Now EVERYONE Will Understand, How The Suspension Fork Works. What's Inside.

[@sebharvey4497]

Best explanation on how shocks work. Seeing the insides at work made all the difference. Good one🤟

[@backcountryme]

You had your damper cylinder upside down. The compression adjustment is on the top. That is why that giant air bubble was mixing with the oil. That actually hurts damping performance. If the cylinder was the right way up, the air would have been above the compression piston, and the air would not mix with the oil.

[@adslammer1359]

Yea! Because it causes cavitation when that happens.

[@pishi_man]

The way he held it you mean? Or you are talking about sth in its structure?

[@backcountryme]

@@pishi_man He held it upside down. The rod that slides in and out should have been at the bottom.

[@Emtbtoday]

Yeah look at 12.08 aswell whare he's saying the volume tokens go! Half way down under the seal 😂 geez this video's most confusing ever needs to be remade

[@bbman85]

Apart from the damper being upside down like everyone else pointed out, it's worth mentioning that the bottomless tokens are installed ABOVE the upper seal, not below. Like in the damper stanchion, the chamber above is connected to the main spring chamber by channels. That's why the tokens are only limiting the air volume without changing the actual travel of the fork.

[@eddulles1502]

Best explanation I have seen so far on the fork mechanics and dynamics. Thanks!

[@Coofy91]

I watched dozens of fork maintenance videos before taking mine apart, none of them mentioned that there is a type that has only springs in both sides.

[@freektange5320]

Grrrreat tutorial! Finally someone who took the job really seriously and got us, forknerds from oblivious bumping over trees to scientifically supported cruising through the woods :D Love the dummies!

[@wallaceteixeira429]

hey, i'm brazilian and i really aprecciate this video, bcz here in youtube brazil, there isn't videos explaining how this type of suspensions works. Thank you boy, success to you!

[@Sricky27]

Really good explanation. It has been difficult for me to find that kind of video. And really clear even for a spanish talker like me. Now I can clearly understand how does the fork work.

[@peterrabbitwarren]

Best explanation of suspension forks ever. On my shopping list.

[@matt-g-recovers]

Excellent video 👍👌👏!! Thank you! Im returning to serious MTBing after 20 years away... hahaha the last suspension I saw the inside of was the 1998 base model Rock Shocks (was it a Judy? ...me thinks yes!) They were toys back then...plastic air springs both sides...this is completely different. This is easily as sophisticated as the Ohlins motocross suspension I used to use on my dirtbikes. Now I understand the cost, and see the value...even if other companies have different methods to achieve the same things those things are really being addressed (Hi/Low speed compression and rebound dampening) My hope was to see this level of sophistication and I am not disappointed. thanks again

[@balrajshahi5842]

being an engineer, i always think how we take things for granted never thought how it actually works , good job #SickBiker

[@pdpcycling248]

Pretty straight forward analogy for explaining bike suspension from rider's perspective and good job for the demonstration of suspension parts! However, there are some points need corrections or better explanation to not misleading non-suspension enthusiast viewers. 6:16 That is the upper part where the compression or lock-out knob located (at your hand reach when you ride). 10:29 I think you wanted to refer to the dimple on the wall of air-spring cylinder tube which has main job is to balance the pressure between positive and negative chamber. Some forks will need a bit of cycling the fork to equalise the pressure, but some new forks nowadays may not need to. Some claim that having dimple at zero travel can affect small bump sensitivity... 11:03 The polymer spacer (Topout bumper) in the negative spring chamber is supposed to work as cushion when fork fully extended. (I'm not sure if this scenario is called 'off the top'?...please correct me if I'm wrong) For bottom-out cushioning, some forks has polymer spacer in lower leg to take the hit from stanchion, some cheap coil spring forks has polymer rod in the positive spring chamber to do that task.

[@schlooonginator1227]

Also makes a good case for the latest damper designs from Fox and Rock Shox using bladders or sealed chambers separating the oil from the air and preventing the foaming or "cavitation" which may lead to unpredictable dampening characteristics.

