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There is no safe universal PSI number for an e-mountain-bike fork or rear shock. Set pressure from the exact component and frame instructions, using your riding weight and gear as inputs; then set sag, rebound and compression in that order. Frame leverage, air-spring design, riding position and weight distribution can make two bikes with the same rider require different pressures.
The most reliable method is repeatable rather than guessed: identify every component, record your real trail weight, establish sag without bouncing, begin damping at the maker’s baseline and test on a familiar trail. Keep a written record so you can return to a known setting after a service, temperature change or different pack load.
What determines the correct suspension pressure?
Air pressure supports your weight, but weight alone does not determine the setting. Fork travel and air-spring design, rear-suspension leverage ratio, frame geometry, shock position, and how your weight is distributed between the saddle, handlebar and pedals all change the pressure required. RockShox describes setup as specific to the rider, riding style and terrain, and says those variables can change over time.
Use the pressure or sag recommendation for the exact fork and shock, not a chart for a visually similar bicycle. The bike maker’s recommendation is particularly important for the rear shock because the frame’s leverage ratio and the way the frame distributes load determine how much shock pressure is needed. A shock with the same eye-to-eye length on another frame can therefore need a different pressure.
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Find the correct baseline before touching the pump
- Write down the bicycle’s frame model and model year.
- Identify the fork model, travel, air-spring type and damper version.
- Identify the rear-shock model, air-spring type and any size-specific tune.
- Locate the current component manual, the bicycle maker’s setup chart, or the manufacturer’s serial-number lookup tool.
- Record the recommended pressure range, sag target, rebound starting point, compression setting and maximum pressure.
If the instructions for the frame and the component appear to conflict, contact the bicycle maker or a qualified suspension service shop before riding hard. Do not infer a pressure from another rider’s bike, an online comment or a chart for a different air-spring version. Confirm the model year because manuals, pressure caps and damper controls can change.
Tools and an accurate starting position
You need a high-pressure bicycle suspension pump that fits the component’s air valve and covers its stated pressure range. A normal tyre pump is not a substitute. Keep the pump’s bleed function available so you can make small, repeatable changes, and never exceed the pressure cap printed in the component instructions. The pump connection itself can change the reading slightly, so use the same pump for every comparison.
Measure your real riding weight
Weigh yourself wearing the clothing and protective equipment used on the trail. Include shoes, helmet, pack, tools and hydration if you normally carry them. A setup made with bare-body weight can be noticeably different once the usual load is added. If you sometimes ride with a full pack and sometimes without one, record separate settings rather than treating the loads as interchangeable.
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Prepare the bike
- Work with the bicycle upright and safely supported. Keep the fork and shock clean so their O-rings or indicators can move freely.
- Open the fork and shock compression or lock controls, or use the exact baseline position specified by the maker.
- Set saddle height and controls as they are ridden. Sag is meaningful only in the position used on the trail.
- Check that the air caps, valve cores and adjustment knobs are secure before beginning.
Follow the component’s stated riding position when settling onto the bike. For example, the 2026 FOX AWL instructions have the rider hold the normal position for at least 10 seconds and distribute weight between saddle, handlebar and pedals. The Ibis Oso guide uses an aggressive standing position. Those positions are not interchangeable; use the one specified for your model.
Support the bike without hanging it from a work stand in a way that changes suspension load. If another person steadies the bicycle, ask them not to lift, push or pull it while you settle. Small movements can shift the indicator and make a precise sag reading meaningless.
Set fork and shock sag before damping
Sag is the amount the suspension compresses under the rider in the riding position. Set it before rebound or compression because damping adjustments cannot correct an incorrect spring rate. Measure fork and shock separately; the percentages do not have to match because the two systems have different jobs and leverage.
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Fork sag procedure
- Release any lockout or firm compression setting and set the fork’s air pressure near the model-specific starting value.
