How Often Should You Check Sag On Mountain Bike?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Similar to tyre pressure, air sprung suspension pressures can diminish over time, so it’s best to give your forks and shocks a re-visit

every 25-35 hours of ride time

.

How much sag is too much MTB?

For the rear shock –

20% – 30% sag is recommended

. For the most part, this can be used across the board for trail bikes and downhill bikes. Again, keep in mind you may want more or less sag depending on your bike, weight, and riding preferences. For the front fork- 10% sag is recommended.

How often should you service mountain bike suspension?

How often to service mtb suspension. If you are a regular mountain biker and ride steep, technical terrain, having your suspension serviced

every 20 – 40 rides

is recommended. For more recreational styles of mountain biking, once per year during an annual overhaul/tune-up is suggested.

How do I know if my mountain bike sag?

How do you test for SAG?

To determine rider sag

put your bike on a stand with the wheels off the ground and measure the distance from the rear axle to a fixed point near the rear fender/side panel

. The fixed point should be along the arc that the axle travels when the shock is compressed.

Why is SAG important MTB?

What does sag do? Sag

puts you in the ideal starting riding position to engage the trail

. It’s the resting point that you and your bike will continually return to for the duration of the ride.

How important is sag?

Static sag is important. How important? First and foremost,

static sag, when set properly, can help you determine if you need a stiffer or softer shock spring

. And, it goes without saying that a bike with too much or too little static sag is not going to work up to its potential.

How much sag is trail riding?

The amount of recommended sag will vary depending on the type of bike that you ride. Typically, enduro/trail bikes fall between

25% – 35%

recommended sag, while downhill bikes can be up to 40% recommended sag.

Does compression damping affect sag?


Damping does not affect sag, strictly speaking

, but it can influence the accuracy of sag measurements, which is a key part of establishing your baseline setting.

How long do MTB shocks last?

How Long Do Mountain Bike Shocks Last? You should expect the bike shocks to

at least last 5 years of moderate use or 3+ years of heavy use

. With regular maintenance and serving.

How do you fully service a mountain bike?

How long do you keep your mountain bike?

With proper maintenance a mountain bike can last

over 20 years

. This duration is highly dependent on where you ride and how much you ride. Some items will wear out, tires, chains, brake pads and drivetrains will not last forever.

Should front and rear sag be the same?


Using different sag front and rear will have huge effect on steering characteristics

. More sag on the front or less sag on the rear will make the bike turn more slowly. Increasing sag will also decrease bottoming resistance, though spring rate has a bigger effect than sag.

Does bike suspension slow you down?


Slows the bike down on climbs

– high quality suspension usually has a lock-out option, when it doesn’t slow the bike down too much, but even when locked, it’s not completely rigid, and it’s still heavier – which doesn’t help with riding up hills.

What PSI should my mountain bike shocks be?

Often yes, usually rear shocks run

100-200psi

, but fork psi varies a lot, depending on the design. Get the sag around 25% (maybe slightly less sag in the front than the rear) and see how it rides (that’s what really matters), adjust on the trail as needed.

How do you check for front fork sag?

How does sag affect handling?

SAG definitely has a big affect on your body position. The more SAG you have the more your bike will squat while riding. This positions your center of gravity behind the seat which

improves high speed stability but decreases front end traction

.

Which is more important rider or static sag?

While rider sag is obviously the key measurement,

static sag is just as important

, especially when setting up a new bike for a particular rider as it will tell you if you have the correct spring rates installed. It can also tell you al lot about the health of your suspension.

How much free SAG should a dirt bike have?

How much free sag should there be? Free sag should be

between 30mm and 40mm

. If you have more than 40mm of free sag, your shock spring is too stiff. Less than 30mm and your spring is too soft.

How important is setting sag on dirt bike?

The sag on your motorcycle

plays a key role in the balance and stability of your bike

. When testing different sag heights for your weight, riding style and riding conditions, the ideal setting for you will feel stable while going down fast straightaways and also comfortable and easy to turn when coming into corners.

What spring rate do I need dirt bike?

Right out of the box your spring rates are usually set for someone of average size — this typically means

75 to 80 kilos or 165 to 176 pounds

. If you are lighter or heavier, that spring rate won’t perform as well for you. Next, determine your static sag and laden sag.

How can I improve my SAG?

To change the sag,

use a long punch and a large hammer to loosen the spring locking nut on the shock

. 4. Then, turn the spring with your hand to adjust the rear spring preload. Make sure that when you’re turning the spring, the preload nut is also turning.

What should rider sag be?

Ideal rider sag can range from

25mm to 40mm or more

, depending on the bike and how you intend to use it. A good rule of thumb is to aim for 30mm for street use, and 25mm for track use. 9. The sag amount is adjusted by adding or removing spring preload front and rear.

What is fork sag?

Sag’ is

how much your fork/bike sinks into its travel just by having your body weight on it

ie. with both feet off the ground. Too much sag (suspension to soft) and you’ll be bottoming out the suspension too often, having a dive-prone fork and generally a wallowy handling bike.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.