RACE SAG SETUP TIPS
Race Sag or Preload is one of the most important setup procedures you can make to your motorcycle, ATV or snowmobile. Sag is how much the shock spring settles with the rider on the bike. When the sag amount is set according to the rider's weight the supension works in it's proper designed range.
To set your sag follow these steps: (Requires 3 people ideally, 2 people minimum)
- STEP 1 - Place the bike on a stand/crate so that all the wieght is off the rear wheel. Take a tape measure or ruler and measure the distance from the center of the axle to a specific point on your rear fender or side panel. The location does not matter so much as repeating the measurement in the exact same location when you get on the machine, so make sure to mark down your point, as well as the measurement you get.
- STEP 2 - Take the bike off the stand/crate, and put it on level ground like an evenly cemented garage floor.
- STEP 3 - To complete this next step you need 1 person to hold the bike while you are on it, and another person to take the measurements. Get on the bike, and bounce lightly a couple of times. Now position yourself in the neutral position of the seat found directly above the foot pegs, and place your feet on the foot pegs so all of your weight is on the bike. Bounce up and down a few times to make sure the linkage is moving freely. Have 1 assistant measure using the same point of your first measurement. Write down this figure below the first measurement, then subtract the two measurements to get your RACE SAG. Example: 605 mm -505 mm = 100mm race sag.
- STEP 4 - Next loosen the lock washer above the spring preload ring on top of the shock spring with a long punch and hammer. Once that is loose, you can adjust the spring preload ring. If your measured race sag was over 100mm, you will want to tighten the spring to compress it. Follow Steps 1-4 until you get your race sag close to 100mm.
- STEP 5 - Now you want to check Static Sag. To do so place the bike on the stand/crate as you did in STEP 1, and measure again with no load on the suspension. Mark this measurement down.
- STEP 6 - Now take the bike off the stand and with the rider off the bike, measure how far the bike sags on it's own weight, again using the same point as before. Write this figure down and subtract it from the first. For example if the first measure is 600mm and this measure is 580mm you subtract 580mm from 600mm which gives you a static sag of 20mm.
- NOTE - With the RACE SAG set at 100mm, the proper STATIC SAG should be between 15mm and 25mm (1/2" - 1"). If the STATIC SAG is less than 15mm then you need a lighter spring. If the STATIC SAG is more than 25mm then you need a heavier spring. Call us! (902) 832-3155.