- Push the fork O-ring down until it touches the wiper seal. If your fork has no O-ring, use the supplied travel indicator or a temporary zip tie that cannot damage the stanchion.
- With both feet positioned as the manual directs, settle into the riding position smoothly. Do not bounce, pump the bike or pull on the handlebar.
- Hold the position long enough for the suspension to settle, then dismount without compressing the fork further.
- Measure the O-ring movement against total fork travel. Divide movement by travel and convert to a percentage.
- Add or remove air in small steps, settle again and remeasure. Increasing pressure reduces sag; decreasing pressure increases it.
Never exceed the fork’s stated maximum pressure. If you cannot reach the target without approaching that limit, stop and have the model, air spring and setup checked. A pressure that looks reasonable on a different fork is not evidence that it is safe on yours.
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Rear-shock sag procedure
- Set the shock’s air pressure to the exact frame or shock starting value and leave compression open unless the instructions say otherwise.
- Slide the shock’s indicator O-ring to the body seal, or use the shock’s printed sag scale.
- Adopt the required riding position. A standing position may be specified for an aggressive e-MTB setup; another frame may require seated weight distribution.
- Remain still while the indicator settles. Dismount without bouncing or unloading the shock abruptly.
- Read the indicator against the shock’s available stroke or the frame’s sag scale, then change pressure in small increments and repeat.
Shock stroke is not the same as rear-wheel travel. Use the scale or calculation method supplied for your frame, rather than dividing by a travel number from a geometry chart. If your shock has a percentage scale, use that scale; if the frame gives a millimetre value, follow the frame’s method exactly.
Published sag examples—and why they are not universal
| Component or bicycle | Published target | Scope and date |
|---|---|---|
| AWL, AWL Sport, AWL HD and AWL HD Sport forks | 15–20% of total fork travel | FOX 2026 AWL fork manual; applies to the named fork families. |
| RockShox Solo Air rear shocks | 25% sag | RockShox support FAQ; applies to the named air-spring type. |
| RockShox DebonAir rear shocks | 30% sag | RockShox support FAQ; riders may choose within plus or minus five percentage points. |
| Ibis Oso with its documented Bosch/Fox configuration | Fork 18–25%; shock 25–30% | Ibis Cycles guide, 2023; applies to that Oso configuration. |
| General RockShox TrailHead guidance | About 10–30% of available travel | General guide: shorter-travel systems tend toward less sag and longer-travel systems toward more; it is not a model-specific target. |
These figures demonstrate the spread between equipment families. They are examples, not a recommendation to apply 15%, 25% or 30% to an unrelated e-MTB. Use the current instructions for your exact model and confirm the model year before relying on a pressure cap or target. A percentage is useful only when you know which travel or stroke the percentage refers to.
Tune rebound after spring pressure is correct
Rebound controls how quickly the fork or shock extends after compression. Start with the maker’s click position, counting clicks from the fully closed or fully open reference exactly as the manual describes. Adjustment direction differs between components, so verify which way adds damping on your knob. Write down the starting count before making a trail change.
Recognize rebound symptoms
- Too fast: the bike can kick upward, bounce after a landing or lose tyre contact. Add rebound damping in one- or two-click steps.
- Too slow: the suspension remains compressed through successive bumps, rides lower and is not ready for the next hit. Reduce rebound damping incrementally.
- Correct: the suspension returns to sag quickly enough to meet the next feature without throwing the rider or breaking traction.
RockShox’s tuning guidance defines the goal this way: “The proper Rebound speed is one that allows the suspension to return to sag quickly enough to be ready for the next trail feature, but not so quickly that the suspension causes the bike and rider to bounce and lose traction.” Rebound that feels controlled on one isolated drop can still be too slow in a long section of repeated bumps, so test more than one feature. Make one change at a time and remember the original click count.
