Suspension - Explained

I had read a lot of magazine articles about general suspension set up, but had never really got to grips with it. I mean, the basics like spring rate, compression damping, rebound damping etc are, in themselves, easy concepts to grasp. What confused me was how they all fitted together.

However, all that is now changed after reading a supplement in Performance Bikes. This was basically an extract from an American book called Sportbike: Performance Handbook (which I have since bought). It corrected me on a few points I had been misunderstanding and explained others in a way that I could understand.

For example, I was under the impression that compression (or bump) damping was what stabilised a bike over the bumps. But apparently not. The main control comes from rebound damping - i.e. after the bike has absorbed the bump, the suspension is compressed. The rebound damping controls the extension of the spring back to the static position.

Additionally, other items are explained and I have then realised that I had known these things all along - I just needed it pointed out. Like upping the compression damping can have a similar effect to increasing preload.

Anyway, all I can say is that this supplement worked for me. If you have it, read it and make your own mind up. If you don't, buy the book (or maybe I will add it in here if there are enough request).