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.
These tips go beyond the basics. They're the strategies experienced players use to play more efficiently, the hidden mechanics most people miss, and the optimizations that compound over a full playthrough. If you're just starting, check our beginner's guide first.
Essential Tips
1. Body position is the skill that separates riders here, not throttle
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.
2. 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
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.
3. Standard engine mapping is the right starting point
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.
4. The surface deforms during a session, so the fast line on lap one is often the slow line on lap fifteen
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.
5. Start on the MSM 250XF even if you can technically ride the 450XF
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.
6. The MSM 250X two stroke needs constant gear work to stay in its powerband
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.
7. Suspension is the first thing to adjust and the easiest thing to over adjust
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.
8. There are no AI opponents, so a ghost lap is your only offline benchmark
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.
9. MXB-Mods and the official PiBoSo forum carry the bulk of the community track catalogue
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.
10. Wet weather is simulated rather than cosmetic and changes grip dramatically
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.
Advanced Strategies
Build Optimization
The difference between an average build and an optimized one is massive. See our builds guide for full breakdowns.
For Motocross (A-Tier):
- Focus on Scratch built physics engine combinations for maximum output.
- Core gear: MSM 250XF
- Stat priority: Offensive stats first
For Supercross (A-Tier):
- Versatile approach that handles any situation.
- Core gear: MSM 350XF
- Stat priority: Balanced stats
Mechanic Interactions
Understanding how MX Bikes's systems interact is where the real optimization lives. Our combat guide covers this in detail.
Scratch built physics engine + Bike setup tuning: PiBoSo wrote the tyre model, chassis flex and suspension simulation from the ground up rather than licensing an engine. Combined with Bike setup tuning, suspension, gearing, engine maps, swingarm position and tyres are all adjustable.
Dynamic terrain deformation + Rider body position: Ruts and braking bumps form during a session as bikes cut the same lines. When paired with Rider body position, the rider is simulated separately from the bike and you control lean plus fore and aft weight.
Dedicated server racing scaling: 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.
Equipment Efficiency
| Equipment | Best Use Case | Why |
|---|---|---|
| MSM 250XF | New riders learning throttle control, and MX2 style racing on tighter layouts. | The 250cc four stroke, rated around 31 kW. |
| MSM 350XF | Riders who have outgrown the 250XF but find the 450XF unsettling on corner exit. | A 350cc four stroke at roughly 37 kW sitting between the 250 and the 450. |
| MSM 450XF | Experienced riders on open outdoor tracks where the extra power actually converts into lap time. | The 450cc four stroke at about 40 kW and the fastest bike in the default lineup. |
| MSM 250X | Riders after the two stroke challenge, and rhythm sections that reward carrying revs. | The 250cc two stroke at around 36 kW, with a narrow powerband that has to be kept on the pipe. |
| MSM 450SM | Supermoto sessions on the tarmac and mixed surface layouts rather than motocross tracks. | The 450cc supermoto build with tarmac tyres and different geometry. |
Location Efficiency
Practice Track (Any skill level): 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 (Beginner to intermediate): 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 (Intermediate): 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 (Intermediate to advanced): 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 (Any skill level): A drag style layout with no turns at all, made entirely of rhythm sections. It isolates jump technique and body position from cornering completely.
Mistakes Even Veterans Make
- 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.
Pro Quick Tips
- 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.
- Start with Supercross, switch to Motocross when ready
- Invest in MSM 250XF above everything else
- Clear areas in order: Practice Track → MXB Club → Maryland → Winchester → Straight Rhythm. See our maps guide
- Scratch built physics engine + Bike setup tuning together are stronger than either alone
More MX Bikes Guides
- MX Bikes MX Bikes Overview
- MX Bikes Best Builds
- MX Bikes Tier List
- MX Bikes Walkthrough
- MX Bikes Beginner's Guide
- 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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