Suspenders

First note Suspension101 is now a two person team. My son Enzo has joined me and is doing a great job. I am blessed indeed. We have been working on a fork base valve for several years now. Kepple, Nantista, Fred Goldberg, Andy Nichols, Ricky Johnson and more have been our testers. Some of the guys here have one of these builds in an earlier form or another. Oh ya, Kenny had a really early prototype on his 300. Well, 5 years, it is time. We plan to roll out the new product called the "GOBBLERS" in a couple months. The reason for the name is a couple of the test riders came in and said they just gobble up the bumps. The Gobblers leap frog suspension performance, have "massive" adjustability, and ease of installation, in one tidy DIY package. Looking for a few people that want to try them out for a week or two, no charge. Just bring your Xplor forks in and we can install them in about 15 minutes. We do not even have to drain the oil. Go ride them and in return post your impression of the product. We can uninstall them in the same amount of time. If you want to keep them you will be really well taken care of like 25%. This is not about selling product so much as it is about getting public perception of the product. This is for stock or re-valved Xplor forks by the way, it works on them all. Thanks again, George & Enzo

The 690 forks only certain years. The forks with the compression adjuster on the bottom of the forks will accept the Gobblers. There was a couple years that did not have the adjuster but they went back to the older style on the new models.

ThrillSeekers in Santee makes seat covers for dirt bikes. Austin Prida

So did springs etc. on a DRZ400 dirt bike. Owner looking for someone to ride with and I said you want quality folks, go to San Diego Adventure Riders. So he is likely lurking on here and I wanted to forewarn you folks before he introduces himself. 1. He is Greek. Nothing more to say about that. Gotta be Woke or go broke. I am a Wop. A Broke, Woke, Wop. How poetic. 2. He smiles a lot. Gotta watch out for that type. 3. Quite friendly, hmm. What is he up to. Name is Mike, give him a warm welcome when he arrives here. Likeable guy, looking to ride. George

Cody from Camel Adv told me he has the only T700 in North America. I am doing the suspension and it is on my rack for another week or so. If you are considering one and want to take a look just let me know. Going to test it out at Corral to see how she handles soon as I am done. In about 9 months the bike will be crushed. Dang. Vin number shows it as the 15th bike off the assembly line.

Thank you sir. There is another Wiley one that has a set of these on his bike. Hmm where is he?

Simicrintz just picked up his bike. They are already selling. I am installing two to four a week, enough to keep me running. Word is getting out from the prototype riders i guess. I am about a week out right now.

Yes the Gobblers do enhance the re-valve. But if you want the gobblers I will want to do a couple mods to your mid valves. No charge.

Robert, Your fork is a full custom fork, one of three built with Noah getting the other two. First race with them won a Worcs event. Gobbler will not fit that fork as your base is off the wall kinda crazy hand made different. And now the season is upon us so you may have to wait a while till we make the next run of improvements. My suggestion get some xplor or open bath cartridges and build the Gobbler system and it will be better better than what you have.

The Xplor forks are using the same upper aluminum tube and lower chrome tube since I believe 2007. Before 2007 differences but interchangeable. The open chamber forks of past had mid valves in both forks and never reached their potential. Make it adequate for the masses and sell. Tuners did not have anything either, until the sprung mid valve big improvement and now we have the Gobblers taking them to another level yet. How to change an open chamber fork into an Xplor fork. 1. Omit base valve adjusters at bottom of fork. Trouble is the only known way to get true compression adjustment in this fork is with a base valve adjuster on the Bottom of the fork. 2. Omit the mid valve on the left fork and install an orifice valve. More likened to a damper rod fork of old. Soft on top with a highly progressive damping spike 3. Drill holes in the left cartridge body to allow free flow of fluid into and out of the cartridge. Negating the possibility of a mid valve / rebound circuit. Maybe they will feel some comp adjustment range this way. Not! The rebound damping has been moved to a single piston on the right fork. So your reb adjuster has 1/2 the effect and more cavitation as only one piston. Your comp adjuster is a placebo adjuster that has little affect at all. The gobbler puts the base valves back in play with way more adjustment than before so it is a solid improvement for trail riding in addition to bringing in more plushness due to the design. But if you are going to go race pace high speed in Baja or Dist 38 racing then the missing parts noted above should be replaced and the holes plugged in the cartridge. This because when you have a very high speed compression event the pop off valve allows the fork to blow through the stroke and then the holes in the orifice valve become overwhelmed with too much fluid flow and hydraulic lock occurs. Exactly like the bikes of old that were too progressive. That is why they changed to the more expensive mid valve system years ago because they had too much progression. When we tune an open chamber or Xplor fork that has been brought back to open chamber specs combined with the Gobblers. I am getting texts like yesterday. I just put three hours on the bike and WHOOO Haaaa. Oh Yeah, Its amazing, the plushness and lightness even when using most of the travel! This is by far the best fork I have ever built. Too bad Noah got picked up by Husky as he helped develop this system and now he can't used it. On another note I think Husky all the way up to the top, Roger is going to realize what they have in Noah, not as a rider, we all know his riding abilities. But as a tuner. Thank you for all your help Noah, we had a good run! Miss ya.

