Cane Creek Helm MKII Air setup
The Helm MKII gives you more dials than most forks and no pressure chart. Put in your weight for a starting range, straight from Cane Creek’s manual.
Pump to 51–68 psi, then measure sag and adjust.
Rebound, spacers and limits
- Compression: Cane Creek publishes no starting positions. Set sag with both compression dials fully open (counter-clockwise), then add damping clockwise. Each dial has 10 positions.
- Rebound: Cane Creek publishes no starting click count for rebound. The dial has 10 positions. Clockwise slows the fork down, counter-clockwise speeds it up. Set it by feel with the check below.
- Volume spacers: No spacers. It has an 8-position volume piston, not installed at the factory; lower on the rod means more ramp-up.
- Cane Creek says start at 30–40% of your body weight in psi, then press the negative-chamber equalizer button on the lower leg and set sag.
- Source: Cane Creek Helm MKII manual (04/2025): start at 30–40% of body weight in psi
Fix what you feel
Tap what your fork does. Fixes are for your Helm MKII. Change one thing at a time, then ride the same section again.
Harsh over roots and braking bumps
Too much air, too much high-speed compression, or rebound too slow.
- Check sag first. Under 15% means too much air. Add or remove air in the top valve, then charge the negative chamber again.
- Open high-speed compression 1 or 2 positions (counter-clockwise).
Dives under braking and on steep roll-ins
Not enough low-speed compression, or too much sag.
- Add low-speed compression 1 or 2 positions (clockwise).
- Still diving and sag is past 25%? Add 3 to 5 psi, then charge the negative chamber.
Bottoms out hard on drops and big landings
Not enough high-speed compression, or the air spring isn’t ramping up enough.
- Add high-speed compression 1 or 2 positions (clockwise).
- Still bottoming? Fit the air volume piston, or move it one position lower on the rod.
Never uses full travel, even on big hits
The volume piston is too low, there is too much air, or there is too much compression.
- If you have the volume piston fitted, move it one position up the rod, or take it out.
- Open high-speed compression 1 or 2 positions.
Bouncy, or clunks at full extension
Rebound is too fast.
- Add rebound 1 or 2 positions (clockwise).
Rides lower and lower through rough sections
Rebound is too slow, so the fork packs down.
- Open rebound 2 positions (counter-clockwise).
Tell Suspend how it felt and it gives you the exact click to change on your Cane Creek Helm MKII Air. Free for your first bike.
Full Cane Creek Helm MKII Air reference
For the Helm MKII Air, 2019 onward. The coil MKII and the original (pre-MKII) Helm have different spring and damper setups, so check their own manuals on canecreek.com.
Cane Creek Helm MKII Air rebound setting
Cane Creek publishes no starting click count for rebound. The dial has 10 positions. Clockwise slows the fork down, counter-clockwise speeds it up. Set it by feel with the check below. Set sag first with both compression dials fully open. Push the fork down hard and let go. If it clunks at full extension, rebound is too fast. If it feels slow to come back, open it.
Cane Creek Helm MKII Air sag in millimetres
| Travel | 15% (firm) | 25% (plush) |
|---|---|---|
| 120 mm | 18 mm | 30 mm |
| 130 mm | 20 mm | 33 mm |
| 140 mm | 21 mm | 35 mm |
| 150 mm | 23 mm | 38 mm |
| 160 mm | 24 mm | 40 mm |
| 170 mm | 26 mm | 43 mm |
Worked out from Cane Creek’s 15–25% sag range. Measure with the compression adjusters fully open, dressed to ride, weight spread across saddle, bars and pedals.
Cane Creek Helm MKII Air compression settings
| Damper | Start at |
|---|---|
| Helm MKII | Cane Creek publishes no starting positions. Set sag with both compression dials fully open (counter-clockwise), then add damping clockwise. Each dial has 10 positions. |
Cane Creek Helm MKII Air volume spacers
No spacers. It has an 8-position volume piston, not installed at the factory; lower on the rod means more ramp-up.
The Helm has no volume spacers. It has an air volume piston on an 8-position indexed rod. Lower on the rod means less volume and a more progressive spring, so it resists bottoming more. It ships with no piston installed. Cane Creek says to fit it if you set sag correctly but use all your travel too easily. The fork also ships with 2 travel reducers, but those change travel, not ramp.
Which Cane Creek Helm MKII Air damper do I have?
- Helm MKII: Two compression dials on top of the right leg (outer is high-speed, middle is low-speed) and a rebound dial at the bottom of that leg.
Every Helm MKII Air has the same three-dial damper.
Cane Creek Helm MKII Air service interval
Cane Creek’s schedule is a lowers service with an oil bath change every 50 hours and a full air spring and damper rebuild every 100 hours. Check sag and air pressure in both chambers every 5 rides.
Questions
What air pressure should I run in my Cane Creek Helm MKII?
Cane Creek says start with 30–40% of your body weight in psi in the top chamber. A 170–180 lb rider starts around 51–72 psi. Then charge the negative chamber with the button on the lower leg, which drops the top pressure, so top up and repeat. Min 30 psi, max 150 psi.
How much sag should a Helm MKII have?
15–25% of travel: 24–40 mm on a 160 mm fork. Measure with both compression dials fully open, dressed to ride, cycling the fork 3 to 5 times before you step off.
How many clicks of rebound on a Helm MKII?
Cane Creek publishes no starting count. The rebound dial has 10 positions. Clockwise is slower. Set it by feel: clockwise if the fork clunks at full extension, counter-clockwise if it feels slow to return.
Does this work for my older Helm?
It is written for the Helm MKII Air. The coil MKII sets up by spring rate, and the original Helm has a different damper, so use the manual for your version on canecreek.com.
Related guides
Sources · last checked 2026-10-09
Starting points from the manufacturer’s charts, not a substitute for your fork’s manual. Always confirm with a sag measurement and stay under the max pressure.