The Basics

Initial suspension setup is critical to not only your safety, but to your general riding comfort and experience. An unbalanced bike can be unpredictable in handling and uncomfortable to ride. Below are a few keys to improving your ride.

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.

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 important and the first thing you should set when riding a motorcycle. Improper sag changes the geometry of your bike which can cause unstable traction and steering. Sag should be set according to the bikes recommended settings. Sag can be adjusted using different springs or preload.

Static sag is how much your bike compresses under it's own weight. This measurement is generally used for determining proper spring rates.

Rider (Race) sag is how much the bike compresses from fully extended to fully loaded with rider. This measurement, used with the static sag, can help determine your proper spring rate.