They fit from about 2004 to today open chamber forks for the off road bikes and older adventure bikes like the 990s. The Adventure bikes starting with the 1090-1190-1290-790 they changed the lugs and the adjusters do not fit. I have to build the 1290R suspension by hand and it works well with some pretty aggressive riders. We also for those that want it all do a 990 cartridge conversion that is quite good as I am able to build a sprung base like the Gobbler but have to do it internally so no external adjusting. It works pretty well though.

Bottom of fork is correct. One check valve on top "return" for oil to get back in. Stack at the spring is compression. Hole at tip of stem bleeds past piston and out side hole shown. What it comes down to is this is the only fork adjuster that has two compression adjustments. One is high speed and one is low speed. Yes just like a shock. Change the high speed on a shock and it makes a major change by putting pressure / pre-load on a spring which in turn is putting pressure on the shim stack that covers the piston orifices that restricts or holds the fluid back. The low speed adjuster simply opens an orifice or valve that allows more or less fluid to flow past the high speed adjuster spring, shims, piston etc. That is until this low speed bleed orifice is unable to handle the amount of flow and is overwhelmed and then it is all about the high speed circuit taking control. Not to worry Kenny this allows us to "nail" the set up so much easier. Your 500 was not as good as your 300 and that is highly unlikely to happen again due to the external adjuster. This unit improves every bike we have installed it on but still testing. Other companies re-valves included. It improves stock forks as well. But when I install the sprung mid and this unit it gets crazy good. By the way the Genius guy is an artist. Real deal. Those pictures are great. Thank you!

Very kind of you to offer your bike. Congrats on the new job as well. My brother Gio has a 500exc. We already installed the first production prototypes on his. He said they are every bit of his Yamaha SSS forks except more plush. His Score Baja team mate John Griffin heard the conversation and just smiled when Gio said that. That was yesterday as they left to go pre-run for the Baja 500. His smile was silent and skeptical at best. So I said what are you running on your REM Glen Helen motocross bike. A KTM SXF with KYB SSS forks was his response. So I threw it down and said I have a proposition for you. I will throw a set of Xplor open bath forks together with the new adjuster. If you find the fork to be on par or better than the infamous KYB SSS forks, you in return have to post your experience on a noted website as you eat maybe a touch of crow. Keep in mind this is not a motocross fork, the KYB is a motocross fork. The valve will have the exact same stacks as I am putting on Simicrintz bike next week. If it even comes close I will be very pleased. A single track fork that can handle the Glen is not normal. Dave, Rocket ride is right. Right now we are simply having a great time Enzo and I. Being older I am more patient now and he is putting in the effort. We just picked up a new Handy lift for him and already had set up a full work bench. He is banging out Re-valves, using the Lathe to modify the parts and all in. CNC Haas Vf2 in the near future and more. Rocket ride is apt.

Thanks Kato, you more than most, know about passion. Yes, it is what I think about most moments, of every day. And like it!

You do not have to be a tester. Your the target audience. If I do your service I will put them on. Go play and give your opinion. No worries, no pressure, no problem. It is actually 30% not 25 just to make an even number. $300 instead of $429 but I want to make one thing clear. You are not obligated to buy them. I want more than anything, for you to post your opinion. Would you consider it a value? Just be straight up. I will be expecting to install your stock base valves after your feedback. Two three weeks I do not really care. I am already selling two to three a week now from word of mouth. It is going sell but I simply have to do my homework. I have a new website being made, ecommerce. Also having some video's made. Then they are going to do a test market ad campaign so we can get an idea of how many units we will need to keep from running out. So just doing due diligence.

Over the last few years Marty was losing his passion for motorcycles. After his racing career he rode track two times a week training till he was in his sixties. That is a lot of years, and God knows how many hours. Sent me a picture last year hucking a 120 foot jump at Pala. He and Nancy loved going to the dunes on uncrowded week days and playing in their buggy. That was their passion. Kept the buggy spotless like he did pretty much all his toys. He told me recently that he has truly had a blessed life. That statement in my eyes revealed two things. 1. That he truly did have a blessed life. A great career doing what he loved doing every day. 2. It was a reflection of his belief, and his attitude on life, always with that smile. They took care of his parents at their home until they passed with his mom passing just a few weeks ago. Simply good people. I probably was not much of a fan of Marty till I got to know him. I soon became a big fan and now with a heavy heart I miss him very much. I have a bottle of tequila they gave me in the freezer. Myself and a very good friend of his are going to partake in your honor Marty and Nancy. Blessed to the end I would say. Leaving while doing what they loved, together. That picture tells a story. See you on the rebound my friends.

