TBT Racing drama

sh274s
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36
Joined
12/10/2024
Location
San Jose, CA US

I saw Highland Cycles has stopped being a TBT Racing authorized dealer. I heard a different shop did as well. Stated difference of values. Anyone have more info?

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9/26/2025 10:44am

He posted they wanted him to attend a dealer thing in Vegas , he told them prior he would not attend and they dropped him (was just reading this on Facetube) 

 

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SonofThor32
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Location
Corryton, TN US
9/26/2025 11:38am

What is TBT Racing?

TBT is a suspension and motor tuning company founded out of Redmond, WA in 1991.  They have had franchises I think for about 20 years now. 
 

Monkeybutt167 is correct, they (TBT) have a required annual summit required for franchisees that Highland chose not to attend so they were dropped.  It is not fair to the rest of the TBT franchises and owners.

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Heavyhitter
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Location
Machias, WA US
9/26/2025 11:50am

Ole tortured by Travis magic 

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1

The Shop

NotTheStig
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82
Joined
3/26/2024
Location
Laramie, WY US
9/26/2025 12:23pm

Context


IMG 8643 1

33
9/26/2025 12:27pm

You should all be using Evo anyways. 

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Sandusky26
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3385
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Location
Eastern, NC US
9/26/2025 1:01pm
jmurphy243 wrote:

You should all be using Evo anyways. 

Another company that sells the name? No thanks.

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9/26/2025 1:10pm
NotTheStig wrote:
Context

Context


IMG 8643 1

Bit of a difference between a race weekend and once in a lifetime military graduation.

 

Most people I know who hide behind their family just don't have the balls to say they don't want to go

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37
9/26/2025 1:40pm Edited Date/Time 9/26/2025 1:42pm

Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.

And why is a suspension company spending a bunch of money for a Vegas boondoggle with motivational speakers?

What the fuck am I missing about the suspension tuning business?

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1
9/26/2025 2:13pm
Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.And why is a suspension company spending a...

Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.

And why is a suspension company spending a bunch of money for a Vegas boondoggle with motivational speakers?

What the fuck am I missing about the suspension tuning business?

That it takes one hour and $100 in parts to charge you $1500 for a revalve. 

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Sandusky26
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Location
Eastern, NC US
9/26/2025 2:18pm
Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.And why is a suspension company spending a...

Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.

And why is a suspension company spending a bunch of money for a Vegas boondoggle with motivational speakers?

What the fuck am I missing about the suspension tuning business?

jmurphy243 wrote:

That it takes one hour and $100 in parts to charge you $1500 for a revalve. 

Don't forget the fork stickers.

22
3strokemx
Posts
2311
Joined
9/2/2010
Location
US
9/26/2025 5:40pm Edited Date/Time 9/27/2025 6:14am
Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.And why is a suspension company spending a...

Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.

And why is a suspension company spending a bunch of money for a Vegas boondoggle with motivational speakers?

What the fuck am I missing about the suspension tuning business?

The benefit would be the data collected and shared within a franchise, getting the customer happy on the first try.

 

If you're just starting out on your own, you're making educated guesses for a wide range of different bikes and riders.

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1
Sideways91
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133
Joined
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Location
Dayton, NV US
9/26/2025 6:31pm

Between the trophy truck incident and the suing shops for putting KYB internals in WP tubes its about time for some new Travis drama.

1
9/26/2025 6:50pm

Was anyone else’s TBT setting softer than shit 

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9/26/2025 8:12pm

Travis is a really good dude and has personally helped me tremendously through concussion issues. He always gets the set up spot on with my bikes. I truly couldn’t be happier with TBT. 

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GateDropGoGo
Posts
116
Joined
1/27/2022
Location
Redlands, CA US
9/26/2025 8:29pm Edited Date/Time 9/26/2025 8:30pm
Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.And why is a suspension company spending a...

Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.

And why is a suspension company spending a bunch of money for a Vegas boondoggle with motivational speakers?

What the fuck am I missing about the suspension tuning business?

 

Race Tech and, I believe, Factory Connection do the same thing. 

Go to their "school" (attend a bunch of seminars usually), learn their ways, their suspension philosophies and tuning techniques (or whatever) and your " diploma" is you get to open a Race Tech, a Factory Connection, or a TBT Franchise shop, basically. The "Brand Name" gives your shop credibility, theoretically. 

Then be their indentured servant, basically. 

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4
NSP139
Posts
1201
Joined
5/6/2021
Location
Temecula, CA US
9/26/2025 8:36pm
Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.And why is a suspension company spending a...

Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.

And why is a suspension company spending a bunch of money for a Vegas boondoggle with motivational speakers?

What the fuck am I missing about the suspension tuning business?

 Race Tech and, I believe, Factory Connection do the same thing. Go to their "school" (attend a bunch of seminars usually), learn their ways, their suspension philosophies...

