What exactly do all the bike setup changes do?

mxracer666
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6/13/2024 9:36pm
stangkag wrote:
Didn't RC used to say something along the lines of...I get my bike rideable at my pace and then leave it alone, it's easier to change...

Didn't RC used to say something along the lines of...I get my bike rideable at my pace and then leave it alone, it's easier to change me (the rider), than the bike.  Basically saying it was more rider than bike?

49weasel wrote:
I would agree with that. I’m 41 now and more sensitive than ever to bike setup.   I was just telling my buddy the other day...

I would agree with that. I’m 41 now and more sensitive than ever to bike setup.   I was just telling my buddy the other day in 2014 when I went to LL I never check the sag, messed with clickers or even  had the suspension done for my weight . I’ve always been decently fast and not until 17 /18 i don’t think I ever check sag or fork height. Now I probably check sag every other weekend and play with my fork height regularly.  As a kid I never complained about how a bike handled, now I feel like I’m chasing setup or always looking for something better. 

 

 

The more you know, the more you realize you don't know!

1
6/13/2024 10:57pm

BITD when Kurt Nicoll was at KTM, he said in a magazine interview "If his mechanic changed one click on the shock, Peter Johansson would pull off after one lap and say something is wrong. Whereas they could swap out the rear shock on Grant Langston's bike and replace it with an iron bar and he'd still go out and ride the same speed."

6/14/2024 12:09am
stangkag wrote:
Didn't RC used to say something along the lines of...I get my bike rideable at my pace and then leave it alone, it's easier to change...

Didn't RC used to say something along the lines of...I get my bike rideable at my pace and then leave it alone, it's easier to change me (the rider), than the bike.  Basically saying it was more rider than bike?

I call bullshit, for a start he had lower subframes, raised pegs and so forth.

He's just selling a story.

4
aees
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6/14/2024 3:55am
ILoveMoto wrote:
Heard Mookie say the other day he doesn't even know what tire he runs. We all know AP is not a great tester. Joe is not...

Heard Mookie say the other day he doesn't even know what tire he runs. We all know AP is not a great tester. Joe is not known for feeling it. And the list goes on...

Of course on the other end you've got Chad, Kenny, Chase and so on...

Still say there's lots of psychology involved.

That doesn't mean they are not sensitive. AP has had races that he couldn't move fwd and went backwards because bike was beating him up recently. Clicker change and he could ride again in second race when interviewed. 

AP also rides with a bike that no one else can ride, stiff front and low rear. Ian just said there is no way AP can ride Chase bike. They can't even take adjustments done to Chase and apply the same fixes translated to each rider's setup, because they are so far apart. If the riders where that insensitive, AP or Mookie could just ride whatever setup the others have. 

I don't think there is one rider today out there, that you can't make the bike unrideable on their level with 2-4 clicks in the wrong direction. That's how narrow the adjustment windows is. When they say they went the wrong direction on clickers, it's not like we are talking 10 clicks. 

1

The Shop

captmoto
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6/14/2024 3:39pm
lumpy790 wrote:
fine tuning here and there to fit each riders individual feel allowing them to go even faster. Even 1/4 of a second a lap is a...

fine tuning here and there to fit each riders individual feel allowing them to go even faster. Even 1/4 of a second a lap is a huge improvement.

You can time me with a sundial. Should I start tweaking on stuff?

3
ILoveMoto
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6/14/2024 3:45pm
lumpy790 wrote:
fine tuning here and there to fit each riders individual feel allowing them to go even faster. Even 1/4 of a second a lap is a...

fine tuning here and there to fit each riders individual feel allowing them to go even faster. Even 1/4 of a second a lap is a huge improvement.

captmoto wrote:

You can time me with a sundial. Should I start tweaking on stuff?

Invest in good looking gear 🙂

3
lumpy790
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York, SC, USA
6/14/2024 5:10pm
lumpy790 wrote:
fine tuning here and there to fit each riders individual feel allowing them to go even faster. Even 1/4 of a second a lap is a...

fine tuning here and there to fit each riders individual feel allowing them to go even faster. Even 1/4 of a second a lap is a huge improvement.

captmoto wrote:

You can time me with a sundial. Should I start tweaking on stuff?

ILoveMoto wrote:

Invest in good looking gear 🙂

JT Fluorescent was always 2 seconds a lap faster.

1
1
8/1/2024 8:53am
Gday Legends I often read that teams are changing engine mounts, engine rotation position, triple clamps, different length headers, offsets etc and I am wondering what...

Gday Legends

I often read that teams are changing engine mounts, engine rotation position, triple clamps, different length headers, offsets etc and I am wondering what do those changes do to a bike in the hands of a pro and how the bloody hell do they even notice a difference?

I've ridden bikes for a lot of years and am an actual mechanic so I know a little but I've never experimented with those types of things as I'm as slow as shit!

