Posts
31
Joined
10/19/2020
Location
AU
Edited Date/Time
11/20/2020 1:36pm
We recently just completed some testing on a KTM 350 with a Dual front suspension system I have designed and built.
We got two very experienced riders on the bike in separate tests....Geoff Ballard and Ben Grabham.
Geoff was very impressed with the front suspension...his words....
"It was amazing to ride this crazy forked Kato 350, and for me it was unequaled in 3 main areas..1: For square edge high speed type bumps it was hard to notice you even hit them. 2: Landing off jumps was like landing on pillows and 3: It’s cornering and especially cornering in technical ruts with tree roots etc it was very confidence inspiring and effortless.
It seems the main reason that from steering and bump control and stability is so good is that the trail of the fork changes through its stroke (350mm travel) allowing all these good things to happen.
The set up was just a little soft for me but it’s early days of development atm so the next test will be interesting as well and it’s great to see an Aussie designer coming up with something that certainly works so well.
Great job Suspension Smith!"
Ben was equally impressed.....says this would work very well on a Desert race bike.....the reduction of rider Fatigue alone would be a race winner .....he is presently writing a Article on the test which will appear in Australasian Dirt Bike magazine.
We got two very experienced riders on the bike in separate tests....Geoff Ballard and Ben Grabham.
Geoff was very impressed with the front suspension...his words....
"It was amazing to ride this crazy forked Kato 350, and for me it was unequaled in 3 main areas..1: For square edge high speed type bumps it was hard to notice you even hit them. 2: Landing off jumps was like landing on pillows and 3: It’s cornering and especially cornering in technical ruts with tree roots etc it was very confidence inspiring and effortless.
It seems the main reason that from steering and bump control and stability is so good is that the trail of the fork changes through its stroke (350mm travel) allowing all these good things to happen.
The set up was just a little soft for me but it’s early days of development atm so the next test will be interesting as well and it’s great to see an Aussie designer coming up with something that certainly works so well.
Great job Suspension Smith!"
Ben was equally impressed.....says this would work very well on a Desert race bike.....the reduction of rider Fatigue alone would be a race winner .....he is presently writing a Article on the test which will appear in Australasian Dirt Bike magazine.
There’s something very funky looking with the larger than normal gap between the front wheel and the bike itself. Has it considerably changed its steering characteristics with different rake angles, etc?
Bump absorption is a great thing (especially square edged bumps), but i wonder how does the thing actually turn? Can’t wait to grab the next ADB! Finally something interesting to read in it
With Bens test I modified a set of WP AER forks to suit....I installed an extra Schraeder valve into the bottom of the air fork to give separately adjustable air main spring pressure and separated balance chamber pressure...this transformed this already good air fork.....but most importantly the modified air fork is 1.9kg lighter than the OC coil spring fork...we also put a 1.1kg lighter wheel/tyre/tube/axle combo in the bike...total weight loss was 3kg off the front....now the bike is just 2kg heavier.
Initially Ben tested the bike with the heavier OC coil spring fork...and loved it...later we put in the Modified Air fork for the first time so he could give us some direction on it....at first he didnt like it..."gone backwards"....we persisted with it making various pressure balance adjustments reb comp etc...in the end he said it was better than the previous fork...win win.
Turning/steering is actually its strong point as both test riders found....it is transformational...its steering geometry is completely out of the box thinking compared too a stock bike.....
Yeah should be a good read in ADB.....
Apart from the cost & weight being a negative, what else are you hiding.
Surely there must be some draw backs?
The Shop
Very interesting indeed.
I guess I'm in a bad mood today.
Just keep the bike in perspective..it isnt a MX bike and it isnt being ridden on MX like tracks...its mostly being ridden/tested on rough natural terrain tracks and its suspension is setup for that .....which actually says a lot.
This is a MX based forum...I think I will stop posting here and give you guys a break...thanks for your time.....
I know that the front end of BMW's GS bikes are pretty similar and that people love those bikes and how they handle, so I'll admit, I'd certainly like to see video of it in action.
Please dont compare it to a BMW Telelever...its nothing like it....
https://www.facebook.com/622479384510016/videos/295348387822321
Oh and the Australasian Dirt Bike Feature article on the test ride comes out maybe early Dec or Jan...also available I believe as a online digital purchase of the magazine.
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