The difference between a bike that works well and one that does not is often found in bike setup. A motorcycle that is properly setup will feel balanced, and handle not only the big landings, but also acceleration and deceleration bumps, whoops, and all types of corners. Here are some tips on how to get that proper setup.

• Setting Race Sag
• Shock Settings
• Fork Settings
• Balance
• Still Having Trouble?

Setting Race Sag

Setting the race sag is one of the most crucial steps in proper bike setup. Proper sag will allow your shock to be in the proper part of the travel throughout the suspension stroke. Also, proper sag is a tool that we use to make sure that your spring rate is correct.

Step 1 – The Tools

The tools that you need to properly set race sag are:
A. Your motorcycle, and a race stand (no triangle stands)
B. Measuring tape
C. A friend
I would also recommend a Sagsetter tool from DMG Tek. For $49.95 you can have a cool tool that will allow you to accurately set race sag by yourself. For more information go to www.sagsetter.com.

Step 2 – Our Baseline Measurement

Our baseline measurement is our first measurement.
This measurement should be taken with the bike on the Stand with the rear wheel off the ground. Measure from the axle to a fixed position on the fender or frame.

Write down this measurement. Keep these points in mind, because we are going to take more measurements from the same points.

Step 3 – Setting the Race Sag

This is where your friend comes in. Sitting on the bike in a neutral position have your friend take a measurement from the same two points. Write that measurement down, and subtract it from the measurement in Step 2.

Example: 600mm-505mm=95mm. Adjust the shock spring preload ring accordingly and repeat measurements until the proper measurement is achieved.

Step 4 – Checking the Static Sag

With your race sag properly set, check your static sag. this measurement is taken with the bike on the ground sitting under it’s own weight. To do this pull up on the rear fender and then allow the bike to drop

under it’s own weight. Take a measurement from the same points and write it down. Subtract that measurement from the one in step 2 and you will have your static sag. Example: 600mm-580mm=20mm

What We are Looking For:

The sag measurements for each bike vary a little. With most full size bikes look for a race sag measurement between 95mm and 100mm, and the static sag measurement ending up at a point between 15mm and 25mm, with 20mm being perfect. If you get your race sag properly set but your static sag is less than 15mm, you will need a heavier spring to correct this measurement. The same goes if the static sag is greater than 25mm, except a lighter spring will be needed to correct the measurement.

The process of measuring sag is exactly the same on smaller bikes, but the numbers change. On 80cc-100cc bikes the race sag measurements that we are trying to get to are between 75mm and 80mm with between 15mm and 20mm of static sag. On 50cc-65cc minibikes the static measurements will stay the same as the 80cc division, but the race sag is between 60mm and 65mm.