 

Matt

Hey I'm just a free rider but I've been riding since 1983. I've read a bunch of the comments and yeah they are right about it mostly being in your head and any modification you do is only going to help you out for a certain situation. Like if you drop your forks down in the clamps it will corner better but you'll lose a little straight line stability at speed. I am the king of not doing anything to a bike other than cleaning outfitters and living the chain and keeping it properly adjusted. I did have a 2003 KTM 200 SX that handled like crap so l put on aftermarket triple clamps with a different offset. That did help a little bit but it still had all kinds of bad karma as far as handling goes. I used to buy a bike from someone who weighed about the same as me. I've only set my sag once. Basically ride your bike and get used to the handling of it. Live with it and if there's something you absolutely hate, buy aftermarket and if you don't like it sell the parts on eBay and put the stock stuff back on. Talk to people in the forums and find out what works and ask specific questions. There's a lot of people here that love sharing info and talking dirt bikes.

2
1
8/3/2024 8:42pm

2mm of sag either way can make a bike handle great or not so great.  I only rode my revalved suspension once. I set the sag & rode it. Forks hv a firmer feel but not firm enough. I figured I would break it in 1st plus no time to hit the clickers. Usually it’s comp 1 or 2 clicks out tho . The shock is a mess it kicks left & rt all hyper 4th Wo threw  the square edge holes. It so bad that the bike feels like there a broken hinge in the middle of the frame. Step up on side of a hill a  of hill , it kicks sideways . At take off. I get it straight b4 drop in into the valley.  Stock shock was better but too soft but more in control.  I called to c what was said by the shop  that shipped it.  Fast vet b rider set up , that’s 1 problem. As the shock spring is way. Stiffer than the same bikes revalve yrs ago. My wt also dropped 10 lbs . I forgot to ask what wt the revalve was 4. Because I could believe i hv vet b suspension. I,m a fast vet a rider . I think the spring is too stiff.  As the main problem tho. Forks also too  soft.  What do ya think the shock fix would be ? I would like to get 1 ride this yr. No time really to chase a bad shockfix . 

2
8/3/2024 9:15pm
lumpy790 wrote:
fine tuning here and there to fit each riders individual feel allowing them to go even faster. Even 1/4 of a second a lap is a...

fine tuning here and there to fit each riders individual feel allowing them to go even faster. Even 1/4 of a second a lap is a huge improvement.

captmoto wrote:

You can time me with a sundial. Should I start tweaking on stuff?

Try updating your sundial...

nature-connects-sean-kenney-lego-550-950x633-2399116993.jpg?VersionId=x5
8/4/2024 8:51am
BITD when Kurt Nicoll was at KTM, he said in a magazine interview "If his mechanic changed one click on the shock, Peter Johansson would pull...

BITD when Kurt Nicoll was at KTM, he said in a magazine interview "If his mechanic changed one click on the shock, Peter Johansson would pull off after one lap and say something is wrong. Whereas they could swap out the rear shock on Grant Langston's bike and replace it with an iron bar and he'd still go out and ride the same speed."

Heard the same thing about MC and Lamson. One day while out testing they turned MC’s clickers all the way in. He went and rode the thing without even noticing and said the bike was great. Lamson on the other hand, they went in 2 clicks on compression. He did one lap and came in telling them to go to clicks out. 

Some guys are sensitive to it while others aren’t at all.

OldTech
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Decatur, AL, USA
8/5/2024 9:21pm

Pro125 is right. you adjust the rake and trail with the rear ride height, not with triple clamps or front clickers.

8/6/2024 5:54am

Curious.... Is it best to measure sag and do your clicker adjustments once the suspension is hot or cold ?

Luxon MX
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8/6/2024 9:11am
OldTech wrote:

Pro125 is right. you adjust the rake and trail with the rear ride height, not with triple clamps or front clickers.

All of those adjustments will have an affect on rake and trail (rear ride height, triple clamps, and clickers). Clickers won't change your static rake and trail but will change the dynamic rake and trail.

cason402
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Colorado Springs, CO, USA
8/6/2024 9:54am
stangkag wrote:
Didn't RC used to say something along the lines of...I get my bike rideable at my pace and then leave it alone, it's easier to change...

Didn't RC used to say something along the lines of...I get my bike rideable at my pace and then leave it alone, it's easier to change me (the rider), than the bike.  Basically saying it was more rider than bike?

He said it's impossible to have the bike work perfectly on every section of the track. How you set it up for one part of the...

He said it's impossible to have the bike work perfectly on every section of the track. How you set it up for one part of the track won't let it work as well on another part of the track. I believe his words were, "you just gotta ride the damn bike." 

That's how he likes to spin it now.   But his whole pro career he had some of the best technicians and engineers in motocross working for him.   just sayin'

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