Race Sag vs. Static Sag
Race sag (also called "rider sag") is how much the suspension compresses under your weight, in full gear, in a normal riding position. It's the primary number used to set spring preload correctly for your weight.
Static sag is how much the suspension compresses under the bike's own weight alone, with no rider. It's mainly used as a cross-check on the rear shock spring rate — if static sag falls outside roughly 30–40mm (with race sag correctly set), your spring rate itself may be too soft or too stiff, and preload adjustment alone won't fix it.
Target Ranges
- Motocross / track: typically 100–105mm race sag, favoring quicker steering response and a firmer feel for jumps and hard braking.
- Trail / enduro / off-road: typically 105–110mm race sag, favoring stability and comfort over long, varied terrain.
These are general starting ranges used widely across the industry, not a single "correct" number — rider preference, weight distribution, and terrain all shift the ideal point within (or slightly outside) this range.
If Your Sag Is Outside the Target
- Sag number too high (bike sits too low): add preload, or move to a stiffer spring if you're already near maximum preload adjustment.
- Sag number too low (bike sits too high): reduce preload, or move to a softer spring if you're already near minimum preload.
Preload adjustments should stay within a few turns of the spring's middle range — if you're maxed out in either direction just to hit your target sag number, that's a sign the spring rate itself doesn't match your weight, not a preload problem.