Oh noes! My GRiSO won't go...

But for that money, or less, you could have had a pair of Ohlins. The right ones just slide in.

You're right Paul. I am extremely happy with the Matris rear shock, so it was a natural progression (not a spring pun). For that money, Ohlin's would have been used and possibly forked (that was a pun).

I bought what I thought were the correct Ohlins but the one I got need different yokes. My mistake. I've actually decided to stick with what I've got because to be honest the bike is much better than I am nowadays. Getting old sucks!

Pete

What do you think would give the biggest improvement in handling - upgrading the front or rear? I feel like my front is more the issue on my bike, though maybe it just needs servicing.

most often the rear shock needs to be dealt with first

I'm shocked at the this conversation, it keeps rebounding please someone put a dampner on it. I'm too highly sprung for this.

Josh.C wrote:

What do you think would give the biggest improvement in handling - upgrading the front or rear? I feel like my front is more the issue on my bike, though maybe it just needs servicing.

The rear is the easiest or simplest way to achieve good results, but setting up the front properly always yields best results in all regards, in my experience.

beetle wrote:

Thanks Jeremy. I was hoping to have my forks back two days after dropping them off, but the kit hadn't arrived from Italy yet. It's already been more than six weeks since I last rode GRiSO, so I'm starting to champ at the bit.

Six weeks? Fuck me drunk mate

7 weeks now...

The Saint wrote:

The rear is the easiest or simplest way to achieve good results, but setting up the front properly always yields best results in all regards, in my experience.

That's what I was thinking and has been my experience to date.

In reality, most people feel the rear shock needs the most attention, especially largish riders.
Hence, a stiffer spring and valving with correct ride height (sag) will have the bike sitting higher at the rear. This not only decreases rake and trail (= quicker/lighter steering), but adds more weight over the front, which in turn causes more front sag than before. This also will decrease rake and trail (= quicker/lighter steering, again).

Also the imbalance of a stiffer action in the rear suspension, will transfer shock loads (on any given bump) to the front causing the forks to compress a lot further.

So what I'm trying to imply here is, front seems ok but rear needs work. Fix the rear and suddenly the front will be inadequate by comparison.


I have had several customers lately who have gone straight over the bars during emergency braking.
Riders have been 110kg+ (conservative guestimate) and when later measuring static/rider sag, were amazed they had 1" or less travel in the front forks.
Sudden braking had the forks bottomed out, rear rising and their considerable bulk pushing on the bars rotates the bike over the front axle.

What issues are people experiencing with the rear suspension on the GRiSO? Is it more about poor handling or comfort?

Comfort. I didn't have any handling issues, but the rear shock was over sprung with no travel. The Matris I've got is superior in every way, and also has adjustable ride height. Setting that to max quickend the steering up noticeably. My kidney is much happier as well.

The front end is over-damped and doesn't seem to respond to adjustment.

The new cartridges and springs should give me a greater range of adjustments and also extend the life of my headlight.

Josh.C wrote:

What issues are people experiencing with the rear suspension on the GRiSO? Is it more about poor handling or comfort?

It's acceptable, but high speed damping is the real issue. That's front and rear.

It's now 8 weeks.

However, I'm told my kit has shipped out from Matris.

Another week or so....

Hey Beetle, is the kit being shipped to you ? Photos of the contents ?

Nah, the Oz importer is doing the forks for me.

At least it got shipped-out of Italy before 'everything closes for August' .....

Yeah, I'd probably have a barbed-wire baby if it hadn't shipped before August.

ouch!

Nine. Fucking. Weeks.

They could have delivered it by camel in 9 weeks! In the year since I got my GRiSO, the longest I've gone without a ride was 8 days I spent vacationing on the beach in Mexico. There I was surrounded by powdery white sand and naked women, piña colada in hand, thinking about riding my GRiSO. It's perverse! We're all diseased!

What are they doing? Carving the shims out of poached Ivory from Senegal?

Pete

Hang on, it's been 9 weeks since I've ridden the GRiSO. The fork kit was ordered on 19 May. So really only 5 weeks waiting for Matris. But still..