Suspension made understandable

What would you like to do?

Open one section, complete the job, then return here for the next step.

Search stays on this device Find your own bikes, current suspension settings, Test History and the app’s built-in guidance. No internet results are mixed into your setup.
Before changing a setting Record the starting position, make one small change and never force an adjuster.

Start here

Learn and reference

App

One bike, one setup

Complete vehicle setup

Choose one saved vehicle. Its front and rear SAG, preload, compression and rebound are stored together in the same vehicle profile.

Current best setupSave the settings currently fitted and working best. Test history remains separate so you can review changes.
Create or choose a vehicle before saving its complete setup.

Rear suspension

Rear shock — SAG, preload and damping

Saved with this bike

Rear SAG and preload

Use rear wheel travel — not shock stroke An angled or linked rear shock can move a different amount from the wheel. Use the manufacturer’s rear wheel-travel specification.
Measure the wheel, not the angle Use the same fixed chassis-to-wheel/hub points for L1, L2 and L3. The physical measurement already includes shock angle and linkage leverage.
+

Too much SAG — percentage above targetThe suspension sits too low. Add preload with the main collar, hydraulic hand wheel or electronic load setting. Leave compression and rebound unchanged.

−

Too little SAG — percentage below targetThe suspension sits too high. Remove preload with the main preload adjuster. Leave compression and rebound unchanged.

✓

SAG inside targetKeep the preload position. Fine-tune compression and rebound only for ride behaviour.

Enter travel and L1, L2 and L3 to calculate the current rear SAG.
The personalised preload correction will appear here.

Rear damping

Rear ride check

What does the bike do?

One clicker at a time
Choose a symptom to identify the correct rear clicker, direction and one-step test.

Front suspension

Front forks — SAG, preload and damping

Same bike profile

Front SAG and preload

Use front wheel travel — not shock stroke On A-arm, linkage or angled-shock systems, wheel movement and shock-shaft movement are not the same thing.
No angle calculation is needed when measuring at the wheel Use matching chassis-to-wheel/hub reference points for L1, L2 and L3. The measured movement already includes the front suspension geometry.
+

Too much SAG — percentage above targetThe forks sit too low. Add preload with the fork preload nut or collar. Do not alter compression or rebound to correct SAG.

−

Too little SAG — percentage below targetThe forks sit too high. Remove preload with the fork preload nut or collar. Do not alter damping clickers.

✓

SAG inside targetKeep preload. Fine-tune damping only for dive, harshness, kick, bounce or recovery.

Enter travel and L1, L2 and L3 to calculate the current front SAG.
The personalised preload correction will appear here.

Front damping

Optional — Spyder / trike / twin-front-wheel

Compare left and right front SAG

Same vehicle

Use this only when the vehicle has separate left and right front suspension units. Measure each side from matching chassis-to-wheel/hub reference points with the same loading condition.

Left front
Right front
Optional consistency check. It does not replace the normal front SAG setup.

Front ride check

What do the forks do?

Use COMP/C or REB/R
Choose a symptom to identify the COMP/C or REB/R adjuster and one-step test.
Save one complete vehicle setupRear and front values are stored together under the selected bike.

Vehicle profiles

My vehicles

Save each bike once. Its front and rear current setup will remain attached to this one profile.

Vehicle

Rear suspension

Rear adjusters fitted

Front suspension

Front adjusters fitted

Saved vehicles

0 vehicles

Step-by-step

Guided setup

Complete one small step at a time. Nothing is saved until the final review.

1Vehicle 2Load 3Adjusters 4SAG 5Review

Choose the vehicle

Normal riding load

Use the same normal riding load when measuring SAG and when road testing changes.

Suspension being adjusted

Record only the adjusters actually fitted to the rear shock.

Available adjusters and baseline

These are the starting positions the app will protect. “Clicks out” means gently turn toward the closed stop, count the clicks, then return to the starting position. Never force the stop.

Optional SAG measurement

Leave these blank to save a baseline without SAG. Use the same two fixed measuring points for L1, L2 and L3.

Wheel travel only Use the manufacturer’s wheel-travel figure. Shock shaft stroke is not automatically the same as wheel travel on angled, linked or A-arm suspension.
Shock angle does not need a separate correction here When L1/L2/L3 use the same chassis-to-wheel/hub measuring points, the suspension geometry is already represented in the actual wheel movement.
SAG is optional. Enter all four measurements to calculate it.

Review the baseline

Save before adjustingThis creates the safe starting point you can return to later.
Step 1 of 5

Learn

Identify an adjuster

Choose the word that best matches the control you can see. The next page explains it in plain English.

Not sure which one it is?Open the full visual guide and compare the suspension to the labelled examples.

Adjuster

Spring preload

Changes how much the spring is already compressed before the vehicle is loaded.

What it controls

SAG and where the suspension sits in its travel.

More adjustment

Higher ride position and less SAG.

Less adjustment

Lower ride position and more SAG.

Beginner warning

Use measured SAG and confirm the direction in the manual.

Step 1

Measure SAG

Measure between the same two fixed points every time. Enter millimetres.

Target

Use wheel travel — not shock shaft stroke Enter the manufacturer’s front or rear wheel-suspension travel. If L1, L2 and L3 are measured between the same fixed chassis and wheel/hub reference points, shock angle and linkage geometry are already included in the physical measurement.

Measurements

Keep exactly the same two measuring points Measure from one fixed chassis/body point to one fixed wheel or hub point for L1, L2 and L3. Do not measure along an angled shock body unless the manufacturer specifically tells you to.

