Nah, he used to live in Hawera but he couldn't lose all of those learned habits eh.
KB Chief Cat Herder
Nah, he used to live in Hawera but he couldn't lose all of those learned habits eh.
Zen wisdom: No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously. - obviously had KB in mind when he came up with that gem
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity
Unexpected Spanish inquisition
Should have left it as it was, it would have been a perfect match to the very tired and old rider....Originally Posted by Rcktfsh
Also, you are incorrect regarding RT's kinky sexual desires - the threesome would involve Margaret Thatcher, Enoch Powell and himself and if extended to a foursome probably Max Mosley (or his father). The latter two would obviously provide their own uniforms.
I feel slightly ill now....
Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that, who cares? ...He's a mile away and you've got his shoes
Easy Biker
So what is the latest tally on how many championships bikes with RT tuned suspension have won compared to those with suspension tuned by the other bloke in say the last 10 years?
Just asking like!
Cheers
Merv
Ta
To my knowledge, Kerry has only been doing race suspension tuning for about five years.
Why is no one naming who they are talking about? He's quite a smart bloke, he can figure it out ya know?
Hardcore Biker
That is fair, but is that like saying I would score any chick in NZ if I was the only man left alive? Who does Reds suspemnsion by the way?
Forum whore
We build the basic units for Robbie at the start of the season, Peter tunes it and we carry out bits and pieces as requested through the season, including help with the odd setting change. We are contracted by Suzuki for same.
Fully qualified Sifter.
Beautiful work on Rachel's vintage shocks thanks Robert! They'll look awesome on her immaculate CR!!!
I'll get her to post some picks once she's mounted me. Sorry, them.
Forum whore
Actually Merv its not neccessarily about winning championships, although thats always a bonus. We get a big kick out of helping ''everyday'' road racers who will likely never compete at the highest levels or dont aspire to do the National champs etc.
In speaking for our own company about 60-70% of our work is improving suspension for everyday road riders. Riders that want much better ride quality but also much more chassis control and composure. That may involve changing rear shocks to Ohlins or Race Tech kitting the stock shocks and forks or where a decent result can be attained simply revalving the stock pistons.
We do a certain amount of dirtbike work and also build a number of race car shocks every year. Road racing looks like its a major component of what we do but in fact its not, its really a sideshow. Albeit one that is quite consuming for a couple of months every year.
Flash back about 15-20 years and the ''setting window'' was quite wide. The tyres were a lot more forgiving as they werent as close in construction as a true race tyre ( perhaps ) or werent as narrow focused and temperature sensitive. Back to the present and we have tyres on 600s and 1000s that are extremely sensitive to setup and ambient and track temperature shift. Chassis geometry setup and weight transfer is also extremely finely balanced. Given all that the reality is that because we are all weekend racers and there isnt a huge number of skilled and highly experienced suspension technicians running around then we often have a recipe for frustration. Ideally there should be no more than 2 bikes for one suspension engineer. Of course there is also a cost involved because there is a cost in getting there and being there. And if all parties are honest this issue is applicable to all suspension brands, there is no holy grail.
You may test a different brand or respec of whatever you are currently running at a certain track under certain conditions and proclaim this is awesome! But testing on one track is not foolproof as every track requires a differing setup. We had some tyre tear issues at the Teretonga round on a couple of bikes and we were struggling to sort it, at the same time we noticed that John Ross was having protracted tyre problems on his BMW S1000RR. So tyre tear doesnt discriminate about what suspension product you are using.
And then there is testing of different brands of tyre. Really it requires a skilled suspension engineer to be on hand to respec the suspension to suit the differing energy that differing tyre brands put into it.A racer during the Nats had continuous issues with tyres and of course suspension was something that was being questioned. It turned out that his tyre pressure gauge was inaccurate by 7 psi...
Being at a race meeting and having to constantly look after 6-7 bikes each ( thats what Dennis and I did during the Nats ) and then field constant questions from other riders whilst you have a head full of those 6-7 bikes is by no means a walk in the park.
L-Plate Rider
Everyone can make mistakes. If my memory serves me correct Craig had issues last year with his clip ons pinching the fork tubes. From what Ive read this has happened to quite a few people. This wasnt picked up and instead many suspension changes were made.
And last year when it possibly mattered the most. His pace in ChCh was great, and then when the issue was finally found he stomped at manfield.
Dukies sure does talk shit at times, but hey he seemed to make Staufer go well. I personally think this post has turned to a load of bollox with everyone knocking everyone else. We all talk shit at some time or another. Suspension is a black art and very few people are perfect at it if anyone. I think your choice should be made by where you get your confidence from.
Myself I prefer the ohlins name. But if im honest thats the only reason, its name.
Maybe this would be better sorted in PM than a public shit fling?
In the riders seat
Piss off, where's the fun for the rest of us in that
"If you can make black marks on a straight from the time you turn out of a corner until the braking point of the next turn, then you have enough power."
Fully qualified Sifter.
I never do.
Not me!!!
L-Plate Rider
Of course not, You could never be wrong
Forum whore
That is correct re the clamps, the problem actually only became in your face apparent as late as the Christchurch round when the front end was lifted to screw the top caps back in. The forks stayed stuck at full closed position, this had never happened previously. Whereupon I asked him to immediately refit the stock handlebars and throw the aftermarket ones as far as possible, enunciated quite colourfully. Problem solved and instant competitiveness. I then wrote a detailed report which was forwarded onto the manufacturer of the clamps who responded by admitting that they had the same problem in the States. They hadnt the courtesy to inform anyone despite this being an issue that could be a primary cause of crashing, and probably was.
This also highlights the point that I made in my last post. When you have so many bikes to look after all at once you cannot focus on one set of issues as much as is ideal. At the South Island rounds that year I didnt have Dennis with me so had about 12-13 bikes to look after. But also plenty of other people asking for help, if I charged what it was worth Id have an impressive new vehicle like Glenn Williams has! This insane level of work turns you into a mental wreck! And as previously stated Daniel Kempthorne picked up on us being over stretched.
Note that my latter posts have been quite subjective and very candid about the issues that are faced. Its up to all personalities concerned to be totally honest about it all.
Forum whore
Its up to all personalities concerned to be totally honest about it all.
Yea sure does suck when people fabricate the truth especially to suit there own agenda's
Forum whore
So did you pass this letter on to MNZ as a serious safety concern and request that everyone check their handlebars?
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