MX Bikes is PiBoSo's motocross simulator, running on a scratch written physics engine with an automotive industry tyre model, chassis flex and terrain that deforms as you ride it. It arrived on Steam Early Access on October 7, 2019 and still ships with no AI opponents and no career mode, which leaves online servers and hotlapping as the whole game. Five MSM bikes and a short official track list come in the box; everything beyond that comes from the modding community.
This guide covers everything you need: core mechanics, the best builds, equipment worth investing in, location progression, and the tips that actually make a difference.
Core Mechanics
Scratch built physics engine
PiBoSo wrote the tyre model, chassis flex and suspension simulation from the ground up rather than licensing an engine. The result punishes throttle and brake inputs that arcade motocross games forgive completely.
Bike setup tuning
Suspension, gearing, engine maps, swingarm position and tyres are all adjustable. Setups save per bike and per track, because a configuration that works on Practice Track will feel wrong at Winchester.
Dynamic terrain deformation
Ruts and braking bumps form during a session as bikes cut the same lines. Late in a long race the surface you learned on lap one no longer exists, so line choice has to keep adapting.
Rider body position
The rider is simulated separately from the bike and you control lean plus fore and aft weight. Body position changes traction, jump attitude and landing behaviour, and it is the single biggest skill gap between new and experienced riders.
Dedicated server racing
With no AI, all racing happens over LAN or online on dedicated servers. The game records performance data during events so riders can compare lap and sector times afterwards.
For a deeper dive into how these systems interact, see our MX Bikes combat guide.
Builds Overview
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motocross | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
| Supercross | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
| Supermoto | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
| Enduro | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
| Free riding | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
For full build breakdowns with gear and stat priorities, see our MX Bikes builds guide. For rankings, check the tier list.
Equipment Guide
| Equipment | Why It Matters | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| MSM 250XF | The 250cc four stroke, rated around 31 kW. | New riders learning throttle control, and MX2 style racing on tighter layouts. |
| MSM 350XF | A 350cc four stroke at roughly 37 kW sitting between the 250 and the 450. | Riders who have outgrown the 250XF but find the 450XF unsettling on corner exit. |
| MSM 450XF | The 450cc four stroke at about 40 kW and the fastest bike in the default lineup. | Experienced riders on open outdoor tracks where the extra power actually converts into lap time. |
| MSM 250X | The 250cc two stroke at around 36 kW, with a narrow powerband that has to be kept on the pipe. | Riders after the two stroke challenge, and rhythm sections that reward carrying revs. |
| MSM 450SM | The 450cc supermoto build with tarmac tyres and different geometry. | Supermoto sessions on the tarmac and mixed surface layouts rather than motocross tracks. |
MSM 250XF: The 250cc four stroke, rated around 31 kW. Forgiving entry point with enough power to clear jumps and not enough to spin the rear on every corner exit.
MSM 350XF: A 350cc four stroke at roughly 37 kW sitting between the 250 and the 450. It carries corner speed like the smaller bike while still pulling on long straights.
MSM 450XF: The 450cc four stroke at about 40 kW and the fastest bike in the default lineup. It demands clean throttle work because it will spin up and step out with very little provocation.
MSM 250X: The 250cc two stroke at around 36 kW, with a narrow powerband that has to be kept on the pipe. Gear selection matters far more here than on any four stroke.
MSM 450SM: The 450cc supermoto build with tarmac tyres and different geometry. Far more grip and far less tolerance for the sliding you get away with on dirt.
Full breakdowns in our MX Bikes weapons guide.
Location Progression
| Location | Level Range | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Practice Track | Any skill level | Setup validation, throttle control practice |
| MXB Club | Beginner to intermediate | Consistent lap times, cornering practice |
| Maryland | Intermediate | Rut riding practice, race craft |
| Winchester | Intermediate to advanced | Layout comparison, race pace |
| Straight Rhythm | Any skill level | Jump timing, scrub and whip practice |
Practice Track: The default free ride track and the right place to test every setup change. No race pressure, so you can run the same corner twenty times and feel what one click of rebound actually does.
MXB Club: A compact club style layout that ships with the game. Short lap times make it ideal for back to back setup comparison without a long commitment.
