Pro MTB Suspension Setup (Bracketing Properly) | How To Bike Season 2 Episode 2

Pinkbike's Ben Cathro gives up all his tricks of the trade to set your suspension up "smoother than a well-oiled badger." We're still not quite sure what that means, but our bikes feel great.

More Pinkbike videos:

Ben Cathro's Practical Guide to Learning New Mountain Bike Skills | How To Bike Season 2 Ep 1

Racing DH with a Broken Wrist? | Pinkbike Racing

Can Aimi Find Glory Again? | Pinkbike Racing

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[vlbz]

I've already nailed the part where you make a drastic change and realize it's bad.

[SkarTisu]

“Have your friend mark the stanchions with a screwdriver” 🤣

[hardtailheaven]

I spent a ride bracketing my spring rate on a section of trail and ended up with significantly more pressure than I’d been running and it made a huge difference to the feel and performance of my suspension.

[yjrj]

I've been trying come up with a good MTB spread sheet and here you have made one and shared it! I plan on using this quite a bit. Thank you for putting the work on this and sharing it.

[osllmlw]

You're usually extremely thorough with even the physics behind everything you explain. This time around, I'm still left wondering what each adjustment really does. I know they might seem self-explanatory, and during testing we will get feel for each adjustment, but it helps to know what each of them do, to know what we're looking for when test-riding. For example, if we're setting low speed rebound first, it's better to be aware of when this comes into action, and how to spot the difference in adjustment. How to bike has generally been a guide that you can see being a complete rookie, and come back to see it as you progress, and still find useful stuff, this time around it doesn't feel that way

[iancallahan]

Excellent video, so many suspension videos out there but as always Ben Cathro does a great job explaining things and fun to watch.

[johnoliver]

Good content, witty, and entertaining to watch .
Keep up the good work

[gavinheron]

Getting my first full sus bike tomorrow after 2 years on a hard tail. Hopefully it comes out the shop with suspension ok, or I’m up poo creak. This is way too complicated for my 58 year old brain and I’ll need to watch you again and again. Thanks for the great video.

[NotSoRusty]

I can't think of anyone I enjoy watching/listening too teach me about how to be better at something I love so much!!! Thanks Ben!!! Suggestion - You should have your OWN PODCAST!!! I'd be your first subscriber!!!

[steverobinson]

Great vid, it does my head in how many people spend thousands of pounds on bikes and then can't be bothered to spend a little time learning how to set it up and just ask people on FB how they have there's set....

[tahoeebikes]

I think the one thing to note is that lower PSI, lower spring rates, lighter riders generally are on the open end of rebound and compression. Higher psi, higher spring rate, more closed side and everywhere in between. Most Mtn bikers are 120-220lbs in general and the damping circuits range are made for those. 120 lbs means mostly open damping, 170 lbs middle damping, 220 lbs mostly closed damping. Is easiest way to find your clickers usually.

[frankthetankricard]

Going in the order you said and fork to shock for example makes sense. Only you have to do it multiple times because your settings on one end of the bike affect your weight distribution which affect the suspension on the other end of the bike. And there is no one setting that's equally good on every part of a track anyway, it's always a compromise. I personally find that it kills the fun of a ride if I spend half of it twisting knobs and making notes. So I'm always on a good enough setting and nothing more. Admittedly these videos are a huge help getting from bad to good enough. No wonder pro racers have factory support though. Watching Dialed is fascinating but I don't want to follow their example.

[MrksGrsh]

Hahaaa the screwdriver joke made my day 😂

[gaspertolar]

from what i heard and makes a lot of sense to me, but haven't tried how well it works in practice yet: when changing external adjusters:
1. go to one extreme and the other, see what feels better.
2. go to the middle setting and then the extreme end that felt better, again, check what feels better.
3. go to the setting that felt better this time, then in the middle between the two you've just tested and repeat the process
4. do this until you've hit the sweet spot.
I hope i explained it somewhat understandably.

[HUKIT.]

Damn I spit coffee when you to use a screwdriver to mark the stanchion, well done lad!

[francisdee]

loving the vids! what just came to my mind🤔 will there be the classic cathro vids in the upcoming dh season?🤔

[collinmcballin]

Dude you had me freaking rolling when you said have your friend mark the stanchion with a screwdriver 💀 💀 💀 😂 😂 😂

[CalgaryDynastar]

If anyone in here is interested in suspension setup and related stuff I suggest you look through Dialed from Fox. Obviously it’s based on Fox products but Jordi makes things much easier to understand.

[jamesciastko]

oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, scottish guy teaching bike again!! I am so excited!!!!

[sbbeowulf]

I always go off of the recommended settings and usually change it 1-2 clicks in either direction and increase the pressure about 10-15 psi or 20 pounds above the recommended for my weight and only change volume spacers if something really feels off its entirely subjective my setup is far from the norm