 

Race Tech and, I believe, Factory Connection do the same thing. 

Go to their "school" (attend a bunch of seminars usually), learn their ways, their suspension philosophies and tuning techniques (or whatever) and your " diploma" is you get to open a Race Tech, a Factory Connection, or a TBT Franchise shop, basically. The "Brand Name" gives your shop credibility, theoretically. 

Then be their indentured servant, basically. 

To my knowledge Factory Connection does not franchise they own their three locations! Race Tech and Paul theede that's a whole other story LOL

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shortty761
Posts
678
Joined
4/2/2024
Location
Newport News, VA US
9/26/2025 8:53pm
Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.And why is a suspension company spending a...

Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.

And why is a suspension company spending a bunch of money for a Vegas boondoggle with motivational speakers?

What the fuck am I missing about the suspension tuning business?

 Race Tech and, I believe, Factory Connection do the same thing. Go to their "school" (attend a bunch of seminars usually), learn their ways, their suspension philosophies...

 

Race Tech and, I believe, Factory Connection do the same thing. 

Go to their "school" (attend a bunch of seminars usually), learn their ways, their suspension philosophies and tuning techniques (or whatever) and your " diploma" is you get to open a Race Tech, a Factory Connection, or a TBT Franchise shop, basically. The "Brand Name" gives your shop credibility, theoretically. 

Then be their indentured servant, basically. 

Factory Connection owns all of their locations. New Hampshire HQ, Oklahoma, Oregon, Florida,, Pennsylvania, and California.

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9/27/2025 6:30am Edited Date/Time 9/27/2025 6:33am

I always chose suspension tuners because they were highly recommended and purported to know what they’re doing. Travis being one of them. He did a fantastic job on my bikes and went out of his way to spend time with me at Pala.

Anyway, there is absolutely no reason why a suspension franchise company should be demanding that their franchise owners congregate in Vegas to go jerk each other off and be subject to some fucktard motivational speaker. The last time a speaker motivated a business owner is never.

Sounds to me like Travis is far better off without these morons at TBT racing.

 

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mx317
Posts
5283
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
TN US
9/27/2025 7:23am
I always chose suspension tuners because they were highly recommended and purported to know what they’re doing. Travis being one of them. He did a fantastic job...

I always chose suspension tuners because they were highly recommended and purported to know what they’re doing. Travis being one of them. He did a fantastic job on my bikes and went out of his way to spend time with me at Pala.

Anyway, there is absolutely no reason why a suspension franchise company should be demanding that their franchise owners congregate in Vegas to go jerk each other off and be subject to some fucktard motivational speaker. The last time a speaker motivated a business owner is never.

Sounds to me like Travis is far better off without these morons at TBT racing.

 

I thought Travis was the owner of TBT? So he is better off without the ones that didn’t attend?

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NSP139
Posts
1201
Joined
5/6/2021
Location
Temecula, CA US
9/27/2025 7:28am
I always chose suspension tuners because they were highly recommended and purported to know what they’re doing. Travis being one of them. He did a fantastic job...

I always chose suspension tuners because they were highly recommended and purported to know what they’re doing. Travis being one of them. He did a fantastic job on my bikes and went out of his way to spend time with me at Pala.

Anyway, there is absolutely no reason why a suspension franchise company should be demanding that their franchise owners congregate in Vegas to go jerk each other off and be subject to some fucktard motivational speaker. The last time a speaker motivated a business owner is never.

Sounds to me like Travis is far better off without these morons at TBT racing.

 

mx317 wrote:

I thought Travis was the owner of TBT? So he is better off without the ones that didn’t attend?

Is early but none of that made any sense to me LOL

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9/27/2025 7:58am
I always chose suspension tuners because they were highly recommended and purported to know what they’re doing. Travis being one of them. He did a fantastic job...

I always chose suspension tuners because they were highly recommended and purported to know what they’re doing. Travis being one of them. He did a fantastic job on my bikes and went out of his way to spend time with me at Pala.

Anyway, there is absolutely no reason why a suspension franchise company should be demanding that their franchise owners congregate in Vegas to go jerk each other off and be subject to some fucktard motivational speaker. The last time a speaker motivated a business owner is never.

Sounds to me like Travis is far better off without these morons at TBT racing.

 

mx317 wrote:

I thought Travis was the owner of TBT? So he is better off without the ones that didn’t attend?

That was my understanding.. Tuning By Travis 

PNWMXer
Posts
1711
Joined
1/13/2022
Location
Washington, WA US
9/27/2025 6:44pm
I always chose suspension tuners because they were highly recommended and purported to know what they’re doing. Travis being one of them. He did a fantastic job...

I always chose suspension tuners because they were highly recommended and purported to know what they’re doing. Travis being one of them. He did a fantastic job on my bikes and went out of his way to spend time with me at Pala.