Maryland: An outdoor national style track with elevation change and long rollers. Terrain deformation shows up quickly here because everyone gravitates to the same lines.
Winchester: An official track that also ships in a Winchester MXoN variant, so you can ride one venue in two configurations and see how layout changes affect a setup.
Straight Rhythm: A drag style layout with no turns at all, made entirely of rhythm sections. It isolates jump technique and body position from cornering completely.
See our maps & locations guide for detailed area breakdowns and our walkthrough for the optimal progression path.
Tips That Actually Matter
- Body position is the skill that separates riders here, not throttle. Weight forward on corner entry to load the front tyre, weight back on landings and acceleration, and the bike starts doing what you expect instead of tucking or looping.
- Setups save per bike and per track, so build a baseline on Practice Track and adjust from there rather than starting from stock at every venue. Change one parameter at a time or you will never learn what each click does.
- Standard engine mapping is the right starting point. Aggressive mapping sharpens throttle response but makes the 450XF much harder to control on exit until your inputs are already clean.
- The surface deforms during a session, so the fast line on lap one is often the slow line on lap fifteen. Watch where ruts are forming and commit to riding inside them rather than cutting across.
- Start on the MSM 250XF even if you can technically ride the 450XF. Learning corner exit on a bike that does not punish every throttle mistake builds the habits that make the 450 fast later.
- The MSM 250X two stroke needs constant gear work to stay in its powerband. Ride it like a four stroke and short shift, and you give away most of its 36 kW.
- Suspension is the first thing to adjust and the easiest thing to over adjust. Sag and compression damping change how the bike handles ruts and landings far more than fine rebound tweaks ever will.
- There are no AI opponents, so a ghost lap is your only offline benchmark. Use the recorded event data to compare sector times rather than judging progress by feel.
- MXB-Mods and the official PiBoSo forum carry the bulk of the community track catalogue. The default track list is deliberately short, and the game only really opens up once you install community tracks and bike packs.
- Wet weather is simulated rather than cosmetic and changes grip dramatically. Softer settings and much earlier, gentler throttle are needed, because a dry setup on a wet track simply spins.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Jumping straight onto the MSM 450XF. Its 40 kW will spin the rear on almost any corner exit, and riders who start there learn to fear the throttle instead of learning to use it.
- Copying a downloaded setup without understanding it. Setups are rider specific because body position changes weight distribution, so somebody else's file often makes your bike worse.
- Fighting the ruts. Once terrain deformation carves a line, riding inside it is faster and far more stable than trying to cut a fresh line across it.
- Expecting a career mode. MX Bikes has no AI and no single player progression, so buying it for offline racing against opponents ends in disappointment.
- Ignoring community content. The default five bikes and short track list are a starting point; the real depth lives in mods from MXB-Mods and the official forum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does MX Bikes have a career mode?
No. There is no career mode and no AI opponents. The game is built around online racing on dedicated servers, LAN events, free riding and lap time chasing.
Which bikes come with the game?
Five MSM machines: the 250XF, 350XF and 450XF four strokes, the 250X two stroke, and the 450SM supermoto. Everything else is community made.
Is MX Bikes still in Early Access?
It launched on Steam Early Access on October 7, 2019 and PiBoSo has kept updating it through beta releases since, with per bike setup versioning arriving in Beta 19.
Do I need a gamepad or will keyboard work?
A gamepad with analogue sticks is close to essential, because the physics need fine throttle, brake and rider lean inputs. Keyboard gives you on or off inputs, which this tyre model punishes hard.
How does terrain deformation work?
The surface deforms as bikes ride over it, forming ruts and braking bumps across a session. Long races effectively change layout while they run, so line choice has to keep adapting.
More MX Bikes Guides
- MX Bikes Best Builds
- MX Bikes Tier List
- MX Bikes Walkthrough
- MX Bikes Beginner's Guide
- MX Bikes Tips & Tricks
- MX Bikes Weapons Guide
- MX Bikes Combat Guide
- MX Bikes Boss Guide
- MX Bikes Maps & Locations
- MX Bikes Crafting Guide
- MX Bikes Classes & Characters
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