Why does "Rear pogos/swims in deep sand" happen?

The most common causes are: Rebound, Low-speed compression, In sand, the throttle is your suspension. Check them in this order; it is often the setup, sometimes the technique.

All symptoms

Rear pogos/swims in deep sand

When your bike shows "Rear pogos/swims in deep sand", these are the most likely causes - ranked by relevance: Rebound, Low-speed compression, In sand, the throttle is your suspension. LAISA separates setup causes (adjusters, components) from riding technique.

Short answer for this problem

Recommended starting point: Check first: Shock: Rebound
Most important change: Smallest documented change: 1 click - clicks out from fully closed
Why: Rebound is too fast for sand - slow it down (fewer clicks) so the rear stops pogoing.
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: ReboundCheck first

Why this could fit: Rebound is too fast for sand - slow it down (fewer clicks) so the rear stops pogoing.

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: Low-speed compressionCheck first

Why this could fit: Low-speed compression too soft lets the rear ride deep - add a little.

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: SagRarer

Why this could fit: Sand likes a touch more sag - but set the front/rear balance 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

Technique

In sand, the throttle is your suspensionCheck next

Why this could fit: Chopping the throttle in sand pitches the bike - steady throttle, weight back, let the front float.

How to check it: Ride the drill deliberately for a few laps on the same section and watch whether the behaviour changes.

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.