Custom-tuned mountain bike suspension is the art of refining and optimizing stock OEM suspension components—both the fork and shock—to match the rider’s unique needs and preferences. This meticulous process involves adjusting key parameters such as compression and rebound valving, air pressure, coil springs, and an array of internal components. The goal is to enhance suspension performance based on the rider’s weight, riding style, and specific terrain. With custom-tuned suspension, riders can unlock a range of benefits, including:
Custom-tuned mountain bike suspension is the art of refining and optimizing stock OEM suspension components—both the fork and shock—to match the rider’s unique needs and preferences. This meticulous process involves adjusting key parameters such as compression and rebound valving, air pressure, coil springs, and an array of internal components. The goal is to enhance suspension performance based on the rider’s weight, riding style, and specific terrain. With custom-tuned suspension, riders can unlock a range of benefits, including:
Custom tuning allows the suspension to be optimized for the rider's weight, resulting in improved comfort, traction, stability, and safety. The suspension can be set up to absorb small to large bumps, rocks, and jumps more effectively. This will reduce rider fatigue and increase overall ride comfort.
By fine-tuning suspension, the rider can achieve better control and handling. Adjusting compression and rebound damping helps to fine tune the bike's response to impacts, allowing for better traction and stability. This is particularly important when riding on advanced terrain and various trail features.
Custom tuning enables the suspension to work more efficiently by reducing unnecessary rider energy loss. By balancing the fork and shock, the bike will gain support and suppleness.
Well-tuned suspension will greatly enhance the bike's handling characteristics. By optimizing the suspension setup, the rider can improve cornering performance, stability in technical sections, and overall bike responsiveness. This translates into increased confidence on the trail and the ability to tackle more demanding riding conditions.
Every rider has unique preferences and riding styles. Custom tuning allows Fluid Focus to tailor suspension to match individual needs and preferences. Custom tuning allows us the flexibility to achieve the desired performance characteristics allowing the suspension to be optimized for the rider's specific requirements and unlocking the full potential of the bike and enhancing the overall riding experience.
*We should note that changing the valving is a complex process and to do it correctly requires specialty tools such as a suspension dyno. Internally the damper needs to remain balanced to perform properly. Also, reducing friction in your fork or shock is just as important as tuning. Tuning won’t be as effective if you have excess friction from your bushings, seals, etc. OR your suspension is overdue for service *
Custom tuning refers to modifying the valving system within the shock or fork. The valving system consists of a series of small ports and adjuster needles, channels, and valves that control the flow of oil through the damper. By adjusting these valving components, the oil flow characteristics can be modified to achieve specific damping profiles.
Damping is the process of controlling the movement of the damper (or your fork and shock) by reducing or creating more oil flow. This is largely how you set the parameters of compression and rebound.
Changing the valving helps control the oil flow in the following ways:
*We should note that changing the valving is a complex process and to do it correctly requires specialty tools such as a suspension dyno. Internally the damper needs to remain balanced to perform properly. Also, reducing friction in your fork or shock is just as important as tuning. Tuning won’t be as effective if you have excess friction from your bushings, seals, etc. OR your suspension is overdue for service *
Custom tuning refers to modifying the valving system within the shock or fork. The valving system consists of a series of small ports and adjuster needles, channels, and valves that control the flow of oil through the damper. By adjusting these valving components, the oil flow characteristics can be modified to achieve specific damping profiles.
Damping is the process of controlling the movement of the damper (or your fork and shock) by reducing or creating more oil flow. This is largely how you set the parameters of compression and rebound.
Changing the valving helps control the oil flow in the following ways:
Compression damping controls the rate at which the suspension compresses when encountering an impact. It helps manage the speed and force of compression to maintain stability and preventing the suspension from bottoming out. By altering the valving, such as adjusting the size and number of piston ports or changing the valving shims, the flow of oil during compression can be increased or decreased. This affects how the suspension compresses, providing different levels of resistance and influencing the overall ride feel.
Rebound damping is how fast the suspension extends after compression. It controls how quickly the suspension returns to its original position, preventing a fork or shock from bouncing back too fast (think of a pogo stick) and causing loss of traction or instability. If rebound is too slow this will cause “packing”, which means the damper cannot extend fast enough. Packing will make a fork or shock feel harsh mimicking stiff compression. Adjusting the valving will alter the flow of oil during rebound, affecting the speed and smoothness of the extension. By modifying the valving, Fluid Focus can fine-tune the rebound characteristics to match a rider’s preferences and optimize the suspension's ability to track the terrain.
By changing the valving, suspension can be made stiffer or softer, depending on the desired damping characteristics the rider is looking to achieve. Fluid Focus can customize the suspension to suit the rider’s weight and riding style for the specific terrain they are riding. Stiffer valving can make your suspension feel more plush as can faster rebound speeds.
By changing the valving, suspension can be made stiffer or softer, depending on the desired damping characteristics the rider is looking to achieve. Fluid Focus can customize the suspension to suit the rider’s weight and riding style for the specific terrain they are riding. Stiffer valving can make your suspension feel more plush as can faster rebound speeds.
If you don’t see your item listed send us an email!
If you don’t see your item listed send us an email!
Fill out our service request form to begin your custom tuning project
Fill out our service request form to begin your custom tuning project
