What if we told you that in less than 30 minutes, you could have a harmoniously balanced, professional-grade suspension setup on your eBike? As electric bikes grow more and more popular, riders are finding their way onto a greater variety of trails and a greater diversity of terrain. That has properly shone a light on a key ingredient to comfort, control, and capability: the suspension.
Get the right suspension, though, and the ride will be a lot smoother and those teeth-rattling shock hits will be minimised. In this comprehensive guide, we will break down the principles, components, and considerations that go into choosing the ideal suspension for your eBike, which in turn will lead to a much safer and enjoyable ride.
The Principles: How eBike Suspension Works
The purpose of an eBike’s suspension is twofold: to absorb the impacts of rough terrain and maintain contact between the tires and the ground for the best grip. This is done by a combination of two factors: a spring and a damper.
The spring is responsible for compressing to absorb the force of an impact. The springs on eBikes traditionally come in two forms: a metal coil or a chamber of compressed air.
- Coil Springs: Durable, sturdy, with a consistent feel. They are typically cheaper but heavier than air models.
- Air Springs: They work by using a highly pressurised air chamber that absorbs shocks. Their main pros are their lightweight nature and high adjustability to a rider's specific weight and preference, simply by adjusting air pressure.
The damper is responsible for the rate of the spring’s compression and rebound. Without a damper, the spring would bounce uncontrollably. This is generally accomplished by pumping oil through a set of passageways and valves.
- Rebound Damping: This dictates how fast the suspension will rebound after it compresses. A good rebound is important to avoid the wheel bouncing off the surface.
- Compression Damping: This manages how quickly the suspension compresses. Some more sophisticated suspension systems are adjustable for both high-speed (fast, large impacts) and low-speed (softer bumps and movement due to the rider) compression.
Anatomy of an eBike Suspension System
eBike suspension is categorised by its placement on the bike: front, rear, or both.
Front Suspension (Hardtail): This consists of a suspension fork that replaces a rigid fork. The main components include:
- Stanchions: The upper tubes of the fork that slide into the lower legs.
- Lowers: The lower section of the fork that the front wheel is mounted into.
- Steerer Tube: Connects the fork to the frame of the eBike.
- Crown: Links the stanchions to the steerer tube.
- Internals: The spring and damper assembly that the stanchions and lowers encase.
Rear Suspension: This type is more complicated and consists of a frame with a pivot and a rear shock. The key components are:
- Rear Shock: The unit that houses the spring and damper for the rear wheel.
- Linkage: A setup in which pivots and links are used to connect the rear wheel to the main frame and the rear shock. Various linkage configurations can have a significant effect on the suspension's performance.
Full Suspension: A full-suspension eBike has both front and rear suspension and offers the most comfort and control over rough terrain.
Judging the Quality of eBike Suspension
Differentiating between basic and high-performance suspension systems comes down to a few key factors:
Adjustability: Quality suspension provides a broad range of adjustments that riders can use to dial in the performance to their weight, riding style, and the terrain. Key adjustments to look for include:
- Preload: The initial tension on the spring.
- Rebound: The speed at which the shock returns.
- Compression: The velocity of the compression stroke of the shock.
- Lockout: A mechanism for stiffening the suspension to facilitate efficient pedalling on very smooth surfaces.
Materials and Construction: Higher-end suspension forks and shocks are built with lighter and stronger materials, such as high-quality aluminium and magnesium in the lowers and crown, and often feature coated stanchions to minimise friction and ensure longevity.
Damper Technology: The sophistication of the internal damper is a major differentiator. Advanced dampers provide more consistent and controlled performance over a wider range of impacts.
E-Bike Specific Design: Due to the increased weight and higher speeds of eBikes, reputable suspension manufacturers now produce eBike-specific forks and shocks. They are constructed with beefier chassis and damper tunes that are calibrated for the unique needs of an electric-assist mountain bike.
How to Choose the Right eBike Suspension
Selecting the appropriate suspension system depends heavily on your intended use. A key specification to take into account is suspension travel, which is the maximum distance the wheel can move to cushion an impact.
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Short Travel (40mm - 100mm): Typically found on commuter and leisure eBikes, this amount of travel is sufficient to smooth out city streets, bike paths, and light gravel trails.
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Mid Travel (120mm - 150mm): This is the sweet spot for most trail and all-mountain eBikes. It provides a good balance between climbing efficiency and descending capability on a variety of singletrack trails.
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Long Travel (160mm - 200mm): Reserved for enduro and downhill eMTBs, this extensive travel is designed to handle large drops, jumps, and the most aggressive terrain at high speeds.
Popular and Reputable Suspension Brands
When it comes to high-performance eBike suspension, there are a handful of brands that rise above the pack with innovative suspension platforms and proven race results:
Fox Racing Shox: A leader in the industry, Fox offers a wide range of high-end forks and shocks with advanced features and e-bike-specific options. Their “Factory” series with Kashima coating is the standard to beat in terms of performance.
RockShox: Another dominant force in the market, RockShox (a SRAM brand) offers a full line of suspension products known for their reliability and intuitive adjustments. They also offer a robust range of e-bike tuned forks and shocks.
SR Suntour: Offering a broad spectrum of suspension from entry-level to high-performance, SR Suntour is a popular choice for many eBike manufacturers due to its balance of performance and value.
DVO Suspension: A rider-owned company that makes high-quality, tunable suspension products for riders who demand the best products on the market.
Öhlins: With a rich history in motorsports, Öhlins has brought its high-performance damping technology to the mountain bike world, offering top-of-the-line suspension to mountain bikers enthusiastic about performing at the highest level.
Tailoring Suspension to Your eBike Needs
The ideal suspension setup will depend greatly on the style of eBike and the riding you have planned:
Commuter and Urban eBikes: For riding around town, a front suspension fork with 60mm to 100mm of travel is generally sufficient to smooth out potholes and curbs. A lockout feature is highly beneficial for maximising efficiency on smooth pavement.
Cross-Country (XC) and Light Trail eBikes: These eBikes, typically hardtails, benefit from a front fork with 100mm to 120mm of travel. The focus is on lightweight efficiency for climbing and sufficient comfort for less technical trails.
Trail and All-Mountain eBikes: This is where full suspension becomes the norm. A balanced setup with 130mm to 160mm of travel front and rear provides the versatility to tackle technical climbs and challenging descents. In this category, adjustability is key.
Enduro and Downhill eMTBs: Built for the most extreme terrain, these eBikes require long-travel full suspension (160mm and above). The components are built to be robust and prioritise descending performance with highly sophisticated damping systems.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the nuances of eBike suspension is a crucial factor for any rider who wants the best from their electric bicycle. By considering the fundamental principles, the quality of components, and your specific riding needs, you can make an informed decision that will lead to a comfortable, controlled, and confidence-inspiring ride.
