International Dealer News IDN 122 Dec/Jan 2014/15 | Page 11

news ROOM is said to deliver a "noticeably more sensitive response with high stability and the greatest possible resilience". The company says that unlike open types, which use the same oil for both damping and lubrication, theirs is a closed system developed for the extreme stresses endured by sportsbike forks. With this design the damping oil is located in a closed cartridge, leading to very exact damping control, similar to that of a shock absorber. The cartridge uses an internal piston of 35mm (which the company says is the largest in the market!), which allows for stable and precise damping setting. A special Motorex oil formulation is used for filling the fork legs to lubricate the fork. Riders receive a completely filled cartridge fitted with the appropriate spring; only the original outer tubes are retained. Touratech Suspension closed cartridges are said to handle "even extreme damping frequencies on rough off-road rides. They are supplied with the unique Touratech touring set-up for the respective motorcycle. For individual settings – 'this system provides hugely improved ride safety and dynamics''' Like with all their products, intensive testing of the Touratech Extreme Cartridge and Plug & Travel ESA replacement shock absorber were carried out by a small, elite group of some of the luckiest people in the industry - the Touratech test riders! e.g. different loading conditions or for a completely personalised suspension set-up – it is possible to adjust the spring preload as well as the damping on compression and rebound strokes". A built-in "hydraulic end stop" prevents the fork mechanically bottoming out when the bike is ridden hard. "This cartridge system provides hugely improved ride safety coupled with maximum ride dynamics", says Product Manager Jo Glaser. Touratech say their Cartridge Kit Extreme is the ideal solution for all motorbikes that do not come with factory-fitted adjustable forks. It is available now for all BMW F 800 GS models, and the Triumph Tiger 800 XC and Tiger Explorer. Lowering kits of approx. 25-50mm for the forks, and a suitably adapted Touratech Suspension shock absorber, are expected soon. TOURATECH Niedereschach, GERMANY Tel: [phone] [email protected] www.touratech.com