Mastering Suspension with FC's Mike Haist

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In this podcast, we talk about what we know best; motocross training, and what it takes to get to the top level in this sport. On MX Mastery, you can look forward to everything from conversations with top athletes to topics like fitness, supercross, racing, amateur, professional, etc. If it’s moto, we’re going to talk about it!

In today’s episode, we dive into the world of suspension with Factory Connection's Mike Haist. Mike is coming up on 20 years of being a suspension tech with Factory Connection and has worked with young amateurs all the way up to top professionals in the 450 class. Mike comes out to MTF a few times a year to get us dialed in before big races, and we were lucky enough to grab him for a conversation!

Time Stamps:

0:50 - Why is Mike and Factory Connection at MTF?

4:20 - How did Mike get into the suspension industry?

9:15 - Do you find the guys here at MTF are really far off with their settings?

11:50 - What is the most common thing you see that’s an easy fix for riders and their suspension?

14:35 - Thoughts on the triple air chamber fork

16:50 - Do they use nitrogen for air forks at the top level?

19:45 - Does FC find a setting faster because of your experience with all different conditions compared to smaller suspension shops?

25:12 - Max Anstie and his set up

27:30 - How do you keep track of your different settings for different tracks?

30:25 - Have you ever had to tell someone that the problem is their riding technique, not the suspension?

32:52 - Mike’s thoughts on why bikes kick more side to side when you’re in a higher gear

39:22 - Setting up your bike for the only 2% of the track that’s giving you trouble

40:55 - Chad Reed setting his bike up for the end of the main event

42:22 - If you have a beginner that is just starting to mess with their suspension, how do you advise they start that journey

49:15 - At what level of riding should I start messing with my suspension?

51:52 - How often should you have your suspension checked by a tech?

55:08 - Is stock suspension really that bad?

58:25 - If you start to run out of clicker adjustment, should you then send in your suspension to get it adjusted?

1:00:38 - What is the difference between A-kit suspension and everything else?

1:06:50 - Cooper Webb switching fork tube diameters during SX

1:14:05 - What do you think Dylan Ferrandis is searching for on this new bike?

1:16:50 - Why do you prefer to not tell the riders the adjustments you make when you’re testing?

1:20:15 - Have you ever sent someone back out with the exact same suspension as before and it solved their problem?

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