[@kanavparashar1641]

I’m an Indian boy. I liked your video too much. You did a great explanation about this topic. I truly liked your video. It’s very helpful to me

[@johnybrokeit]

This was so amazing for me to watch and learn from! I had no idea that each of the front forks do different things! Engineering is so awesome! I live in india, i am 44 years old, im new to current MTB tech although ive been oggling all these youtube videos for years now. I used to cycle more than i walked during my schooling days. My bicycle was called the StreetCat RockNRoll ❤😂 The coolest bike available in the 90s in india 😅 Cool dad i have! I still havent ridden a 27.5. I stopped a stranger and rode his 29er recently, felt like i was riding a horse, so awkward!! 😂 I'm traveling to thailand and excitedly waiting to ride a cycle trail and hopefully pick up a frame and suspension and cranks to build a cycle cheaper than they sell in india. I ride agressive street, like climbing down stairs and wheelieing and well not stoppies anymore cuz im freakin 80kgs now (still very fit though). I guess my reason for rambling is im hoping to find hints and suggestions for minimum requirements for my dream cycle build. Okay, sorry for rambling! Thank u for this excellent video!

[@Kriskata-c2z]

Thank you very much I finally understood how forks and its functions work! 😁

[@Justmyopinionlol]

love your channel man, always giving a deeper understanding of the mechanics behind our ride.

[@513769]

Thanks man! English is not my first language but I still understood everything.

[@epkafe]

your explanation answers all my questions, thank

[@martindunioh7597]

yo u totally nailed it...been looking for clarity on compression dampening for ages ...thanx

[@lucabernecole6634]

Very clear explanation! Very interesting

[@JuanCarlosDominguezVilaza]

Amazing explanation. Just what I wanted to see. Thanks!

I don't understand one thing: How the oil does not flow by the rebound adjustment system while the damping system is locked, considering that the systems are mechanically independent? Can someone explain to me?

[@Kollingl]

what the fork

[@fretlessed25]

I know you did this 6 years ago but thank you very much for the see-thru chambers to show how it works.

[@SE7ENinc1]

This video makes me want to take apart my SiD and clean everything.

[@jhoellopez4224]

I think you had the rebound upside down

[@owenstauff1856]

Super helpful and really interesting, thanks for putting this out there!

[@ZARuslan]

Good day! Is that demo cartridges? They are transparent and thats looks cool!

[@teogm]

Very good video. I'm wondering how forks and shocks can have different rebound and compression adjustments for high and low speed.

[@netac7667]

Learned so much! Much easier to understand when you can see what's going on in your fork. Thank you for making the video and explaining🙏

[@sunteyphotography]

Hey hey! Greate video! But unfortunatly you've got a mistake! You should turn up side down reboutdamper. It could be shown correct work of it.

[@ivanm.3522]

Hi, thank you for this well done and very informative video. I'm struggling with a strange problem with my hydraulic (manitou) fork. Lock out function suddenly stopped working, I disassembled it and I found that the plunger have some existing-through-holes in it (that cant be closed by the handle bar command), besides the locking valve that should do the trick. I don't understand how it could ever lock the fork while some holes are always open. Any clue about the principle of whole thing? Thanx

[@voltagefrogmatthias2375]

Great video and lighting quality, audio quality, and English 👍 overall very helpful and professional

[@doncampbell1961]

Great video ! i watched 25 videos and just didnt click. I watched yours ....Boom ! it all made sense! lol. thank you

[@alamedajon1453]

Thanks Dude, Now I understand. Made adjustments. Will do again on the trail.

[@rooms_emptv4397]

Thank you for this lesson i don't really know whats inside or the operation of Lock out fork even to adjust..now i know !😁💪 thanks!

