Squat (rear suspension under acceleration)

Squat is the rear suspension compressing when the bike accelerates, as weight shifts to the back wheel. The opposite effect under braking is fork dive. Squat does not mean the shock bottoms out, although a soft spring and hard acceleration can make it do so.

Designers use chassis geometry to control it: the angle between the chain run and the swingarm creates an anti-squat force that pushes the rear up under drive. Too much squat makes the bike run wide out of corners; too little can make the rear stiff and reduce grip.

Riders can influence squat through rear preload, ride height and gearing (sprocket sizes change the chain angle slightly). Make small changes and note their effect.