These ranges are general starting points. Use the vehicle or suspension manufacturer’s specification where available.

Result

Enter the four measurements

Your static SAG, loaded SAG and loaded percentage will appear here.

After SAG

Fine-tune compression & rebound

Damping has no universal percentage like SAG. Fine-tuning uses the clicker positions, one repeatable riding symptom and a before-and-after comparison.

Correct SAG first Preload sets the suspension position. Compression and rebound only fine-tune how quickly the suspension moves.
C

As the bump is hit

Compression damping — top small adjuster

Rear shock: top body or reservoir clicker, usually marked COMP or C.

Controls the resistance while the suspension moves inward under a bump, braking, acceleration or cornering load.

More dampingMore support, less dive, squat and bottoming.Too much can feel sharp, harsh or reduce grip.
Less dampingSofter, freer movement and more bump absorption.Too little can dive, wallow or bottom out.
R

After the bump

Rebound damping — lower small adjuster

Rear shock: lower clicker near the bottom eye, usually marked REB or R.

Controls how quickly the spring lets the suspension extend and return after it has been compressed.

More dampingSlower, calmer return with less kick or bounce.Too much can pack down and become harsh over repeated bumps.
Less dampingFaster recovery between bumps.Too little can launch, kick or bounce after the bump.

Front-fork adjuster positions vary by fork design. Follow the markings: COMP/C for compression and REB/R for rebound.

Direction guide

Know what the turn means

+More damping

Usually turn clockwise, toward H / HARD / +, or close the adjuster.

−Less damping

Usually turn counter-clockwise, toward S / SOFT / −, or open the adjuster.

13Clicks out: smaller number

Fewer clicks out from closed means more damping.

15Clicks out: larger number

More clicks out from closed means less damping.

Use the actual +/−, H/S or manufacturer instructions on the shock or fork. Some products use different layouts or marked positions.

1Baseline 2Goal 3Measure 4Adjust 5Recheck

Initial clicker measurements

These are the original positions you can always return to. Record the values before turning an adjuster.

Starting positions

Gently closed onlyWhen counting clicks out, turn toward closed only until the light stop is reached. Never tighten or force it.

What are you trying to achieve?

Make the test repeatable

Keep these conditions the same

  1. Same rider, passenger, luggage and tyre pressures.
  2. Same safe road or track section and approximately the same speed.
  3. Change only one adjuster by one small step.
  4. Score the same symptom before and after.

Measure the current ride

Choose the single clearest symptom. This becomes the measurement the app compares after the adjustment.

Specialist high-speed and low-speed compression
Choose a symptom to see exactly what the test is trying to improve.

One-step fine-tuning plan

Input the new setting and recalculate

Initial setting—
Suggested one-step setting—
Enter the new setting and after-test score, then press Recalculate.
Keep the setting only when it improves the chosen symptom without creating another problemA worse or unstable result means return to the recorded initial position.
Step 1 of 5

Saved tests

Test history

These are adjustment and road-test entries attached to a vehicle. They do not create duplicate vehicle profiles.

Vehicle and load

Suspension settings

SAG and test result

Saved setups

0 records

Reference

Full visual guide

Compare C-spanner, hydraulic and specialist shocks, front-fork controls, SAG and common rider symptoms.

General guide only. Confirm the exact location and adjustment direction in the manual for the suspension being worked on.

Troubleshooting

What am I feeling?

These are starting clues—not proof. Check SAG and spring suitability before chasing clickers.

↑

Kicks upward after the bump

First check rebound. Too little rebound damping may let the suspension extend too quickly. Spring rate and compression may also contribute.

!

Harsh on every bump

Check SAG, spring rate and compression. Excess compression damping or an overly firm spring can stop the wheel from absorbing the bump.

↧

Dives or bottoms out

Check SAG and preload first. Too little compression damping or a spring that is too soft may also be involved.

↕

Bounces or pogos after bumps

Rebound may be returning too quickly. Record the starting setting and add damping only in small steps.

≋

Gets harsher over repeated bumps

The suspension may be packing down because rebound is too slow and cannot recover before the next bump.

Golden rules

Safe adjustment method

1

Measure

Record the current SAG, load and every clicker or preload position.

2

Change one thing

Make only one small adjustment—normally one or two clicks or a small preload change.

3

Test consistently

Use the same road, same bump, similar speed and the same rider and luggage load.

4

Evaluate

Decide whether it is better, worse or unchanged. Avoid adjusting from memory.

5

Record

Save the result so the previous safe setting can always be restored.

Never force an adjuster past its gentle stop.

Count clicks gently and follow the suspension manufacturer’s manual for the correct direction and allowed adjustment range.

App setting

Measurement units

Choose how measurements, results and saved setups are shown. Values already entered are converted automatically.

Unit system

Automatic conversion

1 inch= 25.4 millimetres
1 kilogram= 2.20462 pounds

The app keeps one accurate internal value, then displays it in the unit system selected here. SAG percentage does not change.

App

About and data

Version

Version 1.4 — local Search My Garage & App across saved bikes, settings, history and help.

Install on this device

When hosted securely, this guide can be installed like an app and used offline.

Where records are stored

Vehicle profiles and setup records are stored locally in this browser. They are not uploaded by this prototype.

Offline use

When served from a website, the Progressive Web App files allow the guide to work offline after the first successful load.

SAG guidance

The built-in ranges are general starting points compiled from established suspension guidance. Always use the vehicle or suspension manufacturer’s model-specific specification when available.

Safety

This is an educational guide, not a replacement for the suspension manufacturer’s manual or a qualified suspension technician.