Agreed. Well worth the money.
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Cal 1400 Suspension Thread
- Thread starterGTM®
- Start date
Just placed an order with TORQUE RACING in the UK for the Matris fork and rear kit.
My California is the later rear suspension with hydraulic preload on one side only. (2017 1400 SE Nero Gentlmen!...what were they thinking)
All built to a cost ....I am afraid...with the worse option from the K fork manufacturers
I have previously fitted Matris to another one of my bikes (front and rear) and the difference is outstanding quality and suspension range.
Fitting them as soon as they clear UK Customs which will be a month or so..... now we have reverted to being in the 1970s!
My California is the later rear suspension with hydraulic preload on one side only. (2017 1400 SE Nero Gentlmen!...what were they thinking)
All built to a cost ....I am afraid...with the worse option from the K fork manufacturers
I have previously fitted Matris to another one of my bikes (front and rear) and the difference is outstanding quality and suspension range.
Fitting them as soon as they clear UK Customs which will be a month or so..... now we have reverted to being in the 1970s!
Right....the man at the border with a gun and big dog stripped searched my parcel and stamped OK on the box.
They have arrived almost 8 weeks after ordering from Italy. I got the Matris non piggy back and the full cartridge bouncy kit for the 2017 tour California....it has panniers or saddlebags as you guys call them ....so limited rear shock space
Hope it all fits!
The standard rear shocks with remote preload (one shock only) will be used to darken a corner in the workshop.
They have arrived almost 8 weeks after ordering from Italy. I got the Matris non piggy back and the full cartridge bouncy kit for the 2017 tour California....it has panniers or saddlebags as you guys call them ....so limited rear shock space
Hope it all fits!
The standard rear shocks with remote preload (one shock only) will be used to darken a corner in the workshop.
I understand that the forks on the Audace are smaller in diameter. Is there a similar upgrade available?
Indeed. It just takes a Store sort and quick read; https://gtmotocycles.com/collection...model_california-1400?sort_by=title-ascending - F15K offers a selection for the Audace.
Thank you, and am I to assume that the rear shocks for the Audace are the same as the Cali Custom? I don't see any specific references for the Audace rear?
Yes, the bike is not unique, everything I show for rear shocks will fit the Audace; https://gtmotocycles.com/collections/suspension/model_california-1400?sort_by=best-selling
Hi guys,
I installed the superb F15K Matris kit on my 1400 Cali tour 2017 for my fork .
Can someone tell me what are the values of travel, and SAG for a pilot of approximately 198 lbs .
Another question : when we talk about SAG, is it the bike on the wheels, with or without the rider , or do you take several measurements, in the air, on the wheels, with and without a pilot??
Many thanks in advance
Hello Vizir……were there no instructions with your kit?
Static sag is wheel and weight of the bike is just off the ground . Lower until the the tyre just touches….this is the first measurement
Then lower again until the wheel and tyre touching ground fully …with only the bike weight on it …but settled at rest= second measurement
Second from first is STATIC sag setting
repeat for rear then adjust preload to get the required millimetre setting front and rear
with the rider or pilot on bike (as the French say)…..measure again and this = third measurement
Third from second is rider sag……adjust preload to suit AND damping….it is a bit of compromise but worth the time
i can dig out the instructions from Matris but they set the rods/cartridges to suit the riders weight at their factory.
I hope that this helps
regards
Gavin
The Scottish Engineer
Static sag is wheel and weight of the bike is just off the ground . Lower until the the tyre just touches….this is the first measurement
Then lower again until the wheel and tyre touching ground fully …with only the bike weight on it …but settled at rest= second measurement
Second from first is STATIC sag setting
repeat for rear then adjust preload to get the required millimetre setting front and rear
with the rider or pilot on bike (as the French say)…..measure again and this = third measurement
Third from second is rider sag……adjust preload to suit AND damping….it is a bit of compromise but worth the time
i can dig out the instructions from Matris but they set the rods/cartridges to suit the riders weight at their factory.
I hope that this helps
regards
Gavin
The Scottish Engineer
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Please see the first post of this thread and you MUST MUST MUST search and read a little. These repetitive questions have been answered here for well over a decade and a half. SEARCH. READ. PLEASE. Google will be of help as well.
Thank you Todd, I'v red the different posts, but I'v only seen the SAG concerning the 1400 Custom, but not for the touring, that is why my question is relevant, for me 
of course .
of course .
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JRH
Just got it firing!
2014 Cali Custom - Wondering if anyone knows if we need the protective metal sleeve that goes between the upper and lower fork clamps. Can't get them off without removing the forks. If they were not there I could access the two bolts and slide the lower covers which would give me access to keep the seals better cleaned. Anyone know if they are more than cosmetic?
They are cosmetic. It's one of the first things I did with my 2013. But I did install some fork protectors. There is a thread on the subject. (Fork Protectors)
JRH
Just got it firing!
Thanks, I left the lowers on and did not reinstall the uppers. This will allow me to monitor / clean the seals. Much appreciated.
Hello……just back from a bit of an epic journey to Italy on the California 1400 and here are a couple of observations and requests.
The journey involved 3 alpine passes in the South Tyrol into Italy….Innsbruck Austria down to Bolzano Italy.
The general altitude about 10000 ft in Protestant or 3800 metres in Catholic.
There