It goes up and it goes down. And that’s pretty much it but when it’s done well the rewards offer a freedom to ride whatever you please. But more than this good suspension plays a key part in both a balanced ride dynamic and also in rider fatigue levels on some of the incredibly demanding places we are now able to ride. Get it right and you’ll not get quite so beaten up. It’s all about oil and air management and keeping that stable bike system, and in such matters these forks and dampers are the best in the business – a definite battle of the boffins from Sweden, France and North America. However, even with such high level performers as those we’ve chosen it’s not just the fork or damper, you the rider have a responsibility to work on the dials. Thankfully the base settings on nearly all these units are very good indeed. Work on it and don’t be afraid to get some advice.