MTB Rebound Settings — Fork & Shock Setup Guide

Find the right MTB rebound settings for your fork and rear shock. Rebound damping controls how fast your suspension returns after compression — too fast and the bike bucks you off jumps, too slow and the suspension "packs down" on repeated hits. This guide gives you starting rebound clicks for Fox and RockShox suspension by rider weight, plus a step-by-step method to fine-tune on the trail.

8clicks from closed
Adjustment range: 6–10 clicks
Medium rebound — all-round starting point
Turn OUT (counterclockwise) to open rebound (faster return) · Turn IN (clockwise) to close (slower return)
⚠ For reference only. Rebound is highly personal — these are starting points from manufacturer manuals. Test on familiar terrain and adjust one click at a time. Too fast rebound bucks the rider; too slow packs down over repeated bumps.

Sources: Fox Owner's Manuals and RockShox Suspension Setup Guide

Fox Fork Rebound Settings — Starting Clicks by Rider Weight

Fox rebound settings starting clicks by weight for Fox 34, 36, and 38 forks. Fox 36 rebound clicks broken out per weight.

Rider WeightFox 34 (XC/Trail)Fox 36 (Trail/Enduro)Fox 38 (Enduro/DH)
55 kg / 121 lbs8 clicks10 clicks12 clicks
65 kg / 143 lbs7 clicks9 clicks11 clicks
75 kg / 165 lbs6 clicks8 clicks10 clicks
85 kg / 187 lbs5 clicks7 clicks9 clicks
95 kg / 209 lbs4 clicks6 clicks8 clicks
105 kg / 231 lbs3 clicks5 clicks7 clicks

Clicks counted from fully closed (slowest). Heavier riders need slower rebound (fewer clicks out) to control the higher spring energy from higher air pressure. These are starting points — fine-tune on the trail using the curb test below. Source: Fox Racing Shox setup manuals.

Fox Rear Shock Rebound Settings

Rider WeightFox Float DPS (XC/Trail)Fox Float DPX2 (Trail)Fox Float X2 (Enduro/DH)
55 kg / 121 lbs10 clicks8 clicks10 clicks
65 kg / 143 lbs9 clicks7 clicks9 clicks
75 kg / 165 lbs8 clicks6 clicks8 clicks
85 kg / 187 lbs7 clicks5 clicks7 clicks
95 kg / 209 lbs6 clicks4 clicks6 clicks

Clicks counted from fully closed.

RockShox Fork Rebound Settings — Starting Clicks by Rider Weight

RockShox rebound clicks for SID, Pike, Lyrik, Zeb. RockShox Pike rebound starting clicks by weight.

Rider WeightSID/Reba (XC)Pike (Trail)Lyrik (Enduro)Zeb (DH)
55 kg / 121 lbs10 clicks12 clicks14 clicks16 clicks
65 kg / 143 lbs9 clicks11 clicks13 clicks15 clicks
75 kg / 165 lbs8 clicks10 clicks12 clicks14 clicks
85 kg / 187 lbs7 clicks9 clicks11 clicks13 clicks
95 kg / 209 lbs6 clicks8 clicks10 clicks12 clicks
105 kg / 231 lbs5 clicks7 clicks9 clicks11 clicks

⚠ RockShox counts clicks from fully OPEN (fastest), while Fox counts from fully CLOSED (slowest) — opposite conventions! This is a common source of confusion. Always check your brand's convention. Source: SRAM/RockShox Suspension Setup Guide.

RockShox Rear Shock Rebound Settings

Rider WeightDeluxe Select+ (Trail)Super Deluxe (Enduro)
55 kg / 121 lbs10 clicks12 clicks
65 kg / 143 lbs9 clicks11 clicks
75 kg / 165 lbs8 clicks10 clicks
85 kg / 187 lbs7 clicks9 clicks
95 kg / 209 lbs6 clicks8 clicks

Clicks counted from fully open.

How to Set Rebound Damping on Your MTB — The Curb Test

The most reliable method for how to set rebound MTB-style is the curb test — used by professional suspension tuners worldwide:

  1. Set air pressure first (use our sag calculator for the correct PSI). Rebound should always be adjusted AFTER air pressure.
  2. Open rebound fully (fastest). On Fox: fully counter-clockwise. On RockShox: fully counter-clockwise.
  3. Find a curb or step approximately 15-20 cm high.
  4. Drop off the curb at walking speed. The fork/shock will compress and rebound. With rebound fully open, you'll feel 2-3 bounces (oscillations).
  5. Slow the rebound by 2 clicks (turn clockwise on both brands).
  6. Drop off the curb again. You should feel fewer bounces.
  7. Repeat, adding 1-2 clicks each time, until the suspension rebounds smoothly with no more than ONE small bounce after the initial compression.
  8. Ride a trail section to fine-tune. If the bike feels "bucky" on drops and jumps, slow the rebound by 1-2 clicks. If the suspension "packs down" on repeated bumps, speed it up by 1-2 clicks.

What Is Rebound Damping?

