RaceTech's Matthew Wiley suspension seminar clips

Ever wonder how important suspension is to the performance of your motorcycle? Have you ridden with friends and got smoked in the twisties? Was your first thought, "am I really that crummy of a rider?" Trying to convince your wife you need a new bike? Let me first suggest that all of the above may be cured with one simple fix. Upgrade the suspension. Replace the fork springs, add a RaceTech gold valve, replace worn out bushings, and seals.  Replace the worn out rear shock, or shocks. Try a new set of tires, and check the steering head bearings.  I did all of the above and it has transformed the Yamaha 900 Seca. True, it may not have the same handling performance of a new bike....but it's darn close.  Take a look at some points Matthew gives, try to attend one of the seminars he gives at the Progressive Insurance Motorcycle shows currently being held around the USA, and keep riding the current bike you have. Tough times call for keeping the current bike you have on the road. Upgrades can help.

New Forks

So, why did the folks come off last summer after a total rebuild of the bike? It seems that I didn't inspect fork tubes close enough upon bike rebuild and the fork seals let go (rust pitting). So I took the bike into my local shop to have them install new fork tubes (Forks by Franks- www.frankmain.qpg.com)They screwed up the job, big time! The numskull mechanic took an air wrench to the caps and stripped out the threads. $300 bucks wasted. Grabbed the bike back, and took it home. Sent for new forks, and had my good buddy, Matthew Wiley at www.racetech.com rebuild them for me....also installing the Gold Tech Valve. Put it all back together and what a difference! Took the bill to numskull and had him pay for the new parts.