what type of suspension is a good mountain bike suspension?

Question

is a good rear suspension suppose to move 'suspen' alot when you sit on the bike?
my suspension coil state 750LBS/IN
what does that mean?

Answer 1

Hi Ivan.

Regarding which type of suspension is good, it depends on what you want to do. Sometimes, hardtails are better than full suspension when you're only riding road or some fireroads.

If you want to do cross country, which is going fast for long distances, but the terrain not too accidented, you want a stiff suspension from 3" to 4" travel, usually with some platform damping.

If you want to do all mountain, enduro or trailriding, suspension should be more plush, but still being able to pedal. Most bikes of this range come from 4" to 6" travel.

For freeride and downhill bikes, suspension increase, you want more suspension, from 6" to 10" travel. You will probably not going to peddal much one of this bikes (at least the downhill ones).

On most full suspension bikes it's normal that when you sit on the saddle, the suspension moves a bit. This is called Sag and it's measures in percentage. A shock should sag about 22-25% for cross country and 30% for freeride and such, more or less.

If the sag is short, the suspension will be stiffer, and if you have more sag it will be plusher, but you might risk bottoming out the suspension. It's ok to bottom it now and then, but not constantly.

Answer 2

And on occasion you might run across something called a softail. These bikes might have pivot less travel but still have the power of a hardtail. Litespeed unicoi, Castellano Fango or Silk Ti and the Salsa Dos Niner just to name a few.

Answer 3

linkage suspension is usually the best as it absorbs the hits better that single pivot types, as for your spring weight 750 lbs/in means 750 pounds of pressure per square inch, If you weigh 20 stone you will need a heavy weight spring, most manufacturers should be able to tell you the appropriat spring weight depending on your weight and model of bike, now go and get muddy!