T7 Rally Suspension

[Ktmmitch]

We have developed a Closed-Cartridge fork kit & Twin-Piston shock for those T7 owners who want ultimate performance on & off-road.

These 2 items are to be used in conjunction with each other, to increase the front & rear wheel travel from 200mm to 230mm, and this will raise the seat height by the same amount, 30mm. The closed-cartridge fork inserts utilise a 35mm piston, rather than the 20mm OEM size piston, giving a 300% increase in area to allow larger shims, and more progressive flow.

We will be using these in our own T7 when we enter some rallies later this year, so we can maximise performance, and speed, off road.

 

Yamaha T7 (230mm travel) Rally Shock-RRP 624

Yamaha T7 Rally (230mm travel) Closed-Cartridge Fork Kit-RRP 626

 

 

 

Edited January 10, 2021 by Ktmmitch

[Ktmmitch]

Australian Dakar rider, and Yamaha ambassador, Rodney Faggotter has recently taken delivery of a set of our Rally Suspension for his T7 in Queensland, Down Under.

The Closed-Cartridge fork, with 35mm piston, and Twin-Piston Rally shock are both designed to give an extra 30mm more travel than the OEM 200mm travel suspension.

Rod fitted these and has just completed a 730km shake-down to bed in the new suspension and get some base settings to suit his riding style.

Rod's comments about the first ride are promising:

"I got a solid 730klms in last weekend on the T7 with your RR suspension.

More an adventure ride though, I did some slower technical stuff for a about 3 hours trying to cross creeks and rivers through scrubby country and small rocky canyons.....

Suspension worked very well in all of this - though yet to test out in the Simpson Desert which is where I need it to shine. So far so good. Very happy "

Another good thing about having an experienced rider and tester like Rod look over our products is that he noticed that the OEM lower shock bolt doesn't locate far enough into the lower mount on both the OEM shock and our RR shock, so we very quickly CNC machined a new, longer replacement and shipped it out to him to test, all went well and this mod should help spread the load on the lower aluminium shock fork.

We will be machining a larger batch of these hardened steel bolts for other T7 riders later this month, and each one of our RR shocks will leave the factory with one fitted as standard, but they will also fit the OEM KYB shock.

Rod hopes to go to do a Simpson Desert trip soon with his T7, as soon as Covid restrictions allow, so we expect more feedback from him, which is always welcome from customers far & wide.

[Louis]

Thanks for the tip about the lower shock boltwill  look at this as a much needed improvement. 

[Ktmmitch]

1 minute ago, Louis said:

Thanks for the tip about the lower shock boltwill  look at this as a much needed improvement. 

Don't thank me, it was Queensland Rod that spotted the design flaw, and I've had loads of T7 shocks in and out over the last 18 months !!!

[Louis]

Thanks Ktmmitch for posting Rod's observations.  And Thanks Rod! 

[MotoCP]

1 hour ago, Ktmmitch said:

Don't thank me, it was Queensland Rod that spotted the design flaw, and I've had loads of T7 shocks in and out over the last 18 months !!!

Morning John,

On the subject of the rear shock, I noticed when fully lifting the rear of the bike (to check  static sag) it felt like there was a couple of mm of free play in the suspension.

OEM shock with a RR uprated spring and a few clicks of preload applied. 
All bolts are tight and the play is unnoticeable when road riding so I guess it’s normal but I’m wondering if I will detect it when the shock fully extends off road?

 

I’m fairly sure it’s not bearing wear as I think it was the same when I bought with 350 miles on the clock. Now done just over 4K with say 60/40 road/trail use in the UK. 

 

Regards Chris. 

Edited January 10, 2021 by MotoCP

[Ktmmitch]

1 hour ago, MotoCP said:

Morning John,

On the subject of the rear shock, I noticed when fully lifting the rear of the bike (to check  static sag) it felt like there was a couple of mm of free play in the suspension.

OEM shock with a RR uprated spring and a few clicks of preload applied. 
All bolts are tight and the play is unnoticeable when road riding so I guess it’s normal but I’m wondering if I will detect it when the shock fully extends off road?

 

I’m fairly sure it’s not bearing wear as I think it was the same when I bought with 350 miles on the clock. Now done just over 4K with say 60/40 road/trail use in the UK. 

 

Regards Chris. 

A couple of mm free play at rear axle is normal up and down movement

[MikeCMP]

3 hours ago, Ktmmitch said:

Don't thank me, it was Queensland Rod that spotted the design flaw, and I've had loads of T7 shocks in and out over the last 18 months !!!

Mine came in the post a few days ago, got it installed. I never even tried holding it up to the shock prior to installing it, that is a good catch on his part!

 

new bolt is solid, thanks!

 

Mike

[MotoCP]

2 hours ago, Ktmmitch said:

A couple of mm free play at rear axle is normal up and down movement

Thanks for confirming.

[Ktmmitch]

 

A German video report (with some English explanation) of the modifications made by our friend, Italian Dakar rider Manuel Lucchese to his Rally-prepped Yamaha T7, including our twin-piston shock & closed-cartridge fork inserts, factory-level equipment available from our website:

 

 

Yamaha T7 Extreme Closed-Cartridge Fork Kit-RRP 625

 

Yamaha T7 Extreme Shock-RRP 617