Pogos are the order of the month, as Project Gixer reaches the finish line…

WORDS: PRETTY BOY IMAGES: GARY CHAPMAN

Project

Carl’s opted for a stiffer shaft…

No matter how good a bike’s suspension is when it rolls off the production line, if you are serious about riding on track it’s not going to be long before you reach the limits of its capability. Whether that be adjustability, strength or pure feel – which we found out first hand when testing the GSX-R1000R last month. Yes, the standard Showa kit is good, but is it good enough to withstand the brutality of racing? Not quite, which is why this month I had a spring in my step all the way to K-Tech Suspension in Derby.

There has been a bit of bad press lately over the quality and functionality of K-Tech suspension components, but after riding on the stuff for the best part of five years I trust it with my life – and even if the Superbike kit isn’t working for a few riders, the regular stuff us mortals use does the job exceptionally well, so I’ve gone for the K-Tech DDS Front Fork Cartridge Kit (which comes with spare springs and the tools you need to change them) and the DDS Pro Shock Absorber, which comes in at a grand total of £2,904.64. Now, although that sounds like a lot, it’s a hell of a lot cheaper then throwing your bike at the hedges every other weekend, or at least that’s the excuse I’m pitching to my Mrs, and you’re welcome to use it if it helps. If you’ve tinkered with suspension before you’ll know how finicky the job of replacing the original internals is but, luckily for me, being about as useful as a chocolate teapot when it comes to turning spanners made no difference as the only way of getting this particular job done is by going to a certified dealer. With this mind I enlisted the assistance of K-Tech’s suspension’s Michael Hancock to help fit the jobby… starting at the front.