HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED TO SETUP YOUR SUSPENSION?

Finding the best suspension setting for each motocross (MX) race can make a huge difference in your performance on the track. But how much time should you realistically spend on this task? Getting your suspension dialed in is essential for handling, comfort, and speed, yet it often gets rushed or overlooked. This post breaks down how using the PRO version of Clickers MX App will help you find the best track settings in a timely and effective fashion.

Why Suspension Settings Matter in MX Racing

Pro riders often spend significant time searching for the best suspension settings during practice sessions. For example, at a national MX event, riders might spend 90 minutes or more testing different settings before race day. Amateur racers may spend less time but should still allocate at least an hour to avoid guessing.

One rider shared that on a sandy track, they spent 2 hours adjusting suspension to handle the soft terrain, while on a hard-packed track, they only needed 45 minutes. This shows how track type directly impacts setup time.

This is because suspension affects dramatically how your bike reacts to jumps, bumps, and turns. A well-tuned suspension keeps your tires in contact with the ground, improves traction, and reduces rider fatigue. Each track and weather condition demands different suspension settings. Having a ready-to-use list of track settings covering them will help you avoid crashes and improve lap times.

Factors That Influence Suspension Setup Time

The time needed to set up your suspension varies depending on several factors:

• Previous knowledge: If you already have any saved settings which worked on a track you know to be similar, you can save time by importing those track settings and use them as a baseline setting.

  
  

• Weather condition: Rain or heat can change how your suspension behaves. Adjustments might be necessary if conditions vary. If possible, test your suspension in all weather conditions. The more, the better.

  
  

• Track condition: Smooth, groomed tracks require different settings than bumpy, rough tracks. If the surface is consistent and familiar, less time may be needed. Take your time and find out what the track conditions will be like through race day: your initial settings should never be the same as the final ones.

  
  
  
  

By having your settings visible showing you both the weather and track conditions, you save time and effort: all you have to do is go to any given setting previously saved and rated, and look for the weather and track condition icons which most accurately represent the conditions you are riding in. The more you test, the more settings you have. That is gold!

One tip we can give you is: once race day is over with, keep the settings that worked for you and delete those which didn't work as well. You will then have the best settings for the following year, or at the very last a good starting point.

It goes without saying that by regularly adjusting your suspension outside of race day builds skill and confidence. With Clickers MX app you don't have to understand what each adjustment does so you can make faster decisions. More fork compression? simple follow the instructions. Less shock rebound? same. Just remember to always take your phone with you.