Last Saturday night forgot to lock up. Got up in the morning to find two sets of KYB SSS forks and a set of Cone Valve forks with custom lugs gone, gone gone. The KYBs are YZ forks and the cone valves are for KTM. Cone valves all oem stickers as new, one of the KYBs had Suspension101 stickers. If you see anything please give me a call. Thanks all, George 619 997-5193

Ya the police told me tweakers rome the neighborhoods at night looking for anything they can get their hands on.

Cory pulled the bars off the 790 and was riding the Yamaha couple days later.

So I like the T7 lots but I like to be a hooligan once in a while. The KTM 790R has the power to do just that. I sent an email to the same guy in Latvia that cut open my 990 Ecu and took out the immobilizer and all the nanny crap to see if he can do it to the 790. I see what KTM is doing with the 790R warranty program. Deny for any reason possible. Clutches go bad and ruin a motor they put it down for owner abuse and deny. Customer in Vegas put hand guards on his bike and cut the clutch and brake handles shorter. KTM will not warranty the leaking shock. Been in the shop for about a month. Owner finally gave up and bought the upgrade shock from WP. Another bike at GP, immobilizer allows the bike to start sometimes and KTM stated the bike has too many modifications. Deny. I figure if I buy either bike the mods will come fast. If I buy the KTM I might as well assume no warranty and the immobilizer is my biggest worry, and clutches. I know hundreds of shocks are blowing on the R model. I already know how to fix that. So if I was keeping the bike totally stock I would not worry so much. The 790 has a 48mm fork. That is good bones. T7 likely would install new forks, increase power output and ride the hell out of it. New forks means custom fork lugs or maybe a KTM front end? Hmm a T790 Yaktmaha might be in my future!

Sounds like me

I have never looked at a CB500x. Are there any adjusters on the forks and shock? And does the shock have a reservoir? If yes on those points I can make it work.

I went to Pine Valley road for a ride right before Bagstr came by. Had to test the suspension mods and see if I had to go back in for fine tuning. About half way up Pine Valley road I found myself riding at a pretty aggressive pace. Actually a faster pace than on my 990 of many years. I was jumping the bike I would guess 4 to 10 feet distances. The bike does everything better than my 990 except two areas. The 990 is way faster. I truly thought the T7 had traction control as I could get but a little bit of slide at speed in the wet on Viejas grade. I must say the traction was really good front and back. The power is just smooth as butter and even at 80mph very little vibration. My 990 has more travel so it is a bit more plush. But even with 210mm of travel I found myself doing cross ups like Roger DeCoster in the olden days. (well almost) Want to take an inside line? Simply tap the front brake and take it. I had to jump into the face of a whoop to get the front end to clank. Never did bottom the rear. I set it up pretty aggressive as its doing Barstow to Vegas next week. The Yamaha simply handles better than the 990. I would want more power even though I believe I am faster on the Yamaha than my KTM. Just 10hp, so the front lofts without the clutch. I have never ridden a smoother powerband, ever. Yamaha did a great job and I am thankful for the opportunity. By the way I went into the house for a moment and heard the T700 running. I ran outside aghast and there was Bagstr riding off down the road. Good on ya! Gave me a dollar for gas when he got back, so all good Now what bike the T7 or the 790R. To hell with the new Knees.

Although some want the bike yesterday, the fact that it is released elsewhere in advance does get us a better bike here. Well sorted. Silver lining!

The T700 Seating position is quite open compared to the 790 and do not think it would need risers for those that use them. Couple of the reasons I am even looking at this bike as a possible purchase is Yamaha seems to make bikes that are more dependable through more models than the other manufacturers. Like Honda used to be. Do not know if it is the testing they do or the engineers they employ. The T7 also has fewer electronics. Had a 790R here last week that is now at GP due to anti theft device malfunction. Randomly will not start. Some have same issue with 1090 and I had same issue with 990. Yes for hard core the suspension is still an unknown until after this T700 does the Barsow to Vegas run. That should give us some feedback. This is a rush job so the springs I have to provide for this rider will be soft for his weight but still will get some feedback. Internally this suspension is nearly identical to the WR250R forks except 43mm instead of 46mm and the Africa twin specs are almost identical as well. But the tubes on this bike were not trashed internally upon inspection. The Africa Twin, earlier models anyhow would have been worn already. Lots of info to gain in the next few months.