Why does "Suspension bottoms hard on jump landings" happen?

The most common causes are: High-speed compression, High-speed compression, Sag. Check them in this order; it is often the setup, sometimes the technique.

All symptoms

Suspension bottoms hard on jump landings

When your bike shows "Suspension bottoms hard on jump landings", these are the most likely causes - ranked by relevance: High-speed compression, High-speed compression, Sag. LAISA separates setup causes (adjusters, components) from riding technique.

Short answer for this problem

Recommended starting point: Check first: Shock: High-speed compression
Most important change: Smallest documented change: 0.25 clicks - clicks out from fully closed
Why: The rear high-speed compression is too soft for landings - add some to control the hit.
How to test it: Read the current value off the bike and compare it with the recommended one. Write it down before you change anything.
Source: LAISA diagnosis catalogue, drafted automatically and editorially released Methodology →
Last reviewed: No review date documented

Pick your bike to apply the fixes directly →

The order comes from the stored strength of the symptom-cause link in the catalogue - per symptom, not across symptoms. These are not probabilities and not measurements.

Suspension

Shock: High-speed compressionCheck first

Why this could fit: The rear high-speed compression is too soft for landings - add some to control the hit.

How to check it: Read the current value off the bike and compare it with the recommended one. Write it down before you change anything.

Smallest change: 0.25 clicks - clicks out from fully closed

Fork: High-speed compressionCheck first

Why this could fit: The fork high-speed compression is too soft - add some so the fork doesn't bottom on landing.

How to check it: Read the current value off the bike and compare it with the recommended one. Write it down before you change anything.

Smallest change: 1 click - clicks out from fully closed

Shock: SagCheck first

Why this could fit: Too much sag uses up usable travel - set sag first.

How to check it: Read the current value off the bike and compare it with the recommended one. Write it down before you change anything.

Smallest change: 1 mm - loaded, rider in gear

Shock: Spring rateCheck next

Why this could fit: The spring is too soft for your weight - it blows through the travel; check sag/spring rate.

How to check it: Read the current value off the bike and compare it with the recommended one. Write it down before you change anything.

Smallest change: 1 N/mm

How to set your sag →

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Related symptoms

Bike kicks / bucks off jump faces Fork harsh / deflects on braking bumps Front feels vague / low grip on hardpack Front knifes/oversteers in ruts

A starting point to verify on the bike - not a safety guarantee. Change one thing at a time and check on track.