Tuning by Suspension 101

[Camel ADV]

I don't often do product or business reviews. If I do, it's because I had a really great (or terrible) experience.

Being in Canada, winter months mean no local riding. My Tenere was in storage in California for a bit. I contacted George Spinali at Suspension 101 in Alpine, California to see if he was interested in doing R&D tuning on my T7's suspension while the bike was not being ridden. He was very excited to get his hands on this new model and for a few weeks in November I left it with him.

 

He worked his magic on it and when I went back down in early December, I picked the bike up and took it for a test ride. The change from stock was astounding. No more wallowing and bottoming, no vague steering, the bike's handling was crisp and sporty without being too firm. Any tuner can give your bike a plush ride but it usually comes at the expense of the bottom resistance. The opposite is also true, anyone can set up your bike up to not bottom out over rough terrain but you usually get an unpleasantly firm ride the rest of the time. A great tuner can set your suspension up so it's Cadillac smooth AND has excellent bottoming resistance. 

 

I was running George's revalved and resprung components on the bike until I swapped the new KYB SSS forks and TFX shock. If I didn't do the dumb riding that I do, I'll still be running those parts. 

 

I've used a half dozen other suspension tuners in the past and can say without hesitation that the ride quality from Suspension 101 is the best I've experienced. Don't let his bare bones website fool you, he's the real deal. Whether you're 140lbs in gear or riding 2 up with full luggage, using your T7 as a SuperMoto, out riding single track or just commute, George can get your 700 Tenere's suspension dialled in, give him a call or email.

 

FYI, I'm not sponsored by Suspension 101, I'm simply posting this because of the great service I got and the outstanding ride quality of components I've got back from him on both my T7 and 790R. His work will truly transform your bike.

This video is riding in the Glamis Dunes after the revalve and respring. It's nice and plush but still has great bottoming resistance:

 

 

[Cruizin]

Wow, you ride the dunes pretty damn well for just being on knobbies. I hate riding sand without paddle tires, I'd be sliding out and wrecking. 

[Camel ADV]

5 hours ago, Cruizin said:

Wow, you ride the dunes pretty damn well for just being on knobbies. I hate riding sand without paddle tires, I'd be sliding out and wrecking. 

Riding sand fast is easy, riding sand slow is tough

 

[Guest]

[Guest]

Got these from George@ suspension101 .

.66 kg/mm is the best that I was told could be into the stock forks without coil bind.

  The rear spring is progressive. George has done work with enduro X riders and has set up bikes that give bottoming resistance as well as good feel.

  He listened to what I was after and explained his thoughts well.

When I get the T7 they will go in and I will give my thoughts.

   Jeff 

Edited May 15, 2020 by Guest
got

[Guest]

 

Edited May 16, 2020 by Guest
?

[Paul]

Why are you putting a progressive rear spring in when the T7 has a rising rate linkage, did the suspension specialist really say to do that ?, you must be pretty heavy to need a 6.6 fork spring

[Limey]

7 hours ago, Paul said:

Why are you putting a progressive rear spring in when the T7 has a rising rate linkage, did the suspension specialist really say to do that ?, you must be pretty heavy to need a 6.6 fork spring

.66

[Paul]

Thats heavy, and a progressive shock spring ?

[Camel ADV]

23 hours ago, Paul said:

Why are you putting a progressive rear spring in when the T7 has a rising rate linkage, did the suspension specialist really say to do that ?, you must be pretty heavy to need a 6.6 fork spring

George @Suspension101 is s a huge fan of progressive rate springs, even on a rising rate linkage bike. He pitched the idea to me as well and I seriously doubted him. He set my bike up and I became a believer. Not a lot of guys can make progessives work, he can. 

 

0.66kg/mm isn't a stiff fork spring... the 790R is only 15lbs (?) heavier than a T7 and it comes stock with 0.68. 

 

[Paul]

Way to heavy for my 96kg body in a Tenere with a 16ltr tank.  .6nm springs installed with standard preload and a full tank has perfect rider sag for me

Edited June 19, 2020 by Paul

[Suspension101]

Look on my website at the EnduroCross rider Noah Kepple on the GasGas linkage bike with variable rate spring. Variable rate works better but is more expensive and you have to get the correct rate. Suspension101.com

A website maker I am not, but the video tells the story. The same rider now rides for Husky and after full dial in the rider was hesitant to make change as the bike was really working. Convinced him to try a custom variable I had made for him and he was surprised that the bike got even better. He raced with it and won the Tecate Hare Scramble the next week then podium in Worcs and then Husky took me out of the loop and brought him in house. They do his suspension exclusively now. Variable rate is better, just a bit more homework involved.

Now when you are changing weight by adding bags etc. then the variable is an even bigger advantage.

 

[Svrider]

I don't think you can just cross refrence the spring chart on the 790 to the recommended spring wgt for the tenere, the weight bias is probably diffrent between the two machines. Might it be close--? But just to blanket statement say this is this isn't entirely correct.

[Camel ADV]

2 hours ago, Svrider said:

I don't think you can just cross refrence the spring chart on the 790 to the recommended spring wgt for the tenere, the weight bias is probably diffrent between the two machines. Might it be close--? But just to blanket statement say this is this isn't entirely correct.

I wasn't suggesting a 1 for 1 cross reference only commenting that a 0.66kg fork spring on a T7 is not a "heavy" spring.

[Svrider]

Roger that