International Dealer News IDN 116 Dec 2013/Jan 2014 | Page 18

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D.I.D: It is anniversary time for the Japanese
Daido Kogyo company as they celebrate the
80th anniversary of the formation of what is
now one of Japan’s largest and most diverse
industrial conglomerates, and the 10th
anniversary of the Bologna, Italy based
European office of their D.I.D chains business;
www.didchain.com

Touratech: The German adventure touring specialist has
entered the suspension market with a system for the
BMW R1200 GS developed for them by specialist Dutch
suspension manufacturer TracTive. Their system is a DDA
(dynamic damping) Plug & Travel that is said to offer “a
completely new riding experience particularly on demanding
tours”. Sensors register irregularities in the ground and send
this information to electronic controls which adjust the
spring elements in a matter of milliseconds.
Electromagnetically controlled valves adjust the flow of oil in
the fork, increasing or reducing the damping effect. The
greatest challenge affecting semi-active suspensions has always
been capturing of information from the original plugs on an
ECU and translating that data so it could be used to control an
aftermarket retrofit product. Jo Glaser, Touratech’s suspension
product manager, says that what makes this system stand out is
that it is easily interchangeable with BMW’s own DDC system.
“Touratech’s DDA Plug & Travel suspension uses the existing plugs and is operated
through the switches that are already built into the handlebar. The system is
integrated into the motorbike through BMW’s original ECU”. This means the rider can
continue to use all the BMW standard driving
modes and loading presets as well as custom
settings. Tom Glazemakers, who heads up the
TracTive suspension team that has helped
Touratech to develop the system, told IDN that
“our front shock has a 46mm diameter
compared to BMW’s 36mm, and is made in
aluminium tube rather than the original steel.
We are able to keep the temperature much
lower and improve the stability of the
dampening action, therefore improving the
handling performance and durability of the
system”. Tom went on to say that “one of the
most important features of the system we have
developed for Touratech is the use of our
patented bypass valve. Activated in
milliseconds, the reaction of the suspension is
electronically tuned all the way from
completely closed to fully open. This is a
departure from the basically automotive
technology used by manufacturers such as
BMW with their CNC style mechanical valves”;
www.touratech.de

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INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - DEC/JAN 2013

Tecmate: Always at the leading edge of
battery maintenance and diagnostic
technology, Managing Director Martin
Human told IDN that “we are adding new
products to the Optimate line here at
EICMA, including two new testers, but also
have new technology slated for launch in
April next year, which will include
improved multi bank charger testers”;
www.tecmate.com