How do suspension forks work

There are as many different rear-suspension designs as there are bicycle makers. Most of them use a shock absorber similar to the one in our diagram, sometimes with a larger coil spring. It is mostly the design of the frame and the linkage that makes one bike different from another. The rear suspensions usually need bigger springs because the linkage gives the wheel a mechanical advantage over the spring.

The rear wheel might have to move 3 inches 7. This means that the force on the shock is three times the force on the tire. In the front, there are two shock absorbers, and the force on each shock is half the force pushing on the tire. Sign up for our Newsletter!

Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Most people have their mechanic do this at their local bike shops. A suspension fork means some extra weight; usually about lbs. Where the weight becomes noticeable is on hills. Keep in mind that if you commute in the city, you stop at red lights, yield to traffic, slow down at crosswalks, etc. All of these factors slow you down way more than the added weight of the suspension fork.

A scenario where the speed difference is noticeable is riding long distances on paved roads involving hill climbs. A road bike or a gravel bike will be faster in this case, but the difference comes not only from the presence of a suspension fork, but also from the geometry and overall weight of the bike. If you have some off-road segments on your commute or you want to take out your ride for some light trail riding on the weekend days, you may be wondering if a bike without a suspension fork could handle the terrain.

You will have ample gearing to go fast as well as to climb steep hills. Most suspension forks are in the to dollars range, although some cost as little as dollars and they can be as expensive as dollars.

Keep in mind that anything under dollars is too cheap to be any good. Given that forks are expensive, you need to be aware of department store bikes, or other cheap bikes that come with front suspension forks. The cheap price comes at the expense of low quality components not only suspension, but also derailleurs, brakes etc.

The most important thing is to get out there, and enjoy the ride. Here are some of the products I love using for bike commuting. They make riding so much more fun and enjoyable. Ergon GP5 Bar End Grips : These are super comfortable, ergonomic grips that offer me two extra hand positions on my flat bar bicycle.

They also offer a much more comfortable grip that helps distribute my weight on the handlebar better. Bar end mirrors : If you ride much among cars then a bar end mirror can make riding much safer. Skip to content ». Home News. And the rear shock for that matter. Inside the Fox Float X shock. The damper is there to both counter and assist the spring. Without the damper, the fork would compress and then uncontrollably return.

Here, the damper acts to control how quickly the spring returns, along with helping to control how easily the spring compresses. For example, most modern forks offer the option to close the damper, providing a lockout to the suspension.

The vast majority of suspension forks keep the spring and damper separate, with the spring often in the left stanchion and the damper in the right. Rear suspension is found on dual-suspension mountain bikes only. As the terrain becomes more challenging, a rear shock will absorb the bigger impacts and keep your wheel tracking on the trail, allowing more control and confidence for the rider. Much of what is applicable to front suspension is also found on rear suspension including the adjustments such as damping and air pressure, however, the shock must be treated in its own context as the setup will be different to the front.

The rear shock sits under the rider usually somewhere between the front and rear triangles. The shock is contained within a pivot system, which uses linkages to allow the shock to move within the frame. Different bike brands have different pivot configurations, but all modern designs do more or less the same thing.

As with a front suspension, rear shocks can be air or coil sprung, come in different shaft diameters and feature a large amount of tuning and adjustability to suit rider's demands. Coil sprung shocks are still very commonly used on heavy duty downhill and enduro mountain bikes, as they tend to handle heat better, but come at the cost of less fine-tuning adjustment options and added weight.

Coil shocks offer a more linear progression and finer tuning, but come at a small weight penalty. Rear shocks are commonly sized specifically to the frame, with the size, stroke length and dampening options specific for different frame and linkage systems. Be aware if you are wanting to change or upgrade your shock that it will fit your frame and you have the right mounting hardware. Although most suspension brands offer a similar range of adjustments options, the mechanism to do so will vary.

The best way to know what dial to turn or button to push is by looking up your shock on the brand website and reading its instructions manuals, trust us, they are very user-friendly and well laid out with easy to read graphics and instructions.

Below we outline what these functions are. However, these should only be used as a guide, and suspension sag defined below remains the proven method for a perfect setup.