How MTB Suspension Works Explained For Dummies

Ever wondered what the knobs on MTB Shocks actually do? Maybe you want to know what Compression and Rebound Damping mean? What the difference between the High and Low Speed Compression Adjustments. Today we're looking at how MTB shocks and suspension work, and explaining them in very simple terms. *This video is not intended for engineers. Many of the concepts have been oversimplified to help make sense of these adjustments. It's also worth noting that every shock is different and how these adjustments actually work will vary greatly between different make and models.*
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#MTBsuspension #mountainbikes #techtuesday

[@goozzz666]

EDUCATIONAL VIDEO ON KZbin?! NO CRASHES NO CLICKBAIT NO STUPID THINGS??? ARE YOU CRAZY?! GOD BLESS YOU PHIL, THE LAST WARRIOR OF KNOWLEDGE!

[@gabrielleute9911]

Yeah but it’s still something you have to buy

[@maplic]

Gabriel Leute what do you HAVE to buy here? I just watched it for free

[@gabrielleute9911]

@@maplica fork or shock

[@HKgaming86]

@@gabrielleute9911 some skills with phil stickers

[@gabrielleute9911]

@@HKgaming86 haha

[@FatGuyBiking]

Probably one of the best explanations of different suspension systems this will definitely be a go to video I will recommend to people wondering how suspension adjustments work and generally just how suspension works. This is a wonderfully informative video and even though you think your animations skills are lacking I thought they were great!! Awesome video!!

[@Wizler71]

I agree. I admit that I wasn't terribly interested but I watched anyway. The examples and illustrations are well done, they explain the mechanics clearly and I learned some things. In the end, I found this quite interesting!

[@pierrebroccoli.9396]

Second. A very to the point and well explained video for explaining what the shock does including High and Low Speed Compression which would also apply to Damping. Thanks.

[@GlitchyPics]

Couldn’t agree more.

[@sbw1980]

I'd love to see a continuation of this where you're out on the trail and adjusting things and marking the differences and referencing this video (which is an awesome explanation). Great job on this explanation. I love the "how stuff works" approach. I learned something from this.

[@laneherrlinger7478]

Please

[@MTBMOR]

This is a great idea...I would love to see this while you are prepping for a race

[@newttella1043]

If you taught science in high school, kids would never drop out.

[@SkillsWithPhil]

I've always enjoyed teachers who took complicated topics and made them simple instead of trying to brute force the learning of information.

[@peibikeguy]

I think your "Limited" animation skills actually work better here to explain this in a simple manner. This is a great explanation! Thanks Phil.

[@skardi1]

Wow Phil thats the clearest explanation i have seen. Keep up the good work.

[@DominicToretto-nf4xn]

This seems sarcastic

[@mtbmike]

i am a mechanical engineer and let me tell you that is one great explanation on how bike suspensions work, there are a lot more details on designs and fluid mechanics but your video goes straight to point. Great job

[@FDB77]

The “S H O C K I N G” truth. Jesus Phil... 😂

[@SkillsWithPhil]

Hopefully the suspense didn't kill you... I'll see myself out.

[@FDB77]

Why Phil why?! 😂😂

[@dummkompf]

somehow I missed the puns and just saw clickbait. lol it was actually a great video though

[@leanasf821]

I almost break down in tears

[@angelikult]

I think he prefers just Phil

[@patrolshreddin5609]

You look as bored as me when watching those types of videos. Thanks for all that you do for the MTB community.Great breakdown and easy to follow, just what the Dr. ordered !

[@SkillsWithPhil]

I personally find them interesting, but a lot of times they cab be really hard to follow. Lots of jargon is thrown around which makes them very hard to follow.

[@ThisIsGoingDownhill]

You are like a "moron whisperer". I never really understood the way the adjustments worked before. I knew what they were for, but understanding how they work goes a lot further into being able to use them properly. I have experienced this a few times watching your videos. Your knowledge is pure. The ability to explain fairly complex things in a simple and concise manner is a bit of an art. You sir are an artist. Thank you.

[@BenNemec]

That demonstration with the spring-loaded plunger might be the best visualization of how a suspension works that I've seen yet!

