Mountain bike suspension performance
Suspension Upgrades
Professional installation and setup of compatible fork and rear-shock upgrades from Vorsprung, Fluid Focus, Super Alloy Racing, Sprindex and other supported suspension brands.
Upgrade the Suspension You Already Own
A correctly selected suspension upgrade can improve sensitivity, support, damping control, adjustment range and consistency without replacing the complete fork or rear shock.
CJSuspension assesses your bike, suspension, rider weight, terrain and performance goals before recommending compatible components.
Each upgrade is professionally installed, set up and tested through the Queenstown workshop.
Professional upgrade installation
What Is Included
- Review of the bike, suspension and rider information
- Compatibility check for the selected upgrade
- Assessment of the suspension’s current mechanical condition
- Confirmation of required model, size, stroke or travel options
- Professional installation using appropriate workshop tooling
- Fresh fluids, lubricants and service components where included
- Correct torque, pressure and assembly procedures
- Baseline air pressure, spring, preload and damping setup
- Travel, clearance and adjustment checks
- Final workshop function testing
- Recommended starting settings where applicable
Improve the right performance area
Why Upgrade Your Suspension?
- Improve small-bump sensitivity and traction
- Increase mid-stroke support
- Improve bottom-out resistance
- Increase usable damping adjustment range
- Improve consistency through repeated impacts
- Reduce harshness without losing support
- Convert a compatible air fork to coil
- Improve air-spring behaviour
- Fit a lighter or adjustable-rate coil spring
- Replace a basic damper with a higher-performance system
- Improve compatibility between the suspension and frame
- Build a setup around the rider’s weight and terrain
Confirm the correct component
Information to Provide
- Rider weight with normal riding gear
- Bike brand, model, year and frame size
- Fork brand, model, year and travel
- Rear-shock brand, model, eye-to-eye length and stroke
- Current air pressure or coil spring rate
- Current sag and adjustment settings where known
- Usual riding terrain and riding style
- The performance problem you want to improve
- Any existing suspension modifications
- Photos of the bike or suspension where compatibility is unclear
Vorsprung Suspension
Vorsprung Fork and Shock Upgrades
CJSuspension supplies, installs and sets up compatible Vorsprung Suspension products for mountain bike forks and rear shocks.
Available options can include Smashpot coil conversions, Secus air-spring upgrades, Luftkappe air-piston upgrades, Fractive and Tractive damper tuning components, and Telum coil-shock installation and setup.
The correct product depends on the suspension model, production year, travel, rider requirements and intended result.
Fork coil conversion
Vorsprung Smashpot
The Vorsprung Smashpot converts compatible air-sprung suspension forks to a coil spring system.
A coil spring can provide consistent breakaway force, predictable support and a different feel through repeated impacts compared with an air spring.
The correct Smashpot model, spring rate and travel configuration must be selected for the fork and rider. A coil conversion is not automatically the best option for every bike or riding style.
Fork air-spring performance
Vorsprung Secus
The Vorsprung Secus modifies the behaviour of compatible fork air springs using an externally mounted air-volume system.
Depending on the fork and setup, it can improve initial sensitivity, mid-stroke behaviour and the relationship between support and end-stroke progression.
Correct installation, travel configuration, pressure setup and volume adjustment are essential for the intended result.
Air-piston upgrade
Vorsprung Luftkappe
The Vorsprung Luftkappe replaces the original air piston in compatible forks and changes the balance between positive and negative air volumes.
The upgrade is designed to improve initial sensitivity and air-spring behaviour while retaining the original fork chassis and external controls.
Air pressure and volume configuration normally require adjustment after installation because the upgraded spring curve differs from the standard setup.
Compression and rebound control
Damper and Piston Upgrades
Compatible damper and piston upgrades can change compression support, impact response, rebound control and the useful range of the external adjusters.
Available options can include Vorsprung Fractive or Tractive components, Fluid Focus piston kits and other supported internal tuning systems.
The selected upgrade must suit the damper design, rider weight, suspension spring force and intended terrain.
Rear-shock piston performance
Fluid Focus Piston Kits
Fluid Focus piston kits are available for compatible rear shocks and can be installed as part of servicing or custom tuning.
A piston upgrade can change oil flow and shim behaviour to improve support, control and consistency for the intended bike and rider.
The piston kit must be combined with an appropriate internal tune rather than installed as a universal setting.
Complete rear-shock upgrade
Vorsprung Telum Coil Shock
The Vorsprung Telum is a high-performance coil rear shock available in compatible sizes and stroke configurations.
Correct setup includes confirming frame compatibility, shock size, stroke, mounting clearance, hardware, spring rate, sag and damping settings.
