Quick history: I've never modded the suspension on any motorcycle in over 30 years of riding. I've always just "ridden around" the stock suspensions on my bikes. I'd set the sag and tweak the other adjusters a bit, but never felt the need to "upgrade" the suspension. Actually, I didn't typically keep a bike long enough to justify to myself dropping the major coin to perform those upgrades.
As you all know the Tenere is a different kind of bike, and it's changed my perspective in that after two-and-a-half years of ownership I have absolutely no desire to change motorcycles. There's really nothing else out there that has even caught my eye long enough to seriously consider trading the Tenere...
I consider myself a true motorcyclist. I practice my skills, try and perfect my roadcraft, wear ATGATT, and - most significantly - am always looking for ways to spend money on this avocation.
Well, if I'm not trading the bike, I decided to give this whole suspension thing a try. I tortured myself with research on different brands for a good year before pulling the trigger. Finally, I decided on an Ohlins rear. Immediately after installing the shock, the front of the motorcycle felt so out-of-whack that I was absolutely amazed. Everyone here said it would happen, but I wasn't a believer until I experienced it first-hand.
Well, I just brought the bike home from Fluidology Inc. here in Jacksonville where an absolutely amazing guy named Steven Breckenridge reworked my front forks with Racetech springs, valves, etc.
"WOW!!!" Doesn't begin to describe what I was thinking on the way home. It is absolutely unreal the difference it made in the bike. More plush, but more connected...more firm, but more compliant...more stable, but quicker to turn... I could go on-and-on. This is better than getting a brand new bike! Because my favorite bike yet is exponentially better.
While Steven had the bike he also changed the brake pads all the way around, flushed the brake, clutch, and coolant fluids, and changed the plugs. My brake calipers look the way they did the day I rode away from the dealership back in 2012. His attention to detail is very confidence-inspiring. He took the time to explain to me everything he was doing to the forks, and helped me get a good baseline setup. I've NEVER been comfortable letting someone else work on my bike before this, but he's actually one of "those" guys that you can trust to do what he says he's going to do, have pride in his work, and welcomes you to watch hIm work, and ask questions about anything he's doing. His shop ain't in the high-rent district, but it's clean, organized, and well equipped.
If your in the North Florida area and need work to your Tenere, I just couldn't imagine you doing better than Steven at Fluidology... I know I'm gushing a bit here, but I'm just excited to have found "that guy" I can trust to work on my bike, and extremely excited about the new suspenders on my Tenere...
As you all know the Tenere is a different kind of bike, and it's changed my perspective in that after two-and-a-half years of ownership I have absolutely no desire to change motorcycles. There's really nothing else out there that has even caught my eye long enough to seriously consider trading the Tenere...
I consider myself a true motorcyclist. I practice my skills, try and perfect my roadcraft, wear ATGATT, and - most significantly - am always looking for ways to spend money on this avocation.
Well, if I'm not trading the bike, I decided to give this whole suspension thing a try. I tortured myself with research on different brands for a good year before pulling the trigger. Finally, I decided on an Ohlins rear. Immediately after installing the shock, the front of the motorcycle felt so out-of-whack that I was absolutely amazed. Everyone here said it would happen, but I wasn't a believer until I experienced it first-hand.
Well, I just brought the bike home from Fluidology Inc. here in Jacksonville where an absolutely amazing guy named Steven Breckenridge reworked my front forks with Racetech springs, valves, etc.
"WOW!!!" Doesn't begin to describe what I was thinking on the way home. It is absolutely unreal the difference it made in the bike. More plush, but more connected...more firm, but more compliant...more stable, but quicker to turn... I could go on-and-on. This is better than getting a brand new bike! Because my favorite bike yet is exponentially better.
While Steven had the bike he also changed the brake pads all the way around, flushed the brake, clutch, and coolant fluids, and changed the plugs. My brake calipers look the way they did the day I rode away from the dealership back in 2012. His attention to detail is very confidence-inspiring. He took the time to explain to me everything he was doing to the forks, and helped me get a good baseline setup. I've NEVER been comfortable letting someone else work on my bike before this, but he's actually one of "those" guys that you can trust to do what he says he's going to do, have pride in his work, and welcomes you to watch hIm work, and ask questions about anything he's doing. His shop ain't in the high-rent district, but it's clean, organized, and well equipped.
If your in the North Florida area and need work to your Tenere, I just couldn't imagine you doing better than Steven at Fluidology... I know I'm gushing a bit here, but I'm just excited to have found "that guy" I can trust to work on my bike, and extremely excited about the new suspenders on my Tenere...
