Damping Powers

The requests for damping and driving characteristics of motorcycles are constantly increasing especially concerning the fork. Essentially it should, on the one hand run smoothly to balance on uneven soil and, on the other hand, be hard and irresistible while braking or riding over consecutive bumps. A critical press, intensive further developments and always stronger bikes define the higher standard. Not every newly presented motorcycle is able to do the splits between “smoothness” and “hardness” as asked by the demanding German marked. Some motorbikes with only 5 figures on their speedometers often show fatigue in their chassis, while the rarely challenged engines could easily run for another 100.000 kilometres or more. After that time, the fork springs already lost some of their tension, the fork oils viscosity is reduced and the air chamber is often close to vanishing.

Only direct before-and-after comparisons reveal the differences. In Germany, safety standards and regulations for motorcycles are enforced by law. An insecure motorbike is most likely to be seriously fined.