How to Adjust Your Motocross Bike’s Suspension

How to Adjust Your Motocross Bike's Suspension - Motorcycle Magazine - Racext 1

How to Adjust Your Motocross Bike’s Suspension – on our site you will find the best spare parts and accessories for cars and motorcycles

SELECT YOUR VEHICLE'S BRAND AND MODEL TO FIND ALL COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS ON RACEXT.

 
 

✅ Choose free delivery to save more

How to Adjust Your Motocross Bike’s Suspension

Before purchasing our products, it is advisable to read the product sheet. If in doubt, do not hesitate to contact us, we will be happy to help you choose the product that best suits your needs

If you are looking for high quality products for your car or motorbike, look no further. We are sure you will find the perfect product for you at Racext. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or requests. We are here to help you make your vehicle perfect.Adjusting the suspension on your motocross bike can be daunting when you are inexperienced. Modern bikes, especially, with their myriad of clickers and knobs, can be quite intimidating.

Take a deep breath and relax. The adjustable suspension on your motocross bike is designed to be tuned, and you can do it! While suspension adjustments are a bit more complex than tweaking chain tension or tire pressure, with this guide and a few basic tools, you’ll be able to manage all the essentials: setting sag, adjusting preload, rebound, and compression (where applicable), and understanding the basics of your bike’s suspension.

Understanding Different Bikes

Not all motocross bikes are the same. This introductory article aims to help a wide range of riders with various motocross bikes—from the latest XC models to vintage twin-shock enduros. Each bike will be slightly different, and although there is no magical setting that works for all bikes, you can achieve significant improvements with a few simple adjustments. That’s why we’ll stick to the basics in this article. Don’t worry if your bike doesn’t exactly match the examples shown in the images below.

Suspension Wear and Maintenance

Motocross bikes are incredibly resilient machines that endure a lot of use and abuse. Their suspension systems require routine maintenance and service to perform at their best. Following this guide to the letter won’t help if your rear shock is blown or your fork seals are leaking oil. Check your suspension components, paying close attention to seals. Seemingly unrelated maintenance points, like chain tension, tire condition, steering head bearing health, and linkages’ lubrication, should be inspected before starting, as any of these can affect your bike’s performance.

Consult your bike’s maintenance schedule to ensure everything is in order before making adjustments to avoid unnecessary headaches.

Basic Suspension Tools for Motocross Bikes

Your bike’s manual should list the necessary tools for working on the suspension. If your bike came with a tool kit, now is the time to use it. You’ll need a variety of flat-head screwdrivers, a hammer, a tape measure or ruler, a punch or spanner wrench (often found in the tool kit), a motocross stand, and a notepad to jot down changes as you go. If you plan to change the fork height, you’ll also need basic hand tools to loosen the triple clamp pinch bolts.

Basic Suspension Terms

Before diving deeper, let’s establish some basic concepts and key vocabulary for suspension. Knowing these terms will be helpful.

  • Travel: The total range of wheel movement, from fully extended (no bike weight) to fully compressed.
  • Sag: How much the suspension squats when the bike is stationary. Free sag (or static sag) is the measurement without a rider on the bike. Rider sag (or race sag) is the same measurement with a fully equipped rider on board.
  • Preload: Adjusters that change the tension on the shock’s springs, affecting sag. Increasing preload raises the bike in its stroke, while decreasing it allows the shock to sit lower. Rear shock preload is typically adjusted at the top of the rear shock spring. Fork preload adjusters are less common and are usually found on the fork caps.
  • Damping: Valves or hydraulic gates that control the speed of suspension movement.
    • Compression Damping: Alters the rate at which the suspension compresses when hitting bumps. Low compression is soft and spongy, while high compression is stiff and sharp. Adjustments are typically small screws on the shock body and fork cap.
    • Rebound Damping: Controls the speed at which the suspension returns to its natural state. It helps keep the wheel on the ground. Adjustments are small screws on the fork or shock.
  • Bottoming out: When the suspension reaches its lower limit and can’t compress further, resulting in a harsh impact.
  • Topping out: When the suspension reaches its upper limit. Modern bikes usually have a top-out spring to manage this.

Meet the Expert

Brandon Fleming is the suspension department manager at Solid Performance. Although Solid specializes in KTM and Husqvarna, Brandon has helped countless riders tune their motocross bike suspensions.

“I find that three out of four riders at events don’t even have their sag set correctly, usually off by about 20 percent,” says Brandon. “Suspension seems like a mythical creature that no one wants to touch. But you can adjust those screws all the way in and out, and nothing will break. So, learn the basics and get your suspension close to where it should be.”

