What Is the 90% Rule?
By Daniel Blair
The 90% Rule is a way to think about how your bike should work on the track. It means that your motorcycle should do 90% of the job, and you, the rider, do the other 10%. Why? Because your bike will never be perfect — and that’s okay!
Why Can’t the Bike Be Perfect?
Because tracks are always changing! One minute the track is smooth, and then it gets rough, ruts get deeper, and bumps show up. That means even if your bike feels perfect now, it might not feel that way in a few laps. That’s why you can't expect your bike to do everything for you. You have to be ready to change and adjust yourself as the track changes.
What Should You Do?
Your goal is to get your bike close to perfect — about 90%. Then, it’s up to you to make up the last 10% by riding smart and adjusting how you ride. This helps you become more responsible and learn not to blame your bike every time something feels off. If your race doesn’t go well, don't say, “It was the bike’s fault.” Instead, say, “What could I do better next time?” That attitude will help you grow faster as a rider.
Be Like the Pros
Big-time riders like Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb, and Zach Osborne use this rule. They don’t wait for the bike to be perfect. They say, “Get it close, and I’ll do the rest.” And it works! If you learn to ride like that, you’ll be way ahead of the kids who only do well when everything feels just right.
So What Makes Up That 90%?
One of the biggest things is called chassis balance. That’s just a fancy way of saying the bike feels good from front to back — not too high in the back, not too low in the front, just right. When that balance is off, even pros don’t ride their best. Riders like Ken Roczen have talked about this. If the bike feels weird, they back off because it doesn’t feel safe or comfortable. So getting that balance right is a big part of hitting that 90%.
How Do You Get Good Balance?
Talk to your suspension guy! They can help you with:
Let them know what kind of track you’re riding: sandy, bumpy, smooth, supercross-style, etc. That way, you’ll get the right setup for each ride.
Don’t Forget: Your Body Changes Too!
If you're growing (and most kids are!), your body weight changes a lot. Gaining even 5–10 pounds can make your bike feel different. What felt good in April might feel weird by August. So make sure to adjust your settings as your body grows. And if you’re coming back from an injury and not riding as hard as usual, your bike might feel different too. Again, that’s something to tell your suspension guy so they can help you get the balance right.
The Big Idea
If you think like this, you’ll improve faster, race smarter, and be the kind of rider that teams love to work with.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.