Suspension, whether it be on a motorcycle or a 4 wheel vehicle, is there for not only comfort but traction. The objective is to absorb bumps and extend into dips or holes for a plush ride but it's also there to keep your wheels on the ground providing you traction. An increase in traction means an increase in drive and therefore your speeds.
Initial suspension setup is critical, not only for your safety, but for your general riding comfort and experience. An unbalanced bike can be unpredictable in handling and uncomfortable to ride. Many people tend to adapt to what their bike is doing but they should be adapting their bike to what they are doing.
Free movement of your suspension is essential for your suspension performance. This includes keeping items like your steering head and linkage bearings greased and free of corrosion. Servicing your suspension forks and shock on a regular basis keeps your bike predictable and reduces the chance of expensive repairs.
Suspension oils break down, through heat and contamination, like any other oil, which is why routine service is critical. As the oil viscosity changes your damping curve is altered and as the oil breaks down increased wear causes premature breakdown of parts.
Fork alignment is a very overlooked aspect of fork efficiency. If your forks aren't parallel, they are binding, causing increased wear on the seals and bushings. This also creates harshness as your forks move up and down.
Holeshot devices for motocross are another source of binding in forks. When over tightened, they can create a pinch spot in the fork causing binding. Ensure your device is torqued properly.
Sag is the most important and first thing you should check when setting up a new bike. An unbalanced bike due to improper sag settings alters the geometry of your bike which can cause an unstable bike, lack of traction and dangerous steering. Sag should be set according to the bikes recommended settings and can be adjusted using different springs or preload adjustments.
*Static sag is how much your bike compresses from fully extended to compressed under its own weight. Every bike, on road or off should have some static sag. This measurement is generally used to help determine proper spring rates.
*Rider (Race) sag is how much the bike compresses from fully extended to compressed with rider and gear. This measurement, used with the static sag, can help determine your proper spring rate.
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