Suspension Setup Guide - Motocross Gear

PROVIDED BY OTOCROSS Rom SMOOTHING OUT YOUR RIDE PROPER SUSPENSION setup can mean the difference between a safe, comfortable ride and a tiring, unpredictable one. But tuning is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. A RIDER'S WEIGHT and ride preference can affect how a bike responds, especially on jumps. Terrain is another important factor to consider. No one setting is right for all conditions. USE THE TIPS BELOW to set your bike's suspension, but remem- ber to make only small changes, one-at-a- time, to find settings that best fit rider and track. FIRST THINGS FIRST BEFORE ADJUSTING THE FRONT OR REAR SUSPENSION, IT'S IMPORTANT TO SET THE BIKE'S SAG, OR RIDE HEIGHT. TWO COMMON PROBLEMS: TOO HIGH IN BACK, TOO HIGH IN FRONT, TOO LOW IN FRONTI ITOO LOW IN BACK TOO HIGH TOO LOW TOO HIGH TOO LOW Bike's stability is compromised, especially at higher speeds Bike's front end may have trouble absorbing big bumps. FREE SAG RIDER SAG Free sag is the distance the suspension compresses when under weight of just the bike). This should be between 20-35mm. Rider sag is with the rider on the bike and it should be between 100-105mm. LESS THAN 20 mm AND YOU SHOULD MORE THAN 35 mm AND YOU SHOULD GET A STIFFER SPRING. GET A SOFTER SPRING. FRONT FORKS COMPRESSION ADJUSTER Controls the downward, or compressed, action of the shock. FRONT FORK COMPRESSION ADJUSTER CONTROLS By setting the compression adjuster to "S" (soft) or “H" (hard) the rider can control stiffness in the front shocks. A softer setting can help with traction, but go too soft and you risk bottoming over a bump or losing traction if the wheel unweights. A harder setting resists bottoming on big or harsh bumps but can lose traction at some levels. Losing traction SPRING: The spring may be changed for a stiffer or softer spring depending on rider weight. OIL LEVEL: Oil level can be adjusted to increase bottoming resistance. More oil equals more bottoming resistance due to reducing the amount of air in the shock, VALVE: Limits oil flow during compression (more oil = a harder ride) | TEN REBOUND ADJUSTER: Controls how quickly the shock returns to its normal position after compression FRONT REBOUND ADJUSTER CONTROLS TEN S--H |TEN S--H Set the rebound adjuster Set it to "soft" to increase the rebound to "hard" to slow the speed, which is better for smaller, rougher bumps. rebound, which is best for rolling terrain and bumps. REAR SHOCKSI COMPRESSION ADJUSTER: Includes high- and low-speed settings, which refer to the speed at which the suspension compresses (not bike speed) COMP HIGH SPEED LOW SPEED COMP COMP COMP LOW SPEED For big jumps, a harder setting (clockwise) is preferred for safer landings with more HIGH SPEED COMPRESSION ADJUSTER: COMPRESSION ADJUSTER: Set the compression adjuster to a softer setting (counter- clockwise) to smooth Use the high-speed setting to adjust compression for harsher bumps and low-speed for everything else. resistance to bottoming. out the ride on a rough surface. REBOUND ADJUSTER In the counter-clockwise position the shocks rebound faster, which helps the rider maintain traction when riding over terrain with bumps that are close together. TEN A slower rebound (clockwise) is better for rolling terrain. TEN A IMPORTANT! NEVER SET YOUR SHOCKS ALL THE WAY TO EITHER EXTREME (HARD OR SOFT) AS THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND IS BAD FOR THE SHOCKS. REMEMBER: YOU ARE AIMING FOR A COMFORTABLE MIDDLE GROUND BETWEEN HARD AND SOFT THAT WILL PROVIDE THE BEST TRACTION AND CONTROL FOR THE TERRAIN. SOURCES: Dirt Bike Tips and Pics, Transworld Motocross, 4Strokes.com