When most riders talk performance the first thing they think of is POWER - but if you're smart, that's the last on the list. Shoving grunt into a chassis that can't cope builds a scary bucking bronco. First steps are basics - make sure your bike is properly maintained, clean, no leaks, fresh oil, good clutch setup. Remove any extra weight. Fit grippy tyres. You've got the perfect starting point! Quality suspension comes next & Teknik Motorsport are motorcycle suspension tuning experts.

Our road bike or our offroad bike setup guides explain sag height in depth - but basically you need the springs holding the chassis at the right height for the damper to get enough stroke length. Most manufacturers add factory adjustability for it on rear coilovers - preloading the spring coils further holds heavier weights up, less pressure for lighter riders - so you should fine tune pre load when you add or remove a pillion or luggage. Those crescent shaped preload nut spanners are cheap & strong, why not use them? If you've gritted teeth, getting tiny fractions of a turn before they bump into tight trellis frame tubes, you know their limitations.

Shocks aren't very accessible in that spiderweb. Aftermarket geniuses X-Trig developed these replacement clockwork collars that screw onto a shock absorber body like the stock castellated rings, but then pressure is adjusted with a basic socket. Spinning a ratchet extension quickly versus smacking wrenches for ages.

These high quality performance parts are light weight, compact, have durable & reliable internals, a wide adjustment control range, are a simple DIY upgrade using a shock spring compressor, but most importantly - super easy & precise to tune. These complete kits make it simple to adjust slack, allowing the compression & rebound damping inside to stop the rough kicking & bottoming out when lugging extra gear on your rides. They protect paint from those frustrated clanking spanner scratches too! Modifications like this can save time in the race pits, but are mainly for the real world.

Watching racing videos, do the winners look like they're being kicked around? That circuit star can lean further, without braking dive, sailing over cornering bumps that push you off line. That motocross hero hooks up on the loosest dirt, turns quicker after landing jumps, floats over whoops that rattle you roughly. Are they more skilled? Maybe. But their motorbike is predictable & controlled, giving confidence to push grip further & time to concentrate on faster laps.

Tuned suspensions aren't just for track or sports though. Riding potholed tarmac or dirt trail adventures improves too - a smooth ride, comfortable saddle no longer absorbing corrugations & vibration, longer endurance. Keeping safe tyre contact with the road under all conditions gives more grip & acceleration. You can improve sag height by the road side without tools on our hydraulic preload adjusters, though they're slightly heavier & more expensive. We recommend those conversion options if you're regularly touring & constantly changing loads - they are premium components with the simplest tuning so plush comfort is a twist of the dial knob.

So now you've built up some skills & experienced riding a competent bike, how about setting up your gearing for better lap times & ridability? You're finally ready to turn up the wick with a screaming tuned engine & a blasting aftermarket muffler - but have a think about it first.