[@richardkaz2336]

Springs that are made with a uniform thickness rod will have a linear characteristic. This tweaked to give a spring a progression characteristic changing the pitch of the coil wind and by heat treatment. The true progressive spring will be made by using a tapered rod, one where the rod is slightly thicker over the length of the rod coiled to make the spring too changing the pitch of the spring coil to a smaller pitch at the end where the ticker material is coiled will vary the spring compression progression depending where the pitch changes. If the pitch starts halfway through the spring and the pitch progressively decreases over the remaining length. The the spring will have a linear characteristic for the first half of the compression but will require greater force the more it is compresses beyond the halfway point.

[@weeg91]

What is more advanced / prone to breaking? Hydro or mech lockout?

[@MaquinasDePalomitas]

Just blown away, best suspension explanation I've ever seen

[@javidambra]

As some folks has said, you explain the rebound side upside down, the compresion knob is the upper one, and the rebound knob is lower one, near the drops

[@nvdesignz]

Great video and explanations. What I still don't understand is how the lockout works and I can't find anything on the net.

[@lawlerskeetz]

It works in the same way as the compression adjustment. It just completely closes off the valve that allows the oil through to the other chamber, rather than having it still open slightly, thus no compression at all so the fork wont move. There was a video that had Jordi Cortes from Fox explaining how it works, but i cant seem to find it.

[@nvdesignz]

@@lawlerskeetz Thanks man :)

[@alamedajon1453]

It closes the oil flow, as shown in the video.

[@Emtbtoday]

12.09 the volume tokens don't go in that chamber nothing changed there they sit in the top chamber

[@minifireball1170]

What mechanism allows the rebound to compress easily/oil to flow through easily going one direction, but then hard for the oil to flow through going the other direction?

[@MrSwsok]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3fPgaeXbduUf80 This can be a help.

[@jakubswierk247]

It looks like the video in comment. But, it's easier in rebound rod of that fork. There is a shim with spring, when it's going rebound, it is closed and minimum flow is used. As the rebound rod is getting into compression move, that kind of valve opens, max flow is used, rebound rod won't affect the compression move, as another part of fork is for compression use

[@feroxgargol]

great :D will you make a Manitou video?

[@johannes7017]

Great video, very nice explanation However you kind of messed up the damping side of the fork...what i mean is that you explained it upside down...rebound is on the downside and compression on the upside (lookout is always on the top, rebound adjuster on the bottom) You can also see it at the rod sticking out of the damping unit...it connects with the lowers via a screw, whereas the other side is screwed into the forks crown. So everything is alright, expect you have the damping side turned upside down in your explanation and in the background : )

[@matt-g-recovers]

Please don't let this be true...in every other discipline his explination is correct, why would it be different for mountain bikes? Think of the physics, when the forks compress it's called... Compression. To lessen said compression or to dampen it would be the compression dampening adjustment no? then when the fork is kicking back against the compression is called the rebound and to lessen that effect is the rebound dampening (er)?

[@johannes7017]

@@matt-g-recovers yeah nothing wrong with his explanation, he just held it upside down. In assembled fork it would be turned around, so that the compression adjuster is on the top and the red damping adjuster at the bottom of the fork. Otherwise everything is correct and perfectly explained :)

[@pinoyakousa1382]

Can you make video on how to disassemble and rebuild step by step on manitou markhor fork.

[@rendrakw7103]

This explanation answered my question why all fork's down-tube always connected

[@Mirel1125]

Hi, can you explain how an dual air fork works, or if you have a video made about them, can you send me a link please?

[@ozan3076]

Nice explanation but I wonder how Cannondale Lefty works?

[@leonst99]

The two parts are above each other.

[@darkmaster450]

Dang. A very good explanation

[@ostankovalex1176]

Great video, but it does not mention an important part - explaining how negative and positive chambers work and what are they used for :) It's a very interesting topic, and I guess DualAir shocks are really great, allow you more adjustments and less sag

[@tomekb1601]

Nice video, thanks 👍 I've just bought a new bike with front suspension and wonder how it works 🤔 Thanks for explanation 👌

[@arkngelus]

what the fork!

