Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Motorcycle Suspensions + Video

Troy Siahaan
by Troy Siahaan

More than just “those bouncy things” that keep our motorcycles on the road, suspension plays a vital role in virtually every aspect of a motorcycle’s handling. But how well do you know what goes on inside a set of forks, or inside a shock? In this video, courtesy of the Yamaha Champions Riding School, Mark Rozema, proprietor of Markbilt Racing, explains exactly how suspensions work and why there are so many different variations. If you have 11 minutes to spare, there is some great insight here. No matter what you ride, the lessons here can apply to virtually any motorcycle. Be sure to watch the end for some good laughs!

Troy Siahaan
Troy Siahaan

Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.

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