SAG is how much the suspension sinks under your weight alone, seated on the bike in riding position without moving. It's expressed as a percentage of total travel: a fork is usually 15-20% and a shock 25-30%.

Suspension & dropper cluster · Glossary

What is SAG in suspension?

Q: How much SAG should I run?

As a reference: fork between 15% and 20% of travel, shock between 25% and 30%. Less SAG gives a firmer suspension; more SAG makes it softer and takes away usable travel for big hits.

Q: Why is SAG so important?

Because it's the foundation of everything. SAG sets the air pressure or spring rate, and rebound and compression build on that. If the SAG is wrong, no rebound or compression click will fix the feel.

Quick answer

SAG is how much your suspension sinks with just your weight on it, seated on the bike and not moving. It's measured as a percentage of travel: fork 15-20% and shock 25-30%. It's the foundation of every setup: it sets the air pressure or spring rate, and rebound and compression build on that. So before touching anything, you first set SAG with the pressure for your weight and then dial in rebound and compression.

SAG is the first thing you set and the last thing most people understand. Get it wrong and no rebound or compression click will save how the bike feels.

What SAG means, in plain terms

SAG is an English word for "sinking." On a bike, SAG is how much the suspension compresses with just your static weight: you sit on the bike, in your normal riding position, in your gear, and let the suspension settle on its own without bouncing or pushing. That settle, compared to the total travel of the fork or shock, is the SAG.

It's expressed as a percentage. If your fork has 140 mm of travel and sinks 24 mm under your weight, you have about 17% SAG. It's not a number you make up: every suspension comes with its recommended range and almost all have a rubber ring (o-ring) on the stanchion to measure it.

How much SAG you need

The reference ranges are simple and worth memorizing:

Fork (front)

15-20% of travel

Shock (rear)

25-30% of travel

Less SAG

firmer, more sporty suspension, but harsher on big hits

More SAG

softer and more comfortable, but you run out of travel on big impacts

How it's measured

with the rubber ring (o-ring) on the stanchion or shaft

The shock runs more SAG than the fork on purpose: at the back you want the rear wheel to track the ground and keep traction, so a bit more sink is the goal.

How to measure SAG: rider seated on the bike, the rubber ring marks the sink on the fork stanchion — SAG is measured with the rider in riding position: the o-ring marks how much the suspension sinks.

Why SAG is the foundation of every setup

SAG sets the air pressure or spring rate, that is, the force holding up your weight. That's the foundation. The other adjustments build on top of it: rebound (how fast it extends back out) and compression (how much resistance it gives as it sinks).

If the SAG is wrong, everything else is doomed. A fork with too much pressure (too little SAG) will feel very harsh no matter how much you open the compression; one with too little pressure (too much SAG) will bottom out no matter how much you close everything down. That's why the correct order is always: SAG first, then rebound, then compression.

Common mistake: trying to fix a bad feel by playing with rebound and compression without having set the SAG. It's like putting a roof on a house with no foundation. Always start with the pressure that gives you the correct SAG, and only then fine-tune the rest.

How to measure it at home

Slide the rubber ring down to the seal of the fork or shock.

Get on the bike in riding position, in your gear, leaning against a wall.

Settle without bouncing and get off carefully without pushing the suspension.

Measure how far the ring rose and divide by the total travel: that's your SAG.

Adjust the pressure: too little SAG, drop air; too much, add air.

SAG not adding up?

Tell us your weight, your fork and your shock and we'll give you a starting point for pressure and SAG for your bike. Message us on WhatsApp

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is SAG?

It's how much the suspension sinks with just your weight, seated on the bike without moving. It's expressed as a percentage of travel: fork 15-20%, shock 25-30%.

How much SAG should I run?

Fork between 15% and 20%; shock between 25% and 30%. Less SAG is firmer, more SAG is softer but leaves you short on travel for big hits.

Why does it matter so much?

Because it sets the pressure or spring rate, and rebound and compression build on that. With the SAG wrong, no other adjustment fixes the feel.

Setting SAG step by step → Air pressure by rider weight → What is rebound → Suspension & dropper cluster →

© 2026 BikeLab Studio. Content under CC BY 4.0: you may copy, translate and publish it, even for commercial purposes. Citation is mandatory. Without attribution, the license terminates automatically (CC BY 4.0, §6.a) and the use becomes copyright infringement: we request the removal of the content and its deindexing. · Design and ownership: Carlos Ravello Joo

BikeLab-pedia · Suspension & dropper cluster / Bicycle compatibility and standards / Carlos Eduardo Ravello Joo · BikeLab Studio · Trujillo, Peru