[@crrico83]

I'm a bike mechanic and have tried thousands of times to explain this to people. Brilliant job man. Question though. Who's idea was syringe thing? I’m kind of jealous I didn’t think of it. It’s a perfect way to help people visualize what’s going on.

[@SkillsWithPhil]

Mine :) I've been had this video idea brewing for a while. And Hailey works in a biology lab. The hardest part was figuring out how to visually demonstrate these things.

[@crrico83]

Skills With Phil absolutely brilliant. I might even set something like this up at the shop for demonstration. Credit for the idea will go directly to you😁

[@slappdaddy8]

Brilliant! Thanks for bringing this stuff back to earth for us common folk to understand!!! Several months after buying my bike - Santa Cruz 5010 - I realize that I left the shop without knowing the language I needed to dial-in my ride. Thanks to great KZbinrs, like yourself - I FINALLY feel as if I have dialed-in a great ride!!! Thanks!

[@Bayplaces]

I've heard a handful of lifelong bike mechanics explain suspension both in person and online. Two of them are at the top in terms of industry recognition. None of them explained it as concisely. Well done Phil. I hope they all just reference your video in the future.

[@cliffsangelsphotography]

Holy crap! Phil just sent it... with science!🤟 Your explanation was the best I've ever seen. It was simple and easy to understand. Keep up the great work!

[@benridesbikes6975]

Seriously one of the most concise and clear explanations on KZbin. The animations were on point too!

[@TheBreaded]

This is actually a really good explanation of how shocks work for anything. Good job!

[@churnstyle]

Jesus Christ, this is a great video. Nice animations dude

[@rupedog]

Great and as always super clear explanation...whether its teaching jumping or explaining rebound, u are simply the best at explaining it. Period. 👏👏👏👏

[@sdoobzfishing2308]

I love how you go so in depth with the explanation but do it in a way everyone can understand, Great video!

[@ross_rusher0243]

Great job Phil with explaining how suspension works! You're pretty much spot on! All you need to cover is the high and low speed rebound and you're pretty much covered most of it.

[@CanIHasThisName]

Wow! Hands down, probably the best explanation video for laymen I've seen to date. So simple, straightforward, yet very informative at.

[@profesam8457]

Don’t depricate your animations. They were terrific. I thought I understood it before but. No. Now I really do. Thanks Phil!

[@WERTYBD]

Bro, this is the best suspension video I’ve ever seen. I work in a shop and literally until this video I could not wrap my head around low and high speed compression adjustments.

[@garethluke9146]

After pouring through countless, well the first 90 seconds, of videos on suspension I finally see your clear as glass explanation and application. I second the comment “If you only taught high school science….” “Well played sir”.

[@Modern_Family]

🤯 Thank you for the detailed video on forks! Love the videos my dude!

[@eagle3906]

You said on your podcast what you wanted to do regarding these tutorials and you absolutely nailed it. Best suspension video ever.

[@ghustavus]

Awesome video man! Finally, I understand how the adjustment works properly. Tnx!

[@ivzednem]

Just started MTB and I am happy to see a good explanation on how the suspension works! Awesome!

[@mtbshredder5719]

one of the best illustrations of how it actually works. Awesome work!

[@mattmiller5673]

Best explanation I have heard and seen. Now I can adjust my suspension and know what I am actually doing, thank you Phil!!!

[@mountainman7025]

Perfect! Simple explanations + used layman's terms + simplified diagrams = VERY UNDERSTANDABLE.

[@SPFhealthy]

The best suspension video I've seen so far for helping me to understand it. Thank you for all the work you put into this video

[@brian_simmons_]

That was really good Phil, really helps understand it better.

[@JayBirdPhotos]

Great explanation and animations. Out of all the video's regarding suspension compression and dampening I finally understand it a lot better. Thanks Phil.

[@dieseldavedick]

Appreciate the straight forward explanation, the diagrams make this sooo much easier to understand. Thanks you

[@wadepratt9654]

Good to know your still making videos phill. I was gettin worried cuz i needed my skills with phill fix. Its been a couple months and i didnt know what to do lol. Love your videos man. I still have a couple stickers left, but will be ordering more after i find a place for the ones i still have. Keep up the great work man🤘

[@tyleryoung8994]

Love your vids Phil, big fan. Keep up the great work!

