Motocross VS Nascar: Importance of Proper Bike Setup – Take The Quiz

NASCAR racing on any track has always just been around an oval in the same direction. And the tracks don’t really ever change.

Yet, the drivers spend five days before the event, each one having five mechanics, setting up their car for that particular event.

Motocross tracks are filled with man-made obstacles, changing terrain and changing soil consistency and every lap changes because of other riders etc. On top of this, motocross bikes have more controls that have to be used to negotiate these many obstacles. Yet, bearing all this in mind, very little time is spent by a motocross rider in setting up his bike up for a particular track or event.

Don’t you think something is wrong with this picture? Either NASCAR guys are doing overkill. Or, the motocross guys don’t have a clue.

If you want to be safer and faster, one of the first things you need to do is spend time on bike set-up.

Test your knowledge and see if you can answer all the questions in our Bike Setup Quiz:

1. Why is it important for a rider to know how to set up a bike to fit his riding style and to suit a particular track on a particular day?
2. When would you need to change the springs on your suspension?
3. What is compression?
4. What is rebound?
5. What is race sag?
6. What are the clickers adjustments and what do they do?
7. What is oil viscosity and how does it affect your suspension?
8. What is the difference between a hard pack tire compound and a tire designed for sand riding?
9. What tire pressure would you need for the following: a) Sand track b) Hard pack
10. What is the difference between a two stroke and a four-stroke engine?
11. When would you need to re-jet a bike?
12. When would you need to change the gearing on a bike?
13. What is the primary function of the following? (Name at least three for each one): a) Handlebars b) Foot pegs c) Front brake d) Rear brake e) Clutch f) Throttle g) Transmission h) Suspension
14. What is the function of the spark plug?
15. Why is it important to always keep the air filter clean?
16. Why do you have a removable sub frame?
17. Where is the universal mounting point for a kill switch, and why is it important for it to always be there?
18. Why don’t motocross bikes have kickstands?
19. How much slack should you always have on your chain, and why should you have this slack?
20. Why is it important to insure that your handlebars are in the correct position for those particular bars?