Fork Revalve vs Shock Service — Which Should You Do First?

One of the most common questions we hear at TBT Racing is: “Should I do my forks or my shock first?” The honest answer is that both need to work together for balanced handling. But if budget or timing forces you to choose one, here is how to decide.

What a Fork Revalve Does

A fork revalve involves complete disassembly of the fork cartridge, inspection of all internal components for wear, and installation of a custom shim stack configuration based on your rider profile — your weight, height, riding style, terrain, and skill level. Fresh fork oil at the correct viscosity and height is installed, followed by reassembly and testing.

The shim stack is a carefully arranged set of thin, flexible metal discs stacked on the damping piston. When oil is forced through the piston, it pushes against these shims, which deflect to allow oil flow. The amount of deflection determines how much damping force is generated. A revalve replaces the generic stock stack with one tailored to you.

Fork revalves start at $350 at TBT Racing (plus oil and parts).

What a Shock Revalve Does

A shock revalve involves full disassembly of the shock body, reservoir, and piston. All components are inspected — seal head, bladder, shims, and piston ring. A custom shim stack is built based on your rider profile, then fresh shock oil and nitrogen charge are installed.

Shock revalves start at $250 at TBT Racing (plus oil and parts).

Revalve vs. Rebuild — What Is the Difference?

A rebuild includes everything in a revalve plus replacement of worn components — bushings, seals, dust wipers on forks; seals, o-rings, and bladder on shocks. If your suspension has high hours, leaks, or has never been serviced, you likely need a rebuild rather than just a revalve.

• Fork rebuild: Starting at $240 (plus oil and parts)
• Shock rebuild: Starting at $150 (plus oil and parts)
• Full service revalve (fork + shock): Starting at $600
• Full service rebuild (fork + shock): Starting at $390

When to Prioritize Forks

Start with your forks if you experience any of these symptoms:

• Front end washes out in corners — the front tire loses traction and pushes wide. Often caused by too much fork compression or too-stiff springs.
• Harsh ride over small bumps — fork feels like it hits a wall on braking bumps and chatter. Usually too much compression damping or too-stiff springs.
• Arm pump after 10-15 minutes — stiff fork compression and heavy springs transmit every bump to your hands and forearms.
• Headshake at speed — handlebar oscillation, especially under acceleration, often points to a fork rebound issue.
• Excessive brake dive — the front end drops too far under braking, upsetting balance. Needs compression valving attention.

When to Prioritize the Shock

Start with your shock if you experience any of these symptoms:

• Bike kicks in whoops — the rear end bucks and kicks through repeated bumps. Usually rebound is too fast (not enough damping).
• Bottoming out on jumps — the shock uses all its travel on landing. Spring rate may be too soft or compression damping too low.
• Rear swaps sideways under braking — instability on deceleration, often linked to shock compression settings or worn linkage.
• Suspension feels “packed down” — the bike sits progressively lower through a section because rebound is too slow and the shock cannot extend between hits.
• No rear traction on corner exits — the rear wheel spins instead of hooking up. Can be caused by too-stiff springs or excessive compression damping preventing the tire from conforming to the ground.

The Best Answer: Do Both

Your front and rear suspension work as a system. When one end is revalved to match your weight and style but the other end is still stock, you create an imbalance. The bike may turn better but kick in the rear, or feel plush in the back but harsh up front.

TBT Racing's full service revalve — both fork and shock — starts at $600 and gives you the best value. Both ends are tuned together by the same technician using the same rider profile data, so your bike handles as a balanced, connected unit.

“You're never going to replace us. The central nervous system hooked to the seat of a motorcycle can tell you more than any computer.” — Travis Flateau, TBT Racing

Service Interval Reference

Regardless of which you service first, here are the recommended intervals to keep your suspension performing at its best:

• Every ride: Check tire pressure, wipe fork tubes and shock shaft, bleed fork air, verify clicker settings.
• Every 30-60 hours: Fork oil change, seal replacement, shock fluid check and nitrogen top-off.
• Every 50-100 hours: Full fork and shock rebuild with new bushings, seals, and complete inspection.
• Pro/racing: Cut all intervals in half. Desert and muddy conditions cut them by another 30%.