[@artoutlawphoto]

i was thinking about the syringe explanation for a long time. Good work phil. Not even rockshox or fox can explained better

[@niklask.7333]

Even my english skills are limited, I understood everything. Love the video. Thank you for explanation!

[@onehelewaguy]

This was a GREAT video on suspension- the syringes with and without the damper was great- awesome to see it in action. I still think LSC is alchemy, but I know something happens when I turn that dial! Anyway, it helped to SEE what happens, not just say it happens. Well done Phil! Keep it up!

[@sapinva]

Great explanation, full coverage and yet concise.

[@garyblenkinsopp2394]

Thought that you did a great job of explaining it Phil. Animation more than adequate to explain a properly nuanced subject. I feel that I will understand suspension for AT LEAST the next hour. I made need to rewatch to consolidate my knowledge (and tweak my suspension adjustments) .Thanks man, good job

[@maxkeppel3234]

I wish I could hit like on this video more than once. Loved it. I tend to geek out on learning how stuff like this works, and honestly, I'm surprised I never looked all this stuff up until now (I'm an engineering student). Keep up the great work Phil. Would LOVE to see more stuff like this!

[@ChrisCXK]

Thanks for the simple explanation! I'm impressed you did the animation, thats awesome!

[@MountainBikePete]

Clear and precise! I actually understood that! Made total sense. Thanks Phil!

[@eejjjj82]

Seriously great video man. You should make this a recurring segment, Science with Phil

[@JamesStoup]

This was a really great video. Definitely the best ELI5 for what the knobs do and control.

[@jakegoss547]

Just seeing this now for the first time after a google search for the topic out of curiosity and I gotta say Phil, that is one of the best explanations of sus ever! Always crushing the MTB content dude!

[@mattgies]

Just started the video and I'm already stoked that you called out the "damper" vs "dampener" issue. Your shock has adjustable damping; if you want to adjust your dampening you should get a fender. Edit: Start to finish, an excellent video with great demonstrations and illustrations. Quite possibly the best short primer on how suspension works.

[@garykidson]

Very clear and concise explanation. Thanks Phil

[@ClintGriffin1]

Phil, you continue to amaze me with your awesome ability to explain complex things in easy to understand videos!👨‍🎓📜🧠💥

[@Cubenga]

Great video! The explanation was really great and easy to understand. Would love to see more of these. And/or more indepth etc

[@robieosborne7369]

Dude. This was awesome! It's always felt like trying to figure out the machinations of forbidden magic. Now i get mechanical basics of it all. Im legit pumped rn after watching this!

[@pseudomugilidae5897]

That's probably the clearest explanation of high vs. Low speed damping I've seen. Cheers!

[@bbens999]

Great video. Thank you! The animation was perfectly sufficient!

[@jonoc08]

brilliant video. That was perfect timing as I'm just looking at a DHx2

[@marcbrigham8569]

I love the animations, it makes its a lot more clearer how it all works...keep up the good work!

[@patdrumm3770]

Hey nice job with the animations! I think that simplified it very nicely without being condescending. Thanks Phil!

[@jonathanyoung3684]

Amazing video I learned so much. As an up in coming Bike mechanic. This Really help me understand more about what all of the parts on the suspension do. Thanks again Phil.

[@tuckerstv4898]

Thanks for the video, and good PUN 😉very informative and easy to understand! Nice job Phil 👍🏻

[@dominickhillwig8544]

As I slowly learn how to do some of my own bike work suspension is 1 thing I have no idea about, and to avoid being "that guy" who tears my bike apart and messes it up more I don't even consider anything shock related. Thanks for picking this topic Phil

[@css2538]

The video I've been looking for. It clearly explained the things that should be explained. Thanks man

[@SaleenS351R]

Dude, nice video! Entertaining and gives you a general explanation on how this stuff works.

[@hansiwurst7492]

One of the best sus explanations so far! Keep up the good work!

[@ZionistInfidel]

Excellent video and production quality here Phil, did a great job of explaining and I feel like I learned something.

