Dirt Bike Suspension - Revalve Basics.
Profits were one of the manufacturers primary motives in the design of your dirt bike suspension. I know this may sound harsh, however let's face-it the manufacturers primary goal is not to have "The Best Motocross Suspension Period" out on the track....they want it to be "The Best Suspension They Can Afford". Profit is their primary goal and it all comes down to money. Unfortunately this reality often means dirt bike suspension with less than ideal internal components and fluids as received off the show-room floor. This situation is workable however as there are many reputable motocross suspension shops you can rely on to offer reasonable pricing on a custom dirt bike suspension setup specifically tailored to your riding ability, weight, and personal preferences. Dirtbike suspension companies such as RG3 Suspension, Factory Connection, Pro Circuit, and Enzo all offer quality service with fast turnarounds, and very affordable prices. Below is a technical guide briefly explaining the differences between stock motocross suspension and a truly custom setup as offered by the better suspension shops: Reduced Stiction: Suspension hop-up shops take great care to improve performance thru reduced stiction within the setup. This occurs by using higher quality shims which are often more flexible & easier to move, redesigned pistons with modified compression & rebound ports, and utilizing fewer sealing O-Rings. You will be suprised how much care and effort is taken in this area, especially on factory race bikes to achieve a plush ride that also resists bottoming. Suspension Fluid Stability: Most people don't realize that the fluid/components within the suspension can reach 300 degrees fahrenheit during a typical moto. These temperatures place extreme demands on the stock petroleum based suspension fluids ability to survive and remain stable thru a 20 minute moto. Suspension hop-up shops typically use the best polymers (Group 2 or Group 2+ base oils) which offer greatly improved viscosity index performance. This ensures the suspension fluids viscosity remains stable under the highest operating temperatures. These polymer fluids also offer the best additives to deal with the extreme pressures and reduce stiction, foaming, wear, and corrosion. Polymer based fluids offer a dramatic difference in suspension performance consistency both throughout the moto and over the course of a long-day, thus making it much easier to fine tune your setup and achieve desired race results. Rebuild or Revalving: Valving shims fatigue with use and lose their resistance to bend over time. These small, thin metal disks are what controls the flow of oil within your forks or shock and affect both compression and rebound dampening. When the suspension shops "Perform a Rebuild" new seals, bushings, o-rings, shims, and fluids are installed all to bring your old suspension back to specification. On the otherhand, when you request a suspension company's "Revalve Service" not only do they perform the rebuild mentioned above, they also carefully arrange the valve shim stack to suit your riding demands and compensate for the particular handling characteristics of your bike. In order to be successful the tuners need specific information from you and feedback as to what your suspension concerns are to help "You" achieve "Your Goals". Only you can explain how your bike feels when subjected to your height, weight, riding ability and track conditions. This is truly a personalized setup to get the bike handling much better for your particular needs. Make sure to visit Motocross Chassis Setup. (Setting Sag, Correct Springs, Linkage Greased, Tight Steering Head Bearing, Fork Misalignment, Forks Bleed, Correct Motorcycle Tire Pressure, Fresh Oil, Rebound Clicker Adjustments, Compression Clicker Adjustments). Only after you have exhausted these basics can you determine if your bike needs custom revalving to make it handle better.
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