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 walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Progression Summary
| Phase | Area | Focus | Build | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | Practice Track | Scratch built physics engine basics | Supercross | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | MXB Club | Bike setup tuning mastery | Supercross | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Maryland | Dynamic terrain deformation + gear | Motocross or Supercross | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Winchester | Build optimization | Motocross | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Straight Rhythm | Min-max | Motocross or Free riding | Ongoing |
See our maps guide for detailed area breakdowns.
Phase 1: Getting Started (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.
Level/Difficulty: Any skill level Key Rewards: Setup validation, throttle control practice
What to Do in Practice Track
- Learn Scratch built physics engine. PiBoSo wrote the tyre model, chassis flex and suspension simulation from the ground up rather than licensing an engine. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Supercross as your starting build. See our builds guide for why.
- 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.
- Acquire your first equipment upgrade: MSM 350XF or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand Scratch built physics engine fundamentals
- Supercross selected and functional
- Practice Track main content cleared
- Ready for MXB Club
Phase 2: Early Game (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.
Level/Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate Key Rewards: Consistent lap times, cornering practice
What to Do in MXB Club
- Work on Bike setup tuning. Suspension, gearing, engine maps, swingarm position and tyres are all adjustable. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for MSM 350XF if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- 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.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Maryland.
- Consider whether Motocross might suit your playstyle better than Supercross.
Phase 2 Checklist
- Bike setup tuning integrated into gameplay
- MSM 350XF acquired
- MXB Club fully cleared
- Ready for Maryland
Phase 3: Mid Game (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.
Level/Difficulty: Intermediate Key Rewards: Rut riding practice, race craft
What to Do in Maryland
- Master Dynamic terrain deformation. Ruts and braking bumps form during a session as bikes cut the same lines. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward MSM 250XF. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
- 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.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in Rider body position for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- Dynamic terrain deformation mastered
- MSM 250XF acquired or in progress
- Maryland fully cleared
- Ready for Winchester
Phase 4: Late Game (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.
Level/Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced Key Rewards: Layout comparison, race pace
What to Do in Winchester
- Finalize your build. You should be running Motocross or Supercross with optimized gear.
- MSM 250XF should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- 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.
- Dedicated server racing optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Straight Rhythm.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- MSM 250XF upgraded to max
- Winchester fully cleared
- Ready for Straight Rhythm
Phase 5: Endgame (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.
Level/Difficulty: Any skill level Key Rewards: Jump timing, scrub and whip practice
What to Do in Straight Rhythm
- Straight Rhythm tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- 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 endgame loop: run Straight Rhythm, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with Free riding for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where Dedicated server racing mastery separates good players from great ones. See our tips guide for advanced strategies.
Phase 5 Checklist
- Endgame content on farm
- Best-in-slot gear acquired
- Straight Rhythm fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- 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.
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- 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.
For more advanced strategies, see our tips & tricks guide.
More MX Bikes Guides
- MX Bikes MX Bikes Overview
- MX Bikes Best Builds
- MX Bikes Tier List
- 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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