FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Suspension Matters Motorcycle Performance & Repair
- we specialize in suspension!
Whether you’re scheduling routine motorcycle maintenance, a suspension rebuild, performance upgrades, or a complete repair, we’ve answered some of the most common questions we receive.
If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, give our team a call—we’re always happy to help.
DO YOU WORK ON ALL MAKES & MODELS?
Yes. We service all makes and models of motorcycles, including sport bikes, cruisers, touring motorcycles, dirt bikes, dual sports, adventure bikes, scooters, and ATVs.
Whether you ride a Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Husqvarna, Harley-Davidson, BMW, Ducati, Triumph, Aprilia, or another brand, our technicians have experience servicing a wide variety of motorcycles.
Older motorcycles, vintage bikes, or motorcycles that have been sitting for extended periods may require additional diagnostic time or hard-to-source parts, which can increase repair costs. We’ll always discuss those findings with you before proceeding.
DO I NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
Appointments are strongly recommended for all motorcycle services to ensure we have adequate time, technician availability, and any required parts ready before your motorcycle arrives.
Many routine maintenance and suspension services can often be completed the same day by appointment, provided the necessary parts are in stock and no unexpected issues are discovered during the repair.
Walk-in customers are always welcome; however, same-day service is not guaranteed and depends on technician availability, the current shop workload, and scheduling capacity for the day.
If your motorcycle must be completed by a specific date or time, please let us know when scheduling your appointment. Priority Scheduling may be available for qualifying services, subject to technician availability and an additional priority service fee.
For customers supplying their own parts, we recommend providing the part numbers before your appointment so our technicians can verify compatibility and help prevent delays.
HOW LONG WILL MY MOTORCYCLE BE AT THE SHOP?
Repair times vary depending on the service being performed and whether additional repairs or replacement parts are required.
Routine maintenance and suspension services are often completed the same day by appointment. More complex diagnostics and repairs may require additional time to properly inspect, diagnose, obtain customer approval, or order replacement parts.
Before work begins, we’ll provide an estimated completion time whenever possible. If additional issues are discovered during the repair process, we’ll contact you to discuss our findings and update your estimated completion time before proceeding.
WILL YOU CONTACT ME BEFORE PERFORMING ADDITIONAL REPAIRS?
Absolutely.
If we discover additional repairs or worn components during the inspection process, we’ll contact you with our findings, explain your options, and obtain approval before performing any work beyond the original estimate.
No surprise charges.
CAN I BRING MY OWN PARTS?
Yes. We can install customer-supplied parts in many situations.
However, because we cannot verify the quality, condition, or compatibility of customer-provided parts, our workmanship warranty applies only to the installation—not the parts themselves.
To help avoid delays, our technicians will verify that the parts you’ve purchased are correct for your motorcycle before your scheduled appointment whenever possible. The easiest way to do this is by providing the manufacturer or supplier part number. If you don’t have the part number, a purchase receipt, order confirmation, or clear photos of the part and packaging may provide the information we need to verify compatibility.
If we’re unable to verify your parts before your appointment, there is a possibility that the service cannot be completed if the parts are incorrect, incomplete, or incompatible with your motorcycle. While we may be able to modify or adapt certain aftermarket components when appropriate, this is not guaranteed and may require additional labor. We’ll always discuss any available options with you before proceeding.
If you’re unsure whether you’ve ordered the correct parts, we’re happy to help verify compatibility before you make your purchase or arrive for your appointment.
DO YOU OFFER ESTIMATES?
Yes. We provide detailed estimates for virtually all motorcycle services, repairs, and insurance claims.
For scheduled repairs or requested services, we’ll provide a written estimate outlining the recommended work, including a breakdown of labor, parts, and any applicable shop supplies required to complete the job. Estimates can often be provided in person or by email, depending on the information available.
For insurance claims, we also prepare comprehensive repair estimates documenting all visible damage and the labor and parts necessary to restore the motorcycle.
If your motorcycle requires diagnosis before an accurate estimate can be prepared, we’ll perform an inspection first and then provide our recommendations along with a detailed estimate.
No work is performed without your approval. Every estimate must be reviewed and approved by the customer before repairs begin. If additional issues are discovered during the repair process, we’ll contact you to discuss our findings and obtain authorization before performing any work beyond the original estimate.
When Can I Expect to Hear Back After Requesting a Quote?
We strive to respond to all quote requests and customer inquiries the same business day. While many estimates are prepared and returned within a few hours, more complex quotes or high shop volume may occasionally require until the next business day. Our goal is always to provide accurate estimates as quickly as possible without sacrificing attention to detail.
Because we’re a small, specialized team, our technicians dedicate most of their day to working on motorcycles in the shop. To minimize interruptions and ensure every customer receives quality service, technician call-backs are typically made between 9:00–10:00 AM and 4:00–5:00 PM.
