Ryan Nitzen | May 10, 2022
Motoklik is a unique suspension measurement and lap-timing system for certain motocross bikes built by Irish company, Motoklik. The Motoklik comes with an electronic GPS unit, front- and rear-suspension sensors, and a mobile app to measure and analyze collected data, such as rear-suspension sag, bottoming analysis, and suspension position and speed analysis. There is also a function that monitors your lap times and average speed, which helps determine if your suspension setup is working to optimize your lap times.
The Motoklik comes with an electronic GPS unit, front- and rear-suspension sensors, a bag of gummy bears and a mobile app.
Motoklik Lowdown
Standout Feature: Cool technology that takes the guesswork out of rider feel and lap times.
Price: $1057
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Reveals valuable information |
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Simple installation |
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Simple to operate |
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Pricey |
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Can be difficult to decipher some data |
The “black box” attaches inconspicuously to the handlebar pad.
Motoklik Rider Analysis
The sensor for the front forks looks like a set of black upper fork guards and the rear shock sensor tucks up nicely behind the frame and rear-brake cylinder. It’s a universal fit for several late-model four-stroke motocross motorcycles from GasGas, Honda, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, KTM and Yamaha. According to the company’s website, systems for KTM enduro models will be available soon. For our CRF450R, the Motoklik system mounted up fairly easily to pre-existing holes on the bike. You do have to tap into the bike’s battery to power the system but instructional videos from Motoklik aid in this process.
Once everything is attached to the bike, there’s little evidence that it’s there. The only thing the rider sees is the “black box” that sits atop the bar pad and acts as an on/off switch for the unit. Press it to start recording, press it again when you pull off the track to stop recording. Pretty simple. The control unit and the app talk wirelessly to download data that you can then analyze on a phone or computer. You can see which line on the track was faster (inside or outside) and what your suspension was doing in that same section (too deep in the stroke, or not deep enough). Ideally, you see what the suspension is doing, adjust accordingly, hit the track again, and see a drop in lap times.
Our test day with Motoklik went down at Fox Raceway, a fast layout with varying dirt conditions and plenty of jumps. Jens Kopke, the owner and inventor of Motoklik, installed the system for us and walked us through the steps involved. He re-calibrated the system and set it to master-zero, which became a bit more labor intensive by taking off the rear wheel and having the system learn the bottom-out points on our Honda CRF450R. Once mounted, it’s hard to tell the system is on the bike. It doesn’t look goofy or clunky and is designed to be left on the bike.
We took some initial lap times to see what lines on the track were fastest. With the Motoklik app, you can measure certain sections on the track and break down individual obstacles. I’ve never used anything like this, so seeing those comparisons right after a moto was intriguing and useful to say the least.
Now the fun part, analyzing all your data.
Next up was the suspension testing. I noticed a few sections on the track where I felt sketchy on the hard-packed off-camber corners. Kopke then analyzed my suspension data and noticed that my settings were too stiff, and I wasn’t using enough of the suspension to find comfort and drive forward. Two clicks out on the front and rear and, sure enough, I went a few tenths faster in that section during my next session. So, I’d have to say that it indeed worked.
I’m definitely a fan of the Motoklik system and think it has some real-world use for riders and racers alike. My only real issues are price and ease of use. At over $1000 for the system, I think it’s a tough sell for the everyday rider. Race teams or privateers, on the other hand, will find value in the Motoklik due to its in-depth analytics and could easily justify the cost.
The app itself is very user-friendly and breaks down lap times, average speed, etc. in a way that’s easy to understand. The actual suspension-usage portion is something I had a hard time comprehending. Without Kopke being there for my test day, making sense of the suspension values would’ve been much more difficult. Understanding the numbers and how they correlate to compression, rebound, or track conditions just seems a bit too complicated for a normal racer or weekend warrior like me. For a first-time user, bring along a suspension wiz.
Overall, there’s a lot to learn from Motoklik. Improving lap times and getting the most from your machine is a goal of every motorcycle enthusiast. As more riders, technicians, and mechanics get familiar with the product, I believe understanding the data will become much easier. For those who are good with numbers and enjoy fine-tuning every detail of their bike and don’t mind paying the grand-plus pricetag, the Motoklik system is a high-tech no-brainer. CN
For more information, visit www.motoklik.com