Set compression for support and terrain
Once sag and rebound are established, return compression controls to the component’s baseline and make small changes. Low-speed compression generally affects support during braking, cornering and body movement; high-speed compression is relevant to larger impacts and rough terrain on components that provide that adjustment. Use the labels and definitions in your manual rather than assuming every knob has the same circuit.
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Smoother climbs and traverses
A lock or firm compression mode can improve pedaling efficiency on smoother terrain, according to RockShox guidance. Open the control again before technical descents unless the component maker specifically recommends otherwise; a locked or overly firm suspension can reduce available grip and travel. Treat lock mode as a terrain-specific control, not a substitute for correct sag.
Repeated chatter
If the bike feels harsh over closely spaced small bumps, first confirm that rebound is not packing down and that sag is correct. Then try a small reduction in compression damping if the component’s baseline permits it. Do not compensate for an incorrect air spring by closing compression. If the feeling changes after several hits, focus on whether the suspension is recovering between features rather than judging the first bump alone.
Large hits and bottom-out support
Occasional bottom-out on a genuinely larger impact is normal. RockShox says using most of the available travel is desirable. If bottom-out happens frequently on impacts within your normal riding, follow the model’s instructions for pressure, bottom-out control or volume spacers; do not simply exceed the maximum pressure. Volume-spacer compatibility and quantities are model-specific. Make only approved changes, then repeat the sag and trail checks.
Validate the setup on a repeatable trail
Choose an easily repeatable trail with a climb, braking section, corners, repeated rough features and at least one larger impact you can ride safely. RockShox recommends making a few laps before judging the setting. A familiar trail makes it easier to distinguish a suspension change from a different line or pace.
- Record starting pressure, measured sag, rebound clicks and compression positions.
- Ride the same line at a consistent, controlled pace. Use the O-rings or travel indicators to see how much travel was used.
- Change only one variable: spring pressure and sag first, rebound second, compression last.
- Repeat the section after each change and write down the result, including traction, harshness, wallow, kickback and bottom-out.
- After the final lap, check that the O-rings have not been pushed beyond the usable stroke and that no air or oil is leaking.
Do not diagnose a setup from one unfamiliar ride or change several controls together. Temperature, fatigue, a different pack load and a different line can all alter the feel. If the bike feels different after transport or a long break, verify pressure and sag before assuming a damper problem.
Terrain-based decision guide
| Riding situation | What to observe | Reasonable next check |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth fire roads or paved links | Unwanted pedal movement or bobbing | Use the maker’s lock or firmer compression mode if specified, then reopen it for rough terrain. |
| Repeated small bumps | Loss of travel and traction as features continue | Check for rebound packing; reduce rebound damping in small steps before changing compression. |
| Rough, fast descents | Harshness on larger impacts or insufficient support | Verify sag and rebound, then adjust the component’s high-speed compression or approved bottom-out options. |
| Frequent hard bottom-outs | O-ring repeatedly reaches full travel on ordinary hits | Check pressure against the model chart and investigate approved volume-spacer or bottom-out settings; never exceed the pressure limit. |
| Bike kicks or skips after landings | Suspension extends too quickly | Add rebound damping one or two clicks, confirming knob direction first. |
There is no evidence-based rule such as “rough terrain equals four clicks.” Terrain changes the symptoms you should watch for, while the component manual determines the available adjustments and their safe range.
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Common setup errors and fixes
Copying a pressure from another bike
Two e-MTBs can use different leverage ratios, shock strokes and air springs. Return to the frame and component chart and reset sag from your own measured riding weight.
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Repeat the measurement with your normal shoes, helmet, pack and hydration. Keep the load consistent whenever you compare settings.
Bouncing while mounting or dismounting
Bouncing changes the indicator position and overstates or understates sag. Settle quietly, hold the prescribed position, and step off without compressing the suspension.
Changing damping before pressure
Restore the manufacturer’s baseline, set sag, and then tune rebound before compression. Damping cannot make an incorrect spring rate correct.
