By now, you’ve tackled preload, sag, clickers, compression, and rebound.
You’re feeling confident. Maybe even a little cocky.
But sometimes…
No matter how much you twist the clickers or crank the preload, your bike still feels wrong.
That’s when it’s time to look deeper — into spring rates, valving, and professional magic.
Springs: The Unsung Heroes (or Villains)
Your springs are the foundation of your suspension.
If they’re wrong for your weight, riding style, or terrain, no amount of clicker voodoo can fix it.
Signs your spring rate is wrong:
- You can’t get rider sag within spec no matter how much preload you add or remove.
- The bike feels harsh over small bumps but bottoms hard on big hits.
- The rear feels like it’s always either too soft or too stiff — and never “just right.”
Quick guide:
- Too light? Bike wallows, bottoms easily, feels vague.
- Too stiff? Bike skips across bumps, feels harsh, deflects instead of tracking.
Solution:
Get springs rated for your fully geared-up weight — not your “dream weight,” not your “when I was in college” weight.
(Be honest. Your suspension already knows.)
Valving: The Brain of Your Suspension
Valving controls how oil flows through your forks and shock.
It’s what turns basic spring compression into smooth, controlled movement — or into a violent yard sale.
Most stock suspension is built for:
- A “standard” rider (around 165-180 lbs)
- Moderate terrain
- Moderate speeds
If you’re:
- Heavier or lighter
- A much faster rider
- Riding gnarlier terrain (rocks, whoops, roots, Baja madness)
…then your stock valving probably isn’t optimized for you.
Signs your valving is wrong:
- The bike feels harsh even after sag and clickers are set.
- You constantly blow through travel even with proper springs.
- The front or rear feels disconnected or out of sync.
- You have trust issues with your bike — and not the normal kind.
When to Call in the Wizard: Suspension Tuning Services
At a certain point, it’s smarter (and cheaper in the long run) to send your suspension to a pro.
A good tuner can:
- Set your spring rates correctly
- Re-valve forks and shocks for your weight, skill, and riding conditions
- Freshen up tired seals and oil (which go bad faster than you think)
You know it’s time when:
- You’ve tuned preload, sag, clickers — and it’s still not right.
- You ride often and push your bike hard.
- You’re tired of bouncing like a kangaroo in a shopping cart.
Pro Tip: Find the Right Tuner
Not all suspension shops are created equal.
Look for someone who:
- Understands your style (trail, enduro, motocross, dual sport)
- Talks with you, not at you
- Has solid rider feedback and reviews — not just fancy ads
Ask for a setup sheet when they send it back, so you know what they did and how to tweak it later.
Wrapping Up the Series
Suspension tuning isn’t one magical setting — it’s a process:
- Start with the basics (preload, sag)
- Learn to dial your clickers
- Match your springs to your needs
- Trust the pros when it’s time
When you get it right, your bike transforms from “this thing’s trying to kill me” to “let’s go find something stupid to ride up.”
Stay tuned — more Tech Tips coming your way.
Until then: Ride hard. Tune smart. Stay rubber side down.
