bike / suspension
MTB Suspension Setup
Starting points for sag, rebound, and compression based on Fox Racing Shox and RockShox service manual guidelines. Enter your weight and riding style, then fine-tune on the trail.
Tools
Sources: Fox Owner's Manuals and RockShox, Suspension Welcome Guide. All values are starting points, fine-tune by feel on familiar terrain.
What Does an MTB Suspension Calculator Do?
An MTB suspension calculator turns your rider weight and riding style into three concrete numbers: sag in millimetres, starting air pressure in psi, and rebound clicks counted from fully closed. For a 75 kg trail rider that means 25 to 30 percent sag, a 140 mm fork starting around 55 to 75 psi and a 55 mm stroke rear shock around 145 to 165 psi. Those pressures are starting points from this site, not manufacturer data: no maker publishes a pressure chart by rider weight.
Suspension setup runs in three steps and each one has its own tool. Start with the sag calculator to set spring rate, because air pressure changes everything downstream. Then use the rebound calculator to control how fast the suspension returns, and finish with the compression calculator for support against brake dive and big hits.
Every table on these pages is brand specific, with separate starting points for Fox and RockShox, because the two brands use different air spring curves and count rebound clicks from opposite ends of the dial.