Air pressure sets where your suspension sits; damping controls how fast it moves. The clicks do not change your travel or your sag, they change the speed at which the suspension compresses and returns. Once your sag is right, the dials are where you tailor the bike to your terrain and style.
It is about shaft speed, not bump size
The single idea that unlocks damping: circuits are split by how fast the suspension shaft moves, not by how big the bump looks. A square-edged root hit at low speed and a fast g-out both move the shaft, but at very different rates.
- Low-speed events: braking dive, pumping, berms, weight shifts, gentle rollers.
- High-speed events: square edges, rock gardens, fast successive hits, hard landings.
Change one circuit at a time and move in 2–3 click steps. Single clicks are hard to feel on the trail and you will lose track of your baseline.
The four circuits, in order of impact
| Adjuster | Controls | Add clicks (firmer) | Remove clicks (softer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rebound | Return speed | Calmer, more composed | Livelier, can buck |
| Low-speed comp (LSC) | Support, dive | More platform, holds high | Plusher, more dive |
| High-speed comp (HSC) | Big-hit harshness | Firmer on square edges | More forgiving, blows through |
| Volume spacers | End-stroke ramp | Harder to bottom | Easier full travel |
Set rebound first
Rebound is the click most riders feel immediately and the one most often run too slow. Too fast and the bike feels nervous and bucks you off the back; too slow and it packs down through repeated hits, riding deeper and deeper in its travel until it feels harsh.
Start from fully open
Wind the rebound adjuster all the way to the fast/open end, then count back to roughly the middle of the range.
Curb test the rear
Roll off a curb and watch the shock. It should return without kicking your hips up. One overshoot and settle is ideal.
Match the front
Repeat off the curb for the fork. The front should recover slightly faster than the rear so the bike does not pitch forward.
Log your clicks
Record front and rear rebound in Dialed so you can return to a known-good baseline after any experiment.
Rebound that is too slow is the most common cause of mid-run fatigue and a vague, harsh feeling deep in the rough. If the bike gets worse the longer the descent, open rebound a few clicks before touching compression.