Rebound damping controls how quickly your suspension returns (extends) after compression. It is one of two main damping circuits (the other is compression). Rebound too fast: the bike "bucks" you on drops and jumps, feels bouncy, rear wheel skips off obstacles. Rebound too slow: suspension "packs down" on repeated hits, gradually compresses through travel, bike feels dead. The goal: a smooth single recovery, not a bounce.

Fox vs RockShox — Click Convention Difference

The most confusing part of rebound setup: Fox and RockShox count clicks from OPPOSITE directions. Fox counts from fully closed (slowest) — "6 clicks out" means 6 clicks toward faster. RockShox counts from fully open (fastest) — "8 clicks from open" means 8 clicks toward slower. If you switch brands, don't copy your click number — recalculate from the correct direction. For proper tyre pressure to complement your suspension setup, see our MTB tyre pressure calculator.

Rebound and Air Pressure Are Linked

Higher air pressure stores more energy during compression, which means the suspension rebounds faster. When you increase air pressure, you usually need to add 1-2 clicks of rebound damping to compensate. Always adjust rebound AFTER setting air pressure, not before. If you change your pressure by more than 5 PSI, recheck your rebound setting. Compression damping also interacts with rebound — see our compression damping calculator to round out your suspension setup.

How it works

Rebound Damping — Controlling Spring Return

Rebound controls how quickly the suspension returns to its extended position after compression. A spring returns instantly without damping. The damper slows this return. Correct rebound gives the tyre time to find traction before the next bump without holding the suspension down (packing).

Clicks are counted from fully closed (maximum rebound damping, slowest return). Turning the dial OUT (counterclockwise) opens the rebound circuit and speeds up return.

Frequently asked questions

How many rebound clicks should I use?

It depends on your weight, fork/shock model, and air pressure. As a general starting point for a 75 kg rider: Fox 36 fork ≈ 8 clicks from closed; RockShox Pike ≈ 10 clicks from open. See the brand-specific tables above for your exact weight and model.

What happens if rebound is too fast?

The suspension returns so quickly that it "kicks" you on drops and jumps, the bike feels bouncy on rough terrain, and the rear wheel can lose traction as it bounces off obstacles instead of tracking the ground.

What happens if rebound is too slow?

The suspension does not recover fast enough between successive bumps, causing it to "pack down" — gradually compressing further until you run out of travel. The bike feels dead and unresponsive, especially on choppy, fast sections of trail.

Do Fox and RockShox count rebound clicks the same way?

No — Fox counts clicks from fully CLOSED (slowest), while RockShox counts from fully OPEN (fastest). This is a common source of confusion when switching between brands. Always check which direction your brand uses before adjusting.

Should front and rear rebound be the same?

Not necessarily. The rear shock often needs slightly different rebound because of the leverage ratio and different spring energy. A good starting point: match the "feel" — both front and rear should return at roughly the same speed when you compress and release them simultaneously. Adjust by riding and feeling for a balanced front-to-rear response.

How many rebound clicks do most trail riders use?

Most trail riders end up between 6–12 clicks from fully closed for fork rebound, depending on weight and travel. Lighter riders (under 65kg) typically use 8–10 clicks. Heavier riders (over 85kg) tend toward 5–8 clicks for faster rebound to prevent packing.

What is "packing" in suspension?

Packing occurs when rebound is too slow. The suspension cannot return fully between bumps and progressively compresses deeper into its travel. You lose the ability to absorb large hits. Signs: suspension feels harsh after a rough section, bike sits lower than normal mid-ride.

Should fork and shock rebound be the same?

Not necessarily. Fork rebound affects handling and steering traction; shock rebound affects rear grip and body position. Many riders run the shock 1–2 clicks faster (less damping) than the fork so the rear tracks the ground more actively on climbs and technical terrain.

Does terrain type change the ideal rebound?

Yes. Rough, choppy terrain (rock gardens, roots) benefits from faster rebound so the suspension recovers between impacts. Smooth flow trails with big jumps benefit from slightly slower rebound to prevent the front end from kicking up on landings.

What does the high-speed rebound adjuster do?

Some high-end forks and shocks (Fox Factory, RockShox Ultimate) have a separate HSR (High Speed Rebound) adjuster for very fast extension events like drops and large compressions. This is separate from the main rebound dial which controls low-speed rebound.

How does temperature affect rebound?

Cold weather thickens damper oil, slowing rebound. If you ride in temperatures below 5°C, you may need to open rebound by 1–2 clicks compared to warm-weather settings. Fox and RockShox use temperature-stable oils in their Factory-level products to reduce this effect.

What is the "flick test" for rebound?

Hold the bike by the saddle, lift the rear 10cm and drop it. Watch how the rear shock rebounds. Correct: returns smoothly to full extension in one movement. Too fast: bounces back up past full extension. Too slow: returns noticeably slower than the drop speed.

Can wrong rebound damage my suspension?

Incorrect rebound does not directly damage suspension internals. However, very fast rebound can cause harsh handling and loss of control, while very slow rebound causes packing which puts repeated stress on the air spring. Staying within the manufacturer's click range (usually 0–20 clicks) prevents any mechanical issues.