Adventure Bike Suspension Upgrades
Early on when I first started adventure riding and scouting new routes for Adventure Guide, I didn’t have any suspension work done on my bikes. I was so immersed in the awesomeness of exploring new places and what lies around the next corner, that I didn’t put much thought into bike setup and suspension work.
The early days of Adventure Guide when I was riding a DRZ250. Crossing from the East Coast to West Coast meant dealing with the snowy passes in winter, like this photo of Arthurs Pass back in 2009
Fast forward to now and there are two things that have changed. Both have dramatically improved the fun and enjoyment of my adventure trips.
Shedding Weight by Carrying Less Gear
I used to carry too much gear – waaaay too much gear! Admittedly, it was nice to have creature comforts around camp, however most of what I was carrying was overkill.
Out on a multi-day trip back in 2013, all packed up, with a ton of gear
With most bikes rolling out of the factory with the suspension setup just for the rider, it’s no surprise that carrying excess weight is always going to have a negative effect on the way the bike handles.
It has taken me many years to refine the kit I travel with now, which is ultralight, compact, while still containing everything I need.
While my kit does include a camp chair which many riders say is unnecessary, sitting around a campfire after a big day of riding is one of the things I enjoy the most about adventure riding.
So, packing a more lightweight kit has an immediate positive effect on the way your bike behaves, and it will make riding technical terrain so much easier, and enjoyable. However, this is still miles apart from the benefits of professional suspension work…
Understanding the Benefits of Professional Suspension Work
Early on, I fell into the trap of installing lowering links on a DRZ400 to bring the seat down to a more manageable height. Little did I know that lowering links change the geometry of the suspension, and in many cases, beyond the ability of the factory compression/rebound settings to correct. A lower seat height was achieved, however that came at the cost of negatively affecting the suspension performance.
The saying “you only know what you know” is quite fitting for suspension. Until you have had a suspension expert set up your suspension to accommodate for your weight, height, bike, luggage, and riding style, it’s impossible to grasp how much it transforms the way your bike handles, and how much more enjoyable riding becomes.
The first time I had professional suspension work done for me was a DRZ400 that was being shipped over to Australia for a one-month trip. The route included the crossing of a few deserts, with one requiring me to carry 42 litres of fuel. Any concerns I had about the price for suspension work immediately dissolved. The difference in handling was night and day, and I had an absolute blast the entire trip. To be honest, I was kicking myself for not getting suspension work done earlier.
The DRZ400 shipped over to Australia with suspension work by Moto SR
Currently I am riding a KTM500, and like most enduro bikes, the factory seat height is really high. So, in conjunction with the re-springing and re-valving work done, both the front and rear were internally lowered to suit my height. The result is a dramatic improvement over the stock suspension, a more manageable seat height, and the bike is a blast to ride.
So the point of this article really boils down to answering the frequently asked question “is suspension on an adventure bike work worth it”. My answer to that is, absolutely yes. Getting a professional to upgrade your suspension to perfectly suit you is a great way to improve the performance and handling of your bike, and make your bike more fun to ride. It’s also the best way to lower your bike to get the seat height you want, without sacrificing performance.
As to who you get to do your suspension, this is an important question. Here in New Zealand, there aren’t many dedicated suspension businesses, nor people that can be considered skilled suspension artisans. However, I can confidently recommend Moto SR. This is where all my suspension work is done. If you give Scotty a call, it won’t take long to pick up that he has a wealth of knowledge, and that he’s extremely passionate about performance suspension.
Moto SR is located in the North Island, near Taupo. If you are in the South Island, it is fairly straightforward to freight your forks and shock up there.