How To Set up Dirt Bike Suspension Compression and Rebound

Dirt Bike Parts & Riding Gear:

Suspension set up is often seen as a daunting task for many riders because it seems like there are so many different aspects and variables involved in a correctly set up suspension. In this video we go over the terms you'll hear in relation to suspension, and then we'll give you some tips on getting your bike adjusted and ready for anything you throw at it.

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[behindbarstv]

If you never know what wrong feels like you'll never know what right feels like. I recommend starting with everything in the middle then do a short ride. Then turn your compression all the way out (soft) and do a short ride. Then turn your compression all the way in (hard) and do a short ride. Once you are done with compression, set it back in the middle and do the same with rebound. Now you'll start to have a better feel for what each adjustment does and what too stiff, too soft, too much rebound and too little rebound feels like. Now set everything back to the middle and use your new found understanding to make small corrections to tweak the suspension to your liking.

[SenorDennis]

Suspension tuning is about 10x more confusing than an engine rebuild.

[dannylenz]

A good way to test your rebound after your compression is where you like it. Find a section of trail or track with consecutive bumps think whoops or chop. Pay attention as you enter if the first two or three bumps. If the first couple feel great but by the third or fourth bump the suspension feels harsh and continues until your thought the section. Your suspension is packing or staying too low in the stroke. Speed up your rebound. If you go through and by the 2nd pr 3rd bump your bike is bucking sideways and or back and forth your rebound is too fast. I have found this test works best when your are tuning your suspension and you feel you just about have it where you want it. Rebound can be difficult at times to seprate from compression settings. I have found this test helpful to read what the rebound is doing.

[marcissobadass]

This is the first time I have actually started to understand what and how the adjusters work. Thanks so much. You guys rock!

[losttheplotcolin]

I have used your videos to check my sag, change out my springs and adjust my dampening.
The changes have made a huge difference, it feels like a different bike, in a really good way.
Thanks go to you and your colleagues.

Cheers guys.

[xcvsdxvsx]

"its actually really simple" proceeds to deliver a doctoral thesis...

[BR-kjfp]

Great video. This is the first time I've heard anyone explain that if you go up a few sizes on spring rate, you'll need to revalve. I learned that the hard way, but it makes sense... a stiffer spring will make the wheel rebound a lot faster if you haven't changed the clickers. If you find your rebound is turned almost all the way in to counter that, you're not allowing the rebound stack to work because all the resistance is on the needle port inside the shock. Turning the rebound in all the way eventually affects the compression side too, and what you have is a dead feeling shock. I'm too cheap to send my suspension out so I learned how to revalve myself from online forums. It's been about 10 years; I've probably saved thousands by now.

[AntiPattern]

Great explanation. We don't get enough of these videos. People in the lower classes or just starting out have no idea how to make their suspension work.

[xterrential]

Thank-you for actually explaining how to properly set up your suspension. Most if not all other videos I have seen use jargon I don't understand. I am a newish rider and alot of this stuff is still over my head. I am debating on respringing my bike. This has helped. Thankyou

[wfodavid]

Very nice as always Chase. One thing we used to do when my son raced AX was we would take video (like we saw of you) and we would watch it at the track, make adjustments that both he andI could see. That YZF is a sweet ride!

[MotoMatt]

Wow. Finally! A much needed video. Thank you for posting 👍🏻👍🏻

[rookiefmxrider]

Maybe this tip is more for valving but OIL WEIGHT is key for a better suspension feel. I just opened my Racing suspension shop and thanks to great people out there that trust in me my suspension it's working good on the track. Nice video ROCKY MOUNTAIN GUYS very complete and informative. Cheers from Baja Mexico

[chalo]

Last Saturday went awesome. I was having a lot of doubts about my bike and what to do in the future with I fell in love with it once again because I went back to stock settings and started from there again. Turns out I was going the wrong way with some settings. Going back to basics made miracles for me.

[jimmystevens]

Loving these videos, just got a 2017 KTM 450. Never adjusted the suspension in a bike before, had no clue about sag. Not my first bike, just never messed with it.

[austinbobcat]

Holy hell, I have never touched my suspension until this video, this showed me how to fix a couple problems with my suspension that I didn’t know how to deal with before. Thank you so much:)

[catmanflorida]

Thank you very much for this info. It explains alot of the mystery about suspension problems. This helps me understand why the bike doesn't feel right.

[steveh]

First video on compression and rebound etc I've seen that makes sense to me, it explained everything at the right level, I dont ride much off road but I'm wiser now, thank you, this and the sag video by your colleague are now my go to list if I ever need to play with any adjustments I might have with my new suspension 😀

[Curiouscricket]

My racetech guy taught me to set it all in the middle, and then adjust one setting four clicks in one direction. If it feels better, do four more. If it feels worse back it up two clicks and of course go the other direction if it still feels worse at two. Then do the same for each. I just hate doing a lap or two and having to ride back to the truck to adjust. I need to get myself a stylin fanny pack I can put a flathead and some sockets in so I can just pull over on the track and do it there. Those clickers on the bottom of the forks are always fun to get to when adjusting on your own.
All that being said, I'm getting back into riding and find that my comfort level and skill is changing faster than I can adjust my suspension, so I need to chill until I start to flatten out in a comfortable spot.

[big_motor_channel.]

I went from riding a 1986 kx125. too a 2019 yz450f. my old kx had some horrible old out dated suspension that I couldn’t do much with. after getting on my yzf the suspension feels amazing but have been told I still need to set it up it feels very hard / stiff this videos has helped me a lot I am nearly 16 stone so may need to do more then just setting but is a great video helped my a lot I thought it was good before but have it so much closers to my needs thanks

[Randy_Cox]

I understand how and why the clickers do to the oil flow to controls dampening. I just have a hard time knowing what changes to make to effect feel on bike. This video does pretty good to try and explain the on bike feel compared to clicks and how to tune things out that you dont want.