During normal business hours, a Customer Service Representative is always available to:
- Start a new quote request
- Answer general questions
- Schedule appointments
- Provide service information and pricing when available
- Relay messages to our technicians
- Add customers to the technician call-back queue for technical questions or situations requiring a technician’s expertise
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to provide every customer with accurate information and personalized service.
How Does a Motorcycle Suspension Setup Work?
Every suspension setup begins with learning about you as the rider.
We discuss:
- Rider weight
- Riding experience
- Riding style
- Typical terrain or road conditions
- Current suspension concerns
From there, we measure front and rear suspension sag, evaluate spring rates, and adjust preload, compression, and rebound damping to create a balanced setup designed specifically for your motorcycle and riding style.
Every suspension setup includes complimentary adjustments for six months if additional fine-tuning is needed.
How Often Should Motorcycle Suspension Be Serviced?
Like engine oil, suspension fluid breaks down over time.
For most street motorcycles, we recommend servicing the suspension every 15,000–20,000 miles or every 2–3 years, whichever comes first.
Off-road, racing, or aggressive riding typically requires more frequent service.
Regular suspension maintenance improves ride quality, handling, tire wear, and component life.
What's Included in a Suspension Service?
A standard fork or shock service includes:
- Complete disassembly
- Thorough cleaning
- Fresh suspension fluid
- New oil seals
- New guide bushings
- Internal inspection
- Chrome inspection and light polishing when appropriate
- Reassembly to manufacturer specifications
If damaged internal components are discovered, we’ll contact you before replacing them.
How Do I Know If My Suspension Needs Service?
Common signs include:
- Oil leaking from the forks
- Excessive front-end dive
- Harsh ride quality
- Poor cornering stability
- Excessive bouncing
- Uneven tire wear
- Suspension feels inconsistent
If you’re unsure, we’re happy to inspect your motorcycle.
Do I Need New Springs?
Not always.
Many motorcycles leave the factory with springs designed for an “average” rider. If your weight, luggage, riding style, or passenger use differs significantly, correctly rated springs can dramatically improve comfort, handling, and confidence.
We’ll determine whether your existing springs are appropriate during your suspension setup.
Do I Need to Remove My Suspension Before Bringing It In?
No.
You’re welcome to bring us just the forks or shock, but if you bring in the complete motorcycle, we’ll remove and reinstall the suspension as part of the service.
This also allows us to verify proper installation and operation before returning your motorcycle.
What Types of Motorcycle Services Do You Offer?
We provide a full range of motorcycle maintenance and repair services, including:
- Factory maintenance
- Oil changes
- Brake service
- Cooling system service
- Chain and sprocket replacement
- Steering head bearings
- Wheel bearings
- Suspension rebuilds
- Suspension tuning
- Tire installation
- Engine diagnostics
- Performance upgrades
- ECU flashing
- Dyno tuning
- Electrical diagnostics
Do You Work on Older Motorcycles?
Yes.
We enjoy working on older motorcycles, but older machines often require additional diagnostic time due to corrosion, worn components, discontinued parts, or previous repairs.
We’ll always explain any additional labor or parts required before moving forward.
Do You Warranty Your Work?
Yes.
We stand behind the quality of our workmanship.
Warranty coverage varies depending on the service performed and parts installed. Suspension services include a six-month workmanship warranty unless damage outside the serviced components affects the repair.
If you ever have concerns after service, contact us and we’ll make it right.
Do You Install Motorcycle Tires?
Yes.
We install both tubeless and tube-type motorcycle tires.
You can bring us:
The complete motorcycle
Individual wheels
Tires purchased from us
Customer-supplied tires
We’ll inspect each wheel before installation to ensure safe operation.
Do You Sell Motorcycle Tires?
We carry a limited inventory of used motorcycle tires for riders looking for an affordable replacement.
Used tires are recommended primarily for commuting or casual riding and are not intended for racing or aggressive performance riding.
Contact us to check current availability.
Do You Balance Motorcycle Tires?
Yes.
Whenever applicable, motorcycle tires are professionally balanced during installation to reduce vibration, improve stability, and maximize tire life.
What's the Difference Between an ECU Flash and a Dyno Tune?
An ECU flash unlocks and modifies your motorcycle’s factory ECU by installing new software parameters.
A dyno tune fine-tunes those parameters on a dynamometer to optimize fueling, ignition timing, throttle response, and overall engine performance for your specific motorcycle and modifications.
Many riders choose both services together for the best results.
Can You Tune My Motorcycle After I Install Performance Parts?
Absolutely.
Whether you’ve installed an aftermarket exhaust, intake, velocity stacks, cams, or other performance components, we can recalibrate your motorcycle to maximize performance while maintaining reliability.
MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT TUNING?
Visit our Dyno Service Page for more Frequently Asked Questions here!
Still Have Questions?
Our goal is to help riders make informed decisions—not pressure them into unnecessary repairs.
If you don’t see your question here, contact Suspension Matters. Our team is happy to answer your questions, explain your options, and help you determine the best solution for your motorcycle.