Matris Fork Cartridges / DONE

Who has upgraded to the Matris Fork Cartridges ?
What Kit was fitted ? I believe there is 2 sorts available. An FS12 S with 20 mm pistons, and a FS12 R kit that has a 25 mm piston.
Q : Do they both fit a GRiSO fork.
Q : Is the S for street use , R for Race use ( heavier valving ? )
What kind of $ for a kit. Beetle did a good write up on a "how to change fork seals " which was easy to follow. So between Uzidzit's re-valve write up and Beetles, one should find the process doable with some ingenuity regarding tooling.  Replacing the Fork seals at the same time would make sense , yes ?

Since you're in there, might as well...

The FS12S kit is for the GRiSO. Now that I've had the forks apart I'd be tempted to do it myself. I would add that when changing the cartridges you might want to crack the bottom cap screw before you pull the top cap off. Cost me $1499 fitted. IIRC, at the time I was looking, the best or price I could get (shipped) was about $1430. For the extra $69, I couldn't be arsed doing it myself.

I think the S & R designate different fork models, not application.


Oh yeah, do change the seals while your at it.





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What weight fork oil are you using Beetle 

5W. 135mm from top.

This is the full array of manufactured parts that took a day to make. Ron doesn't want you to know how clever he is. Smart Bastard actually.

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Short tube next to stubby has small allen key welded to it, rubber hose slid over for locator base of fork.
Short tube welded vertically on end of small RHS.
Nut welded to booker (long threaded) rod, which passes thru large square washer, which in turn is welded to end of larger RHS.
Long tube nut welded to small square washer, which is welded to end of smaller RHS.
Slip it inside and start winding the long rod.
Four small solid square bars are welded to outside of large RHD, as locators for the 2 steel plates.
Plate on left will have the 2 tube nuts welded in situ. The bolts have knurled heads and turned spigots to locate in the holes in the stock spring pre-load tube.

Wind in the long rod, compress and hold the spring, undo the nuts.

The second plate was manufactured to suit the Matris cartridge and spring pre-load system, for re-assembly.

Wish I could have stayed another day to complete the job and help set sag etc.
Had to go for a 600km drive ....................... in the rain.
Monsoons are here Marg!

Oh, Stubby was for inspiration, ................................ and burn therapy.

Ghezzi ........... " and burn therapy."
Oh yes, Must remember things stay hot for quite a while after being welded

Tops! Those tools are excellent Ron. Makes my ratchet contraption look pretty ordinary.






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In my ongoing and probably a bit sad and OCD pursuit of suspension nirvana I've just purchased a set of suspension off a TV-4, these are the Sachs units now used on the 'Cooking' model 'Prillas. For $900 I get a set taken off a TV-4 at 1,000km, forks and shock, (Which will be going on the bay of fleas.) but as soon as I can the forks will be getting a set of these.

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This means I'll have four different foek options to evaluate. Bit sad really I suppose......

Pete

Good job on manufacturing the fork tools , as said else where " there's some clever barstards here "
Seeing the pictures of new and old needles for valves , how could the original ever work well it's either open or shut !
Nev.

I aint got em, they look nice though, are you guys  racing against Casey Stoner ? are your roads really that bad? or are you just a load of fat bxstxrds bottoming out everywhere Are the stock ones as shite as the flat tappets?

Oh no! more expense!

Boxer : While I found the stock suspension adequate for touring, it's quite shite when pushed hard. With the fork spring preload wound down hard and compression damping almost screwed all the way in, under hard braking mine will Jack it's self Down until the forks are bottoming out ( I may have had the Rebound screwed in too far ) It gets the sphincter puckering at an alarming rate  
Springs are too soft

Boxer, if you actually rode your GRiSO instead of bitching, you'd know exactly why we do these things.





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YES! Our roads are that bad.
While I don't classify myself as a fat bastard I can tell you I'm on the level, coz my bubble is in the middle.