Anyway, there is absolutely no reason why a suspension franchise company should be demanding that their franchise owners congregate in Vegas to go jerk each other off and be subject to some fucktard motivational speaker. The last time a speaker motivated a business owner is never.

Sounds to me like Travis is far better off without these morons at TBT racing.

 

mx317 wrote:

I thought Travis was the owner of TBT? So he is better off without the ones that didn’t attend?

Owner/founder. 

9/27/2025 6:57pm
Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.And why is a suspension company spending a...

Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.

And why is a suspension company spending a bunch of money for a Vegas boondoggle with motivational speakers?

What the fuck am I missing about the suspension tuning business?

jmurphy243 wrote:

That it takes one hour and $100 in parts to charge you $1500 for a revalve. 

Once you add up the cost of replacing shims (if its a good shop), seals, piston bands, any worn coatings, oils, and the labor that $1500 ain't much. It's the shops that make their own parts you need to watch for, usually its cheap pot metal and manufactured with poor tolerance in China. They try to upsell you on the parts for "performance" but it's really just about turning a profit. Kind of like the ones who sell a bigger piston, all it does is require a stiffer shim stack,... and force you to buy their piston bands moving forward at every service. 

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9/27/2025 8:12pm
Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.And why is a suspension company spending a...

Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.

And why is a suspension company spending a bunch of money for a Vegas boondoggle with motivational speakers?

What the fuck am I missing about the suspension tuning business?

 Race Tech and, I believe, Factory Connection do the same thing. Go to their "school" (attend a bunch of seminars usually), learn their ways, their suspension philosophies...

 

Race Tech and, I believe, Factory Connection do the same thing. 

Go to their "school" (attend a bunch of seminars usually), learn their ways, their suspension philosophies and tuning techniques (or whatever) and your " diploma" is you get to open a Race Tech, a Factory Connection, or a TBT Franchise shop, basically. The "Brand Name" gives your shop credibility, theoretically. 

Then be their indentured servant, basically. 

Neither Race Tech or FC franchise. RT has dealers and FC owns all their locations, both very different then purchasing and operating a franchise. 

8tensolutions
Posts
3301
Joined
11/15/2009
Location
Salt Lake City, UT US
9/27/2025 8:19pm

I know nothing about either side, but Franchise agreements are generally very clear when it comes to meetings/trainings etc.  The guy that chose to go to a race instead of attending a mandatory meeting likely deserves to lose the ability to represent the brand.

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3
9/27/2025 8:24pm
I know nothing about either side, but Franchise agreements are generally very clear when it comes to meetings/trainings etc.  The guy that chose to go to...

I know nothing about either side, but Franchise agreements are generally very clear when it comes to meetings/trainings etc.  The guy that chose to go to a race instead of attending a mandatory meeting likely deserves to lose the ability to represent the brand.

Wasn't he representing the brand at the race meeting?

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8tensolutions
Posts
3301
Joined
11/15/2009
Location
Salt Lake City, UT US
9/27/2025 8:38pm
I know nothing about either side, but Franchise agreements are generally very clear when it comes to meetings/trainings etc.  The guy that chose to go to...

I know nothing about either side, but Franchise agreements are generally very clear when it comes to meetings/trainings etc.  The guy that chose to go to a race instead of attending a mandatory meeting likely deserves to lose the ability to represent the brand.

Wasn't he representing the brand at the race meeting?

Race meeting?  Nothing was said about that.  It's no different than your boss/company having a meeting or training session.  It's not optional 

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1
lumpy790
Posts
11220
Joined
9/18/2007
Location
York, SC US
9/28/2025 1:40pm

I can understand there being a face to face class to go over all of the new year updates.

Race Tech has had a franchise locations for many many years. Back when I had a suspension shop it first came out and I talked to them about it.

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9/29/2025 12:33am
Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.And why is a suspension company spending a...

Can you guys help me understand why a franchise model was used for a suspension shop? Never understood this.

And why is a suspension company spending a bunch of money for a Vegas boondoggle with motivational speakers?

What the fuck am I missing about the suspension tuning business?

jmurphy243 wrote:

That it takes one hour and $100 in parts to charge you $1500 for a revalve. 

And 9 out of 10 people don't need it. When did it become mandatory for a new bike to need a suspension revalve before even riding it? A local lad, graduated from an 85SX, bought a brand new YZ125, BEFORE he'd even ridden it, he sent the suspension off to be re-valved. I asked him why? He couldn't tell me.. He's not over/under 'normal' teenager weight for a YZ125. He's not particularly fast. He's not particularly slow. He's not riding woods, he's not doing freestyle, he's not doing beach racing or anything out of the normal conditions to what that bike was designed for. The suspension tuning industry in the UK has seriously got to people.
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