MX Bikes: Beginner-to-Advanced Guide

How to go from crashing on every jump to running clean laps online in PiBoSo's motocross simulator: controller setup, rider-weight technique, bike setup basics, mods, and multiplayer etiquette.

Researched September 2026 — current as of MX Bikes beta21e (10 June 2026). The game is still in Early Access; check the linked sources if something differs.

Quick Start

1. This is a simulator, not an arcade game. There's no AI and no career mode. You ride practice sessions and race other people online or on LAN.
2. Use a controller with two analog sticks. One stick steers the bike, the other moves the rider's body. Rider weight is half of riding in MX Bikes.
3. Learn on an easy track first. Start with the built-in test track and simple ruts before trying pro-level supercross rhythm sections.
4. Throttle and clutch control matter. Smooth throttle on jump faces; chopping or grabbing it mid-air changes the bike's pitch.
5. Lean back to lift the front, forward to drop it. In the air, rider lean and throttle/rear brake control the bike's attitude.
6. Expect to crash a lot. Everyone does for the first few hours. It gets dramatically better once the rider-lean habit clicks.
7. Most people add mods. Community bikes and tracks are a big part of the game; the tools and documentation to build them are provided by PiBoSo.
8. Race clean online. Hold your line, don't sit on the track after a crash, and give faster riders room.

What You Get

• Physics: a scratch-built engine with an industry-standard tyre model, chassis flex, dynamic terrain deformation (ruts form over the race), and wet terrain plus wet weather.
• Multiplayer: LAN and online racing, with a dedicated server available. Event data is collected so you can compare riders' statistics.
• Customization: paint your bike, helmet, kit, boots and gloves, plus user-selectable rider gestures.
• Plugins interface that lets external programs read real-time bike data (telemetry, dashboards, motion rigs).
• VR and head tracking: native Oculus Rift and SteamVR (HTC Vive, Valve Index), FreeTrack and EDTracker.
• Modding tools and documentation for building tracks, bikes, helmets, protections and more.

MX Bikes is Windows-only. The official website also offers a demo if you want to try the handling before buying.

Controls: How to Set Them Up

Bind these in the controls menu (the exact defaults depend on your device):

Tips:

• Analog everything. Digital throttle and brakes are nearly unrideable.
• Check your deadzones and linearity. Too much deadzone on the rider axis makes the bike feel lazy in the air.
• Many riders separate steering and rider lean fully (steer on one stick, rider on the other) so they can move their body without affecting the bars.

Riding Technique

Starts

• Rev the engine, feed the clutch as the gate drops, and keep the rider weight forward so the front doesn't loop.
• Short-shift through the first gears so the rear tyre doesn't spin up.
• Aim for a clean line into turn one rather than the tightest possible inside; the pile-up usually happens on the inside.

Cornering

• Brake upright, turn after. Do most of your braking in a straight line.
• Weight forward on corner entry to keep the front tyre biting, especially in ruts.
• Use the clutch in tight corners to keep the engine in the powerband instead of bogging.
• Ruts: match the rut's lean and hold your speed steady. Correcting mid-rut usually spits you out.
• Berms: carry more speed than you think; commit to the berm and drive out of it with smooth throttle.

Jumping

• Approach at a steady throttle. Revving or chopping on the face changes your trajectory.
• Nose too high in the air? Push rider weight forward and tap the rear brake.
• Nose too low? Lean back and give it throttle to lift the front.
• Land on the down-ramp with both wheels at the same slope. Landing flat or front-wheel-first is where most crashes come from.
• Scrubbing: leaning the bike and rider to the side on the jump face keeps you lower and faster. Learn it after you're comfortable with basic jumps.
• Overjumping: beta21e added an "overjump crash option", so how harshly overjumping is punished can differ between servers and sessions. Check your settings.

Whoops and Rhythm Sections

• In whoops, stay on the gas with weight slightly back and let the bike skim the tops.
• In rhythm sections, plan combinations (e.g., single, double, triple). Riding them consistently beats trying the fastest combo and crashing.

Bike Setup Basics

MX Bikes simulates real setup options. Change one thing at a time and do a few laps between changes.

Since beta19 you can use common bike setups that apply across bikes, and later betas fixed sharing of those setups. Save a baseline you trust before experimenting.

Mods: Bikes and Tracks

• PiBoSo provides official tools and documentation for building content.
• Community sites host OEM-style bike packs, gear, and hundreds of tracks. MXB-Mods.com is one of the long-running community hubs.
• Mods go in the MX Bikes folder inside your Documents folder (typically Documents, then PiBoSo, then MX Bikes, then mods, with subfolders such as bikes and tracks). Follow each mod's own install notes.
• Servers often require specific mod versions. If you can't join, check the server's mod list and update.
• Keep a backup of your mods folder before major game updates; some betas change physics and tyres, which can require mod updates.

Multiplayer and Etiquette

• Practice sessions before races let you learn the track; use them.
• After a crash, reset quickly and rejoin off the racing line.
• Don't cut the track. Many servers enforce this, and it ruins races.
• Lapped traffic: hold your line; the faster rider will pick a way past.
• The beta19b update made races start without AFK clients, and beta21e fixed harsh multiplayer collisions.
• Dedicated server: you can host your own for friends or a league.

Recent Beta Changes

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Riding with a keyboard. It's possible but far harder; get a gamepad.
• Ignoring rider weight. Most "the bike just flips" complaints are really "I never moved the rider".
• Full throttle everywhere. Traction and jump control come from smooth inputs.
• Changing five setup values at once. You won't know which one helped.
• Jumping straight into packed online races. Learn the track alone first.
• Outdated mods after a beta update. Update mods when physics change.

Advanced Tips

• Use telemetry through the plugins interface to study throttle and braking traces.
• Watch replays of faster riders on the same track; lines matter more than raw speed.
• Practice one section repeatedly. Master a single rhythm lane before moving on.
• Try riding styles (added in beta20b) to see which suits your inputs.
• Head tracking or VR makes judging jump faces and ruts noticeably easier.
• Rut management: since terrain deforms, lines change over a race. Pick new lines as ruts deepen.

FAQ

Does MX Bikes have AI or a career? No. The store page states there are neither AI nor a career mode; it's for practice and online/LAN racing.

Is MX Bikes still in Early Access? Yes. It's been in Early Access since October 2019, with the latest build beta21e released in June 2026.

What controller should I use? Any gamepad with two analog sticks and analog triggers. Many riders use Xbox-style pads.

How do I install mod tracks and bikes? Put them in the mods folder under your Documents MX Bikes folder, in the right subfolder, following each mod's instructions.

Why do I keep looping out on jumps? Too much throttle or rider weight too far back. Stay steady on the face, lean forward in the air, and tap the rear brake to drop the nose.

Does it support VR? Yes: Oculus Rift and SteamVR headsets, plus FreeTrack and EDTracker head tracking.

Sources

• Steam store page
• Steam news: beta19 to beta21e changelogs
• MX Bikes official site