understanding suspension.
This is written for those that are perhaps considering track days or advancing their skill sets, maybe even racing. Maybe wondering about adopting change to advance there riding pleasure.
Firstly the reader needs to be aware that so called suspension technicians could put you in hospital. the first thing a technician needs is not only many specialized tools but also a Suspension Dyno but WAIT, THIS ISN’T ENOUGH as just having a Suspension Dyno at your side also requires having huge amounts of Data and experience that takes Tens of years to develop and store. Called knowledge. Most successful technicians will be older and because it has taken years and large amounts of money to store there knowledge they are often reluctant to share.
So if you are thinking about approaching a technician without a Dyno, in most cases don’t go there and if they have and are new to the game then be very cautious as there is so much more to all aspects than just having equipment. Sure if all you require is servicing of your suspension and this should be done regularly but if you are considering more then be very cautious.
Why would you need to consider more you ask, well like all consumerism it tends to be driven by cost and sales appeal and so while suspension on a show room bike will work, much of the hype comes from advertising and fiddly knobs that create a feel good feeling and look like something you have seen on a race track or a very expensive brochure for some very upmarket items on the internet. . Perhaps you have read that glossy article in your favourite bike publication that suggests the suspension and ride is something to behold, well considering the publication needs articles like this to be profitable then they are hardly going to say the suspension is only adequate for commuting and it wouldn’t be wise to consider to much spirited riding..
Most advancements within the automotive world come from specialized teams looking for ever increasing performance and over time develop technology that passes down the chain through businesses and manufacturers. Just take developments like ABS and traction control. However one needs to understand that what exists on a Moto GP or WORLD SUPER BIKE is vastly different and costs a million times more than what exists on motorbikes built for the show room floor. Often so called technology is disabled on race bikes, simply because its interference is designed for the road and the commuting public, if it was suitable for the track or rider seeking to gain further excellence then the cost would be likely to reduce consumer sales. Most show room floor motorbikes in there raw form and when ridden on race tracks to there edge of grip can be considered dangerous. So now hopefully you may be understanding why it is worth making changes to your suspension and that your spirited riding will surely be enjoyed way more from the changes, just remember , “if you can” the best place for spirited riding is on the Race Track.
I was once privy to comments made by a track official that stated they had the suspension on a particular bike that was under track scrutiny tested by a proven and successful racer who also went on to say he was campaigning the so called bike unmodified and that it wasn’t dangerous in its OEM form for the race track . In all my years I had never heard such a stupid and damaging comment. If you are old enough to remember Nadia Comăneci a Romanian gymnast. She is a five-time Olympic gold medalist, all in individual events. In 1976, at age 14, Comăneci was the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0 at the Olympic Games. That Woman could balance on the end of a toothpick, had reflex beyond that of a cat and had skills that the rest of the world can only but admire. I’m hoping you are getting the point here, you could have put this girl on a beam shaking and wobbling in an earthquake and she would have mastered the apparatus. Needless to say in the case of the suspension in question the officials went on to disallow any modifications.
It should now be worth considering that just like good and bad officials getting the right information (technician) is vital.