The shock can be configured and tuned through the Vorsprung Tuning Hub and CJSuspension workshop process.
Coil spring options
Super Alloy Racing and Sprindex Springs
CJSuspension supplies compatible Super Alloy Racing and Sprindex rear-shock coil springs.
Super Alloy Racing springs provide a lightweight fixed spring rate in a range of sizes and rates. Sprindex provides an adjustable spring-rate range that can help refine sag and support without changing the complete spring.
The spring must have the correct internal diameter, free length, stroke capacity and rate range for the shock and rider.
Choose by performance requirement
The Most Expensive Upgrade Is Not Always the Best One
An upgrade should address a clearly identified performance problem.
Harshness may come from incorrect air pressure, excessive compression damping, worn bushings, contaminated fluids or a poor balance between the fork and rear shock. Bottom-out may be caused by an unsuitable spring rate, air volume, damping tune or frame setup.
The suspension should be assessed before parts are selected so the upgrade solves the correct problem rather than masking another fault.
Start with serviceable suspension
Servicing May Be Required During Installation
Many suspension upgrades require the fork or rear shock to be opened and partially or completely disassembled.
If the suspension is overdue for servicing, contaminated or has worn components, the appropriate service may be recommended at the same time.
Installing performance components into suspension with old fluid, damaged seals or a mechanical fault can prevent the upgrade from working correctly.
New components require new settings
Your Previous Settings May No Longer Be Correct
An upgraded air spring, coil spring, piston or damper can significantly change how the suspension responds.
Previous air pressures, volume spacers, rebound clicks and compression settings may no longer provide the correct balance.
The suspension is returned with recommended baseline settings where possible. Fine adjustment may still be required after riding familiar terrain.
Confirm before ordering
Compatibility Depends on the Exact Model and Year
Suspension components that appear visually similar may use different internal dimensions, threads, shafts, pistons or travel configurations.
Compatibility can depend on the exact fork or shock model, production year, travel, wheel size, damper version, air-spring version, eye-to-eye length and stroke.
Do not order an upgrade based only on the general suspension family name. Contact CJSuspension with the complete product details when compatibility is unclear.
Warranty coverage
Product and Installation Warranties
Installed products remain subject to the applicable manufacturer warranty, terms and exclusions.
CJSuspension workshop installation is covered by the current workmanship warranty. Damage caused by crashes, misuse, incorrect maintenance, unrelated component failure or unauthorised modification is not covered as workmanship.
Keep your service invoice and follow the recommended maintenance requirements for the installed product.
Queenstown or nationwide
Drop Off or Send by Courier
You can deliver the suspension directly to the CJSuspension Queenstown workshop or send it from anywhere in New Zealand.
Clean off heavy dirt and package the suspension securely. Protect the stanchions, shafts, adjusters, reservoirs and mounting points from impact.
Include the current coil spring where applicable and complete all bike, rider and suspension information before sending the components.
Suspension upgrade information
Frequently Asked Questions
Important information about compatibility, servicing, installation, warranties and expected performance improvements.
How do I know which upgrade fits my suspension?
Compatibility depends on the exact suspension model, production year, travel, damper version, shock size and other specifications. Provide the complete product details before ordering.
Which suspension upgrade will make the biggest improvement?
The best upgrade depends on the problem you want to solve. Spring, air-volume, damper and complete-shock upgrades affect different areas of suspension performance.
Is servicing included with the installation?
It depends on the selected upgrade and installation process. Some upgrades include work that overlaps with servicing, while others require a separate lower-leg, air-sleeve or complete internal service.
Can you install an upgrade I purchased elsewhere?
Potentially. The component must be genuine, complete, compatible and in suitable condition. Installation pricing and warranty responsibility can differ for customer-supplied parts.
Is a coil conversion always better than an air spring?
No. Coil and air springs have different characteristics. The better option depends on the fork, rider, bike, terrain, weight requirements and desired performance.
Will I receive new suspension settings?
Yes, where applicable. The suspension is returned with recommended baseline pressure, spring, preload, rebound, compression and volume settings.
Does installing an upgrade affect the suspension warranty?
Warranty conditions vary between suspension and upgrade manufacturers. Some modifications may affect the original manufacturer warranty. Confirm the applicable terms before installation where this is a concern.
How much does a suspension upgrade cost?
Pricing depends on the selected component, suspension model, installation requirements, service condition and any additional tuning or replacement parts.
Can I send my suspension from outside Queenstown?
Yes. Forks and rear shocks can be sent to the workshop by courier from anywhere in New Zealand. Complete the booking information first and package the components securely.
Improve your suspension performance
Book a Suspension Upgrade
Provide your rider, bike and suspension details so CJSuspension can confirm the correct upgrade and installation requirements.