Ignoring the model’s pressure limit
Stop when the target cannot be reached within the stated range. A persistent mismatch can indicate the wrong air-spring configuration, a damaged seal, an incorrect frame/shock combination or a need for service.
Confusing wheel travel with shock stroke
Use the frame’s sag scale or calculation instructions. Dividing a shock indicator reading by rear-wheel travel can produce the wrong percentage and send you toward an incorrect pressure.
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When to use a suspension service shop
Ask a qualified local bicycle suspension technician for help if the model or air-spring type is unclear, the recommended pressure conflicts with the available sag, the shock loses air, the fork or shock has oil leakage or unusual noise, or repeated adjustments never produce stable sag. Bring the bike, your recorded rider weight and gear load, pressure, sag and click settings, plus the trail symptoms. A shop can also verify service intervals and install only model-approved volume spacers or air-spring parts.
A repeatable setup checklist
- Exact frame, fork, shock, air-spring type and model year identified.
- Current frame/component manual or serial-number setup tool located.
- Rider weighed in normal riding gear and carried load.
- High-pressure suspension pump compatible with the valve and pressure range available.
- Compression or lock controls set to the specified baseline.
- Fork and shock sag measured in the prescribed riding position without bouncing.
- Pressure changed in small steps and kept below the component maximum.
- Rebound set from the maker’s baseline and adjusted one change at a time.
- Compression refined only after spring and rebound settings are stable.
- Settings validated over several laps on a familiar trail and recorded for future rides.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much air should I put in a RockShox fork for my rider weight?
There is no safe weight-to-PSI formula that applies to every RockShox fork. Identify the exact model, travel and air-spring version, then use the current RockShox setup chart, TrailHead serial-number tool or manual. Set the listed starting pressure, measure sag in your normal riding gear and adjust in small steps without exceeding the fork’s maximum pressure.
How much air should I have in a RockShox rear shock for my rider weight?
Use the bicycle frame maker’s chart as well as the shock instructions. Frame leverage ratio, shock position and weight distribution affect rear-shock pressure, so the same rider can need different pressure on two bikes. Set the specified starting value, measure sag using the frame or shock scale and repeat until the model-specific target is reached.
What sag percentage should an e-MTB use?
The target is component-specific. FOX’s 2026 AWL manual lists 15–20% fork sag; RockShox lists 25% for Solo Air and 30% for DebonAir rear shocks, with a plus-or-minus-five-point choice; and Ibis lists 18–25% fork and 25–30% shock sag for its documented 2023 Oso Bosch/Fox configuration. Do not transfer those figures to an unrelated bike.
Should I set rebound before compression?
Yes. First establish pressure and sag, then use the maker’s rebound baseline and adjust recovery speed on a repeatable trail. Set compression from its baseline only after rebound is stable. Changing several controls together makes symptoms difficult to identify.
What does it mean if the shock packs down over repeated bumps?
Packing down usually means rebound is too slow: the shock does not return toward sag before the next feature. Reduce rebound damping in small increments, confirm the knob direction in the manual and test the same section again. Also verify that sag was measured correctly.
Is occasional bottom-out a problem?
Not necessarily. RockShox says using most travel is desirable and occasional bottom-out on a genuinely larger impact can be normal. Frequent bottom-out on ordinary impacts calls for a check of model-specific pressure, approved bottom-out controls or compatible volume spacers. Never exceed the stated pressure limit.
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RockShox guidance identifies lock mode as useful for pedaling efficiency on smoother terrain. Reopen the control for technical or rough riding unless your component instructions say otherwise, because an overly firm setting can reduce grip and available travel.
The Bottom Line
Set e-MTB suspension from the exact frame and component instructions, not from a universal PSI chart. Weigh the rider with normal gear, establish model-specific sag without bouncing, tune rebound, then refine compression on a repeatable trail. Record every setting, respect pressure limits and use a qualified suspension technician when the model, sag or component condition remains uncertain.
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