If your roads are billiard table smooth you will get a comfortable ride, but in the twisties your suspenders will sag, lacking ground clearance and running wide. You could brew a coffee while waiting for the pig to turn.

Over here, with stock suspension I would ride 100 mile from home and be so stuffed, I'd need a rest before riding home. But after building "compliant" suspension I can ride all day, as a consequence of now having "proper" suspension, I can also ride very fast on those same shit roads, and be safer at the same time.

Kentucky Derby v Grand National Steeplechase, horses for courses.









Or you could ride like a pussy!
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I was shocked to see Ghezzi had a video of me riding,
Boxer, for me the I think the GRiSO is " the one " (true love) but the bigger bumps just jar the daylights
Out of me ,so one does something about it.
I have just put a matris rear k shock in and have only done a 15km up and back the road and immediately
Thought "bugger done the wrong thing should have spent the money on the front end"
Nev

Ha Ha!
Nev, that's what happens when you fix the bit that seems the worst, first.
Now the rear is so good it shows up the inadequacies of the front.

You will soon reach Nirvana.

Showas are actually a damn fine fork. The problem with the GRiSO is that they are under-sprung and over damped and the valving is shithouse. That's the reason why we bugger about with suspension so much.

Most Guzzi boards are filled with people who obsess about horsepower. Look at the clowns who spend their whole time bragging their munty old Grisos make 110-115 RWHP. Apart from the fact you won't do it unless you start doing radical stuff with cams who gives a shit? Nobody rides around at WFO all day but most importantly it doesn't matter a pig's freckle how much power your bike makes if you can't get it to the road and your bike skips around like a faery on crack!

If you want more power? buy a Tuono! They're awesome! But getting the suspension right transforms even the the most abject pig into a butterfly!

I at the moment have just got Laurie to set up my Matris cartridges and I already have a Matris R on the back, (It needs a slightly lighter spring but other than that its great!) but I also have a set of Ohlins I'm adapting to fit my yokes and finally a set of Sach's off an RSV4 that I'm going to have Laurie work his magic on and if needs be I'll fit a set of Andreani piston kits to. All n search of the 'Best' system for me.

Apart from anything else, as Wayne says, riding a poorly suspended bike is exhausting. I also now have some increasingly problematic arthritis issues which are greatly exacerbated by both cold and jarring caused by poor roads. Since riding is my major source of pleasure and entertainment I'll do practically anything to make my rides more comfortable and handle better. Getting old really does suck!

Our roads too are, compared to all but the very worst goat tracks in the UK, absolutely abysmal. Queensland roads are even worse than ours! It may seem that we are a bit obsessed with suspension but there are good reasons, especially on a great fat pig like a GRiSO!

Pete

ghezzi wrote:

YES! Our roads are that bad.
While I don't classify myself as a fat bastard I can tell you I'm on the level, coz my bubble is in the middle.

I've never thought of you as a Bastard Wayne 

Your kidneys with stock suspension:

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You kidneys with well sorted suspension:

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waterbottle wrote:

I've never thought of you as a Bastard Wayne 

I already knew that.
Love,
Petal.

You missed the point Ghezzi, RE Read my post, including your quote

I got it the first time, you FAT prick!

TEE HEE

waterbottle wrote:

Boxer : While I found the stock suspension adequate for touring, it's quite shite when pushed hard. With the fork spring preload wound down hard and compression damping almost screwed all the way in, under hard braking mine will Jack it's self Down until the forks are bottoming out ( I may have had the Rebound screwed in too far ) It gets the sphincter puckering at an alarming rate  
Springs are too soft

That`s interesting, I may have some adjustments to do then. I am pretty sure my bike is as it left the factory. I will not be pushing it hard (I say that now) cos it just does not feel like that kind of bike sat on it in my garage, as I have not ridden it yet I can not say but we definitely do not want to be bouncing and wallowing about on our two up Spain tour. Sounds like I will have to do some research on setting it up for we go. Our lass ain`t a salad dodger and we do travel light, hopefully there will be a setting already there for us.