Helpful motocross suspension setup tips
Kris Keefer – “Suspension is hard to understand. Especially if you’re somewhat of a novice when it comes to setting up your bike. It took me a long time to understand what my bike was doing and how I could make it better. If you’re struggling to set up your suspension or maybe you just want to arm yourself with some knowledge, here are some tips to help you when you’re in your garage or out on the track.” Of course, in the Motoklik app, we can give you all the insights you need to make an informed decision on what to do with the clickers.
Manuals are a great resource!
Did you know that the manuals from each manufacturer contain really helpful information on how to adjust suspension for different issues? Click on your manufacturer (The Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki ones are quite good) in the list to see how you can start improving your suspension feel today: Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, KTM, GasGas, Husqvarna, Suzuki, Stark (Page 83)
4 ways to improve your suspension for FREE!
Who doesn’t love free stuff?! Especially when it can help you be more comfortable, improve your safety and give you faster lap-times! Well that’s exactly what Jeff Walker has done for you in his video on how to align and assemble your suspension correctly. In the video Jeff talks about friction in the front fork, and with the Motoklik app, you can measure this friction in real time using the live sag readout.
Re-valve, Cartridge kit, or A-Kit?
It’s a tough choice to make when weighing up the options of how to improve your suspensions performance, not to mention a costly one, ranging from €500 up to €5,000. If your caught in the middle of this dilemma, well then Kris Keefer is on hand to let you know his opinion on all three options. Kris, with the support of REP Suspension, took a day out at Glen Helen to feel everything out, and you can listen to his podcast to find out what he thinks are the best suspension options for different types of riders. You can also use Motoklik’s AiSetup alongside all three to know you have the best setup for the current conditions.
Some of the basics of suspension setup
There are many aspects involved in motocross suspension setup that go far beyond the clickers. The condition of bearings, tyre pressures, axle position, fork alignment amongst other things all feed in to a proper performing motorcycle. In this article, the team from Motocross Action magazine introduce us to the basics of getting your bike working the way you want.
Ten things to know about shims.
Shims are the driving factor in the character and feel of your suspension. They’re what can turn your bike from a jackhammer into a dream ride, and vice versa if done incorrectly. These little washer shaped wonders are where the art lies in motocross suspension setup, and Motocross Action magazine are on hand to tell you 10 things about shims.
What do clickers actually do?
Take a listen to this podcast with Kris Keefer as he takes us through what the motocross suspension clickers actually do? Kris doesn’t just explain how the clickers work, but also how they affect the bike, and how it feels. Of course, in the Motoklik app, we can give you all the insights you need to make an informed decision on what to do with the clickers.
Changing fork oil volume
There is a lot of discussion around air forks versus coil spring forks, but did you know that even coil spring forks have an adjustment similar to changing air pressure? The amount of oil you pour into forks changes the air volume that is left in the fork. Read here to see how fork oil volume is a great way to manage bottoming resistance, while keeping a supple feeling over braking and accelerating chop in your motocross suspension setup. In the Motoklik app, it’s easy to see how often your forks bottom, and where on the track it’s happening.
Helping guide your suspension tuner
If you’re lucky enough to have suspension tuner or technician, you want to be sure you are making the most out of a good thing. No matter what it is in life, communicating correctly will always help. In this article, Kris Keefer breaks down how to describe what you are feeling to your technician. Of course, in the Motoklik app, we can give you all the insights you need to make an informed decision on what to do with the clickers.
Getting the perfect setup?
What does it mean to test your suspension setup, and how far should you take it? There are a myriad of adjustments that can be made, but can they lead to the “perfect setup”? In this article, Jim “Bones” Bacon tells us how it is when it comes to dialing in the perfect setup. Of course, in the Motoklik app, we can give you all the insights you need to make an informed decision on what to do with the clickers.
Setting sag
Probably the most fundamental and important suspension setting, is setting your sag. Sag simply means how far the suspension compresses. The most common sag values are “static sag” (how much the suspension compresses under the bikes own weight), and “race sag” (how much the suspension compresses with the rider on the bike). This often overlooked setting is relatively straight forward, and is made even more simple with Motoklik’s Live Sag Readout feature in the app. In this article, Jim “Bones” Bacon tells us everything we need to know about sag.
Static sag vs. spring rate
We all now that the sag values on a bike very important to get the correct balance. A balanced bike will give the best grip and comfort, but what happens when you can’t get the sag values to line up properly? Well this is where spring rates come in. Changing the spring rate, or spring stiffness can have a big effect on how balanced the bike is. In this article, Jim “Bones” Bacon takes us through the topic. And remember, it’s possible to check the live sag values in the Motoklik app!
Servicing and maintaining suspension
We change our engine oil, and clean our filters without a second though right. But what about our suspension? Even though it does just as much work as the engine, oftentimes the mechanical parts and suspension oil are left to manage the job for far too long. In this article, Jim “Bones” Bacon takes us through the merits of looking after our bump sticks.
Which tyre pressure works best?
Tyre pressure is one of the easiest setup changes you can make, but it can be hard to know which tyre pressure exactly to use. In this article Kris Keefer breaks down what psi to use with five of the top tyre brands: Pirelli, Dunlop, Bridgestone, Michelin and Hoosier.
Air pressure vs. damping
In recent years, many suspension manufacturers including WP, Showa and KYB have entered the market with pneumatic springs, rather than conventional coil springs. This new adjustability has brought some confusion to riders, finding it difficult to know should they change air-pressure, or damping settings? In this article, read what Jim “Bones” Bacon has to say on the subject.
Why does my bike feel weird after repairing everything?
Routine maintenance is absolutely necessary to make sure your bike is in tip top shape, but there can be unexpected consequences. Pressing in new linkage bearings, fitting a new chain and sprockets, or even putting on new tyres can all change the feel of your motorcycle. In this article, Jim “Bones” Bacon has some warnings of what to watch out for in bike setup after maintenance.
SHOWA SFF-TAC air forks
The Showa Separate Function Fork – Triple Air Chamber (SFF-TAC) was first introduced on production motocross bikes in 2014. While the design of the fork was revolutionary, the function and how to set the different pressures was more complicated than the average rider was used to. This resulted in lots of head scratching and even an App dedicated to how to set the chamber pressures. In this article, Pro Circuits Jim “Bones” Bacon gives his insight on working with these tricky forks, and how to get the most out of them.
Motocross Suspension Set-Up Cheat Sheet
If it’s not the right time for you to order your Motoklik system, then follow this link to download the Motoklik – Motocross Suspension Set-Up Cheat Sheet for free, and get started with improving the performance of your bike.
Pre-Season Checklist
If you’re getting ready to ride your bike again after the winter break, here is a dirt-bike pre-season checklist with all the basics you need to guarantee a great first day back.