suspension setup for several months and this is the most complete one I have seen. the only question I have is where you are measuring to on the shot, do you measure from the edge of the shock seal/wiper? and go by the shocks travel? ex. 130mm and do 30% of that? ANOTHER new bike? Well everyone has their weaknesses. ;-) is that a plus size tire? maybe the camera makes it look bigger.
Great video it helped me greatly. My front suspention is dialed now. My rear i have some issues just like the front I need to add a token/volume spacer. 2018 fox dpx2 200x51 on a Santa Cruz 5010. Unlike my fox 34 fork the tokens are not just one size. Besides keep adding bigger and bigger token is there a rule of thumb to what each size might do? Or am I stuck with trial and error? My issue is after setting up sag etc I keep bottoming out rear shock. Tha is for any feedback in advance
Awesome guide except that the info at the end about checking the travel after a ride seemed biased toward changing sag. Bringing back the earlier points about volume spacers would have been good here. (Not enough travel -> remove air OR a spacer, choose based on how the rest of the ride went.)