Setting Sag

If you do one thing from this article, set your sag. This places your suspension in the optimal position, balancing the bike. Balance is crucial for handling and shock absorption.

  • Sag Measurement: There’s debate on whether to sit or stand while measuring rider sag. Brandon advises being honest with how you ride, as it affects weight distribution. “Balance and sag matter both when sitting and standing,” he says. “Pay attention to rider feedback and make adjustments accordingly.”
  • Regular Checks: Sag changes with temperature, spring life, and rider weight. Ideally, check sag before every ride, but at least seasonally or with every oil change.

Adjusting Sag

  1. Initial Measurements: Put your bike on a stand so the wheels are off the ground. Measure from the axle block to a point on the fender. Write down this number.
  2. Static Sag: Take the bike off the stand and measure again. The difference is the static sag.
  3. Rider Sag: With the rider in position, take the same measurement and subtract it from the initial measurement. Adjust preload as needed to get the rider sag within the recommended range.

Adjusting Fork Height

Adjusting the fork height involves loosening the triple clamp pinch bolts and sliding the forks up or down to change the bike’s front-end height. This adjustment can affect the bike’s handling, so make small changes and test ride to feel the difference.

Conclusion

Learning to adjust your bike’s suspension can significantly improve your riding experience. Start with setting the sag, understand basic terms, and use the right tools. With practice and patience, you’ll become more confident in tuning your motocross bike to suit your riding style and terrain.

By following these guidelines and continuously refining your adjustments, you’ll ensure your bike performs at its best, providing you with a smoother and more controlled ride.

🌊 RACEXT QUALITY GUARANTEE

Every Racext performance product is thoroughly tested and guaranteed, even if it doesn’t feature a visible logo. Due to production and logistical reasons, some products may not carry the Racext branding directly on the item.

However, rest assured that all our products undergo rigorous quality checks and are backed by Racext’s commitment to performance and reliability.


📅 EXCLUSIVE MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION

Our trusted partners manufacture each product according to our specific technical requirements, ensuring that every item meets Racext’s high standards. All our products are exclusively sold by Racext and are not distributed by other companies.

Even though some of our partners commercialize similar products for cars, these items are not compatible with motorcycles due to distinct resistance and amperage requirements.


🔧 PRECISION-CALIBRATED CHIP TUNING DEVICES

When it comes to our chip tuning devices, the resistance is precisely calibrated to be perfectly adapted to different vehicles, such as motorcycles. This ensures optimal performance, compatibility, and a smooth ride without any risk to your vehicle’s electronic systems.

Racext chip tuning devices are specially designed to meet the unique demands of motorcycle performance systems, guaranteeing that your bike runs efficiently and reliably.


⚠️ Legal Notice – Important Product Disclaimer

This product is not certified, approved or homologated for use on public roads or highways in any country. It is intended solely for off-road use, closed-circuit racing, sports competition, or private testing purposes. Installation and use of this product on vehicles driven on public streets is strictly prohibited and may violate traffic laws, emissions regulations, or technical inspection requirements.

By purchasing this product, the customer acknowledges and agrees that:

  • The product is sold “as is” for motorsport or off-road use only.
  • It is not street-legal and must not be used on public roads under any circumstance.
  • The seller (Racext) assumes no responsibility for any improper, illegal or unintended use of this product.
  • The customer is solely responsible for verifying whether the installation and use of this product comply with local laws and regulations.
  • This product may affect vehicle warranty and insurance if used outside of permitted contexts.

This notice applies regardless of the country in which the product is purchased or shipped, including (but not limited to) the United States, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

By proceeding with the purchase, you confirm that you have read, understood and accepted this disclaimer, and release the seller from any liability arising from misuse or unauthorized application of the product.

🔒 QUALITY STANDARDS ACROSS ALL PRODUCTS

This high standard of exclusive design, manufacturing, and compatibility applies to all Racext products available for purchase. Every item in our catalog is crafted with the same dedication to performance, safety, and quality.


🔧 PERFORMANCE YOU CAN TRUST, QUALITY YOU CAN SEE

Disclaimer 

TRANSPARENT SHIPPING POLICY

Cutoff time 22:00 (GMT+01:00) Central European Standard Time (Amsterdam)
Order Processing Time 1-3 days (Mon-Fri)
Delivery time 3-6 days (Monday-Friday)

Our orders are free of shipping costs.

We use the following shipping couriers:

  • PostNL
  • Dhl
  • UPS
  • DPD
  • Cainiao

The customer will receive the tracking information in 1-3 days directly in his email. Please contact us if you have not received the email or check your spam emails

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: PRODUCTS INTENDED EXCLUSIVELY FOR SPORTING AND COMPETITIVE USE

Important: Before proceeding with the purchase or use of our sport exhausts, please read the following notice carefully.

