The fork and shock work harder than anything else on a motocross bike. Service intervals, wear symptoms and the settings to check first.
Sommaire · 6 parties
01Why suspension servicing is critical
In motocross and enduro, the suspension takes hits that road suspension never sees. A fork that never gets serviced loses a real chunk of its performance over a season — you don't feel it going away, because it goes away gradually. You feel it the first ride after a proper service, and the difference is obvious.
02Service intervals
Fork
| Use | Fork oil change | Seal replacement | Full rebuild |
|---|---|---|---|
| Race motocross | 15-20 h | 30-50 h (or the moment it leaks) | 80-100 h |
| Enduro / trail riding | 30-40 h | 50-80 h | 150 h |
| Road (adventure, roadster) | 100-150 h | 200 h | 300 h |
Shock
| Use | Oil change + nitrogen recharge | Full rebuild |
|---|---|---|
| Race motocross | 30-40 h | 80-100 h |
| Enduro | 50-80 h | 150 h |
| Road | 150-200 h | 300+ h |
These are the intervals commonly quoted by suspension workshops and in tuning guides — see speedway.fr. Always check what your own suspension maker (WP, KYB, Showa) states in the manual for your exact model, because intervals differ between generations.
03The signs it's time
Fork
- Oil weeping down the stanchions → seals are done (deal with it first)
- Fork spiking or crashing through at the end of the stroke → the oil has broken down
- Slow rebound on the way back up → oil too thick, usually water or dirt contamination
- Scoring on the stanchions → your seals are about to go
Shock
- Shock feels vague and soft → lost nitrogen, or the oil has degraded
- Uncontrolled rebound → worn rebound valving
- Knocking noise → cavitation, nitrogen pressure is low
04What a service costs
| Job | DIY | Specialist workshop |
|---|---|---|
| Fork oil change | €20-40 (oil) | €80-150 |
| Fork seals | €30-60 (parts) | €100-200 |
| Full fork rebuild | €80-150 | €250-400 |
| Shock rebuild | Hard to do at home | €200-350 |
| Nitrogen recharge | Not doable at home | €30-50 |
05Basic setup
Motocross suspension is adjustable. Before you pay for a rebuild, check your settings.
Spring preload (SAG)
- Sit on the bike in full kit
- It should settle ~100-105 mm (about a third of the travel), front and rear
- More than that: spring too stiff. Less: spring too soft.
Compression and rebound
- Compression = resistance to the suspension being pushed in. More clicks out = softer.
- Rebound = how fast it comes back. Too fast and the bike pogos. Too slow and it packs down and sits low.
- Rule of thumb: start from the manufacturer's recommended setting (mid-range), and change two clicks at a time.
06The hour meter: your best friend here
Without an hour meter you genuinely don't know when your fork was last serviced. With HOROTAG RUUVI (€129) every job is logged against engine hours — so you know exactly when the next one is due. RUUVI counts your hours automatically over Bluetooth, which is what makes hour-based intervals workable in the first place.
Un compteur d'heures fiable + un carnet automatique, c'est ce que fait HOROTAG RUUVI.
Boîtier sous la selle, app gratuite, sans abonnement. 129 € payés une fois.
Voir HOROTAG RUUVI