[@totofx]

Great video like always my favorite mtb channel!!! Keep up the good work!

[@thesmf1210]

pretty much spot on, nice description of things and visual aids, nice one

[@pwduce]

Hi Phil, succinct and highly informative. Loads must have gone into that video explanation, big thanks!

[@Daniel-hh2kh]

I have been trying to understand this for ages and this just worked perfectly thanks for all the excellent video's, especially this one

[@GeddyRC]

Really cool video, always wondered what these knobs did!

[@Kejsh22]

This is really a fantastic video. Simple animations are easy to understand so it really helped me. Thanks!

[@jinda8897]

Been watching a lot of suspension videos and still cannot get how it works but this is so far the best I've seen. I don't know why I'm only seeing this now.

[@chrisfoster3772]

Hi I am building up my first full suspension bike. My frame is supposed to arrive vis USPS this afternoon. I just got both of my tubeless tires seated this morning. I will adjust suspension using this video. I love you

[@mattdickey2454]

Excellent video, thanks. I would love to see a follow up with you explaining how you like your suspension to feel and how to get it how you like it. I am trying different ways and feel as I am not knowing what to look for.

[@nickrogers6441]

Fantastic explanation, knowing what the adjustment actually does, will help you (me) get the shock to do what you want it to. Thanks.

[@sethjennings1045]

Great explanation on the different adjustments, I think a good follow up would be going through the processes of dialing each setting. Like when to adjust low speed vs when to adjust high speed

[@brianfurtaw7893]

I like the anvils makes the concept really easy to understand, great job!

[@project4funner]

By FAR the best suspension video I’ve ever seen!

[@DavidQuin]

Awesome work Phil that is the best description of how suspension works I have ever seen, btw love your videos

[@affinitystablepeanuts]

Your animation skills are amazing! Exactly enough to explain things. Thank you for this video.

[@peterlang5047]

Thank you for making the most informative and understandable video on KZbin

[@bamchel]

Best explanation, illustration and animation. Thanks Phil. Knowledge is power! 😅

[@leonchouinard4931]

Thanks for the video. Very comprehensive 👍🏾

[@zanetaylor7]

Yes Phil! Really really well done. It’s amazing nobody has taken the time to simplify suspension like this. This will get a ton of views over the years, and I hope you get back into making more skills and informative videos. You’re really really good at them. And I know you’ve watched a good video on the negative air chamber by... I forgot who. But you commented on it and said it was really good. What if you two teamed up on the deeper science behind air chamber tuning? I think I commented this same suggestion on that video.

[@irenelim5134]

Best explanation I’ve seen so far.👍🏻👍🏻

[@MTBMOR]

Great video and thank you. I was admiring your animation skills and thinking... "Maybe I should just retire from making videos" because they were that good. I am now a little less confused about my suspension.

[@alexunlv]

Great video! Very helpful and informative!

[@onefortysix6955]

holy smokes this was more informative than I expected, you killed it Phil!

[@danielemperado2492]

Awesome video mate! Ive always wondered what making a suspension more progressive meant. Your visuals and explanations helped massively!

[@drojim184]

My man I appreciate this video so much. I think this is what every new biker has wanted to see and waiting for.

[@1pho3nixmatt]

Brilliantly put together Phil.

[@islandman6427]

Very good explanation. Thank Phil!!

[@goddielconde]

This is so educational! Your animations are on point and relatable.

[@lrvz7187]

Those animations are key for an easy understanding for everyone, thanks for the work 👍👍🤘

[@vikhmanboys966]

I just watched 5 different video on this. And finally someone who enlightened me with this simple but yet very clever technology.

[@Holotype]

Phil, this is *really* well done. Hits the fundamentals, clear, concise, doesn't distort facts in an effort to simplify. The only thing I can suggest is slightly lower levels for the background track!

[@mtnerb]

mate that is the best explanations of suspension. thank you for that Phil.

[@judylee3031]

This was a pretty sick video Phil! Very informative! 👊👌👍👍👍

[@bacala0]

Excellent content Phil! Better explanation than the one I got at engineering school years ago; seriously.