[@mohitnautiyal2631]

Brilliant explanation. Worth the time.

[@DiegoVargasEnBici]

The best explanation i0ve found. Thanx :D I guess the rear suspension's are the same... Air & coil. it would be great to have thos models with transparent cases to view the inside of the forks and the rear shocks :D

[@kindlyklaus9416]

Thank you so much for the lesson You're genius🖤

[@terryfong9110]

Great video! Clear explanation!

[@sc0or]

Right, I have a question. Why these two tubes and two pistons cost $1200 sometimes? I see no room for expensive manual manufacturing. Each piece is made automatically, and an assembling does not require a sophisticated routine.

[@hermanngerman5805]

tighter tolerances, better materials, more adjustment... and your paying for the name

[@sc0or]

@@hermanngerman5805 Exactly this is similar to a price difference between 64GB and 128GB. I'm far from thinking that a bike is an iPhone ) For me it's ok to take a China carbon, place a "Canyon" sticker and use it until it dies. No problem. But professionals may be make better when a "manitou" replaces "rockshox".

[@THEGAMINGHELP101]

Tight tolerances do make these a bit expensive to make however not as expensive as the manufacturers like selling them for. There are definitely high margins on these components.

[@claytonhorvat7598]

Damn, wish I had compression adjustment on the damper side. My fork came with pneumatic travel adjust, which is just insane, didn't know what it came with, it was just a good deal online. I asked about replacing the damper with a R2C2, but apparently I can't. Yeah, the pneumatic travel adjust is just nutters, but the fork was half the price. I would love to work designing bicycle suspension, I feel there's tons of great ideas you could implement.

[@endurotrailslife47]

Hello! my RST first fork are a bit hard, Can you guide me how to adjust the rebund?

[@mart6571]

Greetings from the UK, and thank you for this superb explanation.

[@mtbboy1993]

10:28 Formula dh fork has 3 air chambers, MRP ribbon and other forks they got has two chambersalso formula enduro fork has 2 chambers.

[@한국돈을사랑한샘오취]

Can you make a video on Cannondale DL50 Headshok by any chance? such as 'How it's constructed, how the shock works and how to service it on a regular basis' and etc. Thanks!

[@janmejaypant4181]

Please also make a video on the working of hydraulic disc brakes

[@mustangnut351]

Hello there. Great video! Thank you for taking the time to make it. Where did you get the props?

[@reflexsamurai958]

This is a good video, many thanks

[@antreascy6954]

Awesome video! But i have a question, how does the Cannondale 1 fork bike works ? 😆

[@kanavparashar1641]

Excellent Explanation Bro

[@nirazincopenhagen]

what does it mean if the fork sinks down and do not come up. is it because of the problem in air spring or damper side ?

[@64x83]

If it comes up slow then the rebound damping is closed. If it rebounds fast but doesn’t return to ride height then it’s likely just air pressure. If neither work your stanchion could be binding in the lower, in which case it needs to be rebuilt. Hope that helps

[@Djangoat68]

Very well explained - thank you!

[@crownekwt7021]

Do you have any ideas about KASTLE HDB suspension fork? Please kindly reply me

[@Murgoh]

I wonder why there are not many "upside down"-style forks for bicycles yet as those have been the standard on motorcycles for decades?

[@matt-g-recovers]

Me too

[@jakubswierk247]

They are much more expensive to be made

[@FlorinAciobanitei]

Great video, perfect explanation! Thank you !

[@savoirfaire8979]

Great video. No one seems to cover suspension oil weight, tho.

[@StefanvanOrizande]

How does the lockout work when there is an valve in the rod? It would still go through the piston valve right? I dont know how it locks when there is on the top side just an orifice closing

[@jakubswierk247]

You have slow compression (regulated by the knob, as a needle), and shimmed piston as high compression. As he close the channel by a needle, more oil wants to go by high speed way. It gets harder to push oil bypass

[@deronkel4643]

Das beste Erklär- Video zum Thema Gabel i've ever seen!!! 😅🤘🏻👍🏻👌🏻💪🏻

[@charlezrznk]

Excellent content. Thanks m8 !