The products sold through this website are intended exclusively for sporting and competitive use. This means they have been designed and manufactured to be used in controlled environments, such as closed circuits or areas designated for sporting competitions, where emission and noise regulations may differ from those applied on public roads.

Public Road Use Not Allowed: It is emphasized that the installation and use of these devices on vehicles intended for circulation on public roads may not be permitted under the laws of your reference country regarding emission and noise regulation, as they are not designed for road use but for sporting use.

Buyer’s Responsibility: It is the buyer’s responsibility to ensure that the use of the purchased products complies with all applicable laws and regulations. The buyer assumes all legal liabilities for any non-compliant use of the products, including the installation and operation of such devices on unauthorized vehicles or in ways that violate applicable laws.

By continuing with the purchase, the buyer acknowledges and agrees that the use of the products is limited to sporting and competitive contexts as defined above and assumes full responsibility for any legal consequences arising from improper use of the products.

How to Adjust Your Motocross Bike’s Suspension

Compatibility:

It is the responsibility of the customer to ensure that the product is compatible with their vehicle. We recommend consulting with a professional mechanic before purchasing to confirm compatibility. Racext is not responsible for any issues that may arise from the use of our products, including but not limited to damage to the vehicle or personal injury.

Warranty:

All of our products come with a 2-year warranty in accordance with international standards. If you experience any issues with your product within the warranty period, please contact us for assistance. The warranty does not cover damages caused by improper installation, misuse, or external factors such as accidents or natural disasters.

Returns

This return policy is valid for all countries.

Customers have the right to return merchandise within 14 days from the date of receipt. For chip tuning purchases, the return period is extended to 30 days.

Products must be returned in saleable condition. Products damaged with liquids inside or exhaust gases cannot be returned. Used merchandise cannot be returned unless expressly indicated by the seller.

Once we receive and inspect the merchandise, the refund will be processed using the payment method used by the customer within 5 business days from the date of receipt. This time allows us to inspect the merchandise and restock it.

How to Request a Return:

  1. Send a request by email to info@racext.com.
  2. Select “Return” as the subject and provide a reason for the return.
  3. You will immediately receive a response with instructions for making the return.
  4. Follow the instructions to create your return label.
  5. Send us the order by courier.

For further information, you can contact us via email or WhatsApp. Our office will respond within 24 hours, providing the return instructions and the address to which the merchandise should be sent. When possible, we will indicate the warehouse closest to the customer’s address.

ABOUT US

ADDRESS: Creative Tower – Hamad Bin Abdulla Road – Office 4201 – Fujairah – U.A.E.

E-mail : info@Racext.com

Contact form : Get in touch

Phone : +971 58 859 1706

Company name : Digitanow International group FZe

Company Number : AE18048/2020

Tax registration number: AE18048 2020

Customer service : Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Terms and Conditions

This website provides only the product with well-indicated codes and specifications. Please rely on an experienced workshop for the installation and choice of the product. We do not assume any responsibility for errors in choice, installation, or programming of the devices.

*The price is intended for a single product

*Days are always working days

All guides on this website are for illustrative purposes only. For many products, the use of special tools may be necessary. We always recommend seeking the advice of a specialized repair center for the selection and installation or programming of products purchased anywhere. We do not assume any responsibility for damage to property or persons, or user errors in the application of a guide on this website or for any other occurrence.

Product is not original but fully interchangeable with it

All rights reserved. All trade names and logos are registered trademarks of the respective manufacturers indicated

The trademarks mentioned on this site are the exclusive property of the automotive companies and are used here exclusively to facilitate the search for vehicles by our customers. We do not assume any responsibility for damages to property or persons, or user errors in the application of a guide on this website or for any other occurrence.

Secure Payments

When making purchases on our website, you can be confident that your transaction is secure. All financial transactions are processed on the secure and certified servers of PayPal or Stripe. These platforms allow us to accept payments from all VISA, VISA ELECTRON, MAESTRO, POSTEPAY, AMERICAN EXPRESS, AURA, and DISCOVER credit cards.

Quality Guarantee

Choose safety, savings, and professionalism by choosing us. We offer top-level customer support that will never leave you alone during the pre- and post-purchase phases. We offer top-quality products and intelligent, secure savings. Don’t trust inexperienced sellers.

NOTE: In the event that the product is not available in stock, we reserve the right to issue a full and immediate refund.

[mailpoet_form id=”3″]
Select your currency