[@CptKolbenschlag]

so isn't the compression-thing at 6:20 some kind of hydraulic lockout like in 12:20, just graduated?

[@climatechangedoesntbargain9140]

would be my guess as well

[@WorldwideCyclery]

Nicely done!

[@mesakhadhiatma2431]

Hi Sickbiker, I got a problem with my RST Aerial hydraulic compression lockout. It can be locked out, but cannot be locked out perfectly. When it is locked, the suspension is still travelling for about 30 mm. Could you tell me what happened actually to my fork? and what shall I do? Thank you in advance 🙂

[@mr.andmrs.oineza4702]

great video! very informative, do you have a video about repairing hydraulic lockouts?

[@Basnak]

I think you have a mistake, the damper side is with thicker part up isn,t it?

[@brodiehaward]

@8:40 I think you were trying to say not to bottom out

[@lefterisgeorgiadis4848]

where i can find dust seals and foam rings for rst forks?

[@RickB918]

Hi , I've recently bought extra oxy replacement existing older ones. I want to evacuate the air and recharge or refill with nitrogen as it has many beneficial effects. Do you know if this is something I should do myself or if I could take it to the shop I'm having any difficulty finding one near me in Concord, NH does that does that work. Unless there was someone you can recommend.

[@shinjunkang74]

So kind explanation!! Many thanks!!

[@carlinesmtb]

Very useful anyway!! But...for exapmple. I have a problem on my Fox talas 2009 (that has open bath system) and suddenly it starts to compress till the end only with my weight (and spread oil from the damper side). The air pressure in the right side is constant, it doesn't lose air. I'm wondering where could it be the issue ... i still had a good quantity of oil on the damper side bath when i opened it (lockout anyway doesn't work at all). I don't think that changing the dust seals would make any difference about it (or am I wrong?).

[@justusernst8053]

Nice video! One Question can you exchange the fork damper oil without removing the lowers? Or will some oil remain at the bottom under the sliding seal so you don't know how much you need to put back in?

[@JamesDownes]

How does altering the travel of a shock effect things. I have a suntour raidon 32 lor-ds that I'm thinking of increasing from 120 - 130. My thinking, more air in the chamber softer compression for same amount of PSI, correct?

[@varathan3558]

I think that you hold the oil rebound part upside down.

[@jimrodb6379]

1:23 what the fork

[@yashladani7986]

from where you bought this plastic tube ( your special tools in this video ) ?

[@mixagames5425]

Thank you so much, great video, simply explained and i understood everything! Great job you got a new subscriber! :)

[@jacklynn2108]

Great, i learned something from you sir. Thank you so much.

[@budsbularon2716]

Nice explanation how suspension works

[@iffy_too6465]

great explanation tools using a clear damper tube, but holding it so that air mixes with the fluid while you're demostrating it is wrong and confusing. It ideally should not aerate and you are forcing the air through the valve with the oil giving an incorrect picture of whats happening. People will google this and get told that mixing oil and air is really bad in a damper and avoid RST and other dampers that operate like this (New Marzocchi Bomber B2 Rail damper) from this demonstration.

[@Mingloid]

He has the damper upside down in the demonstration and explanation. The rebound knob should be at the bottom of the fork, and the black compression knob should be at the top.

[@rockynash4156]

Good explanation And good english lesson for me

[@Emtbtoday]

That damper oil would not bubble like that your pretty much boiling it justbhop you have air pressure valves your gonna need em lol thats upside-down thin lower shaft goies downwards into the lowers blue end to bottom would normally be red but will be blue on this demonstration damper

[@johnfreeman7159]

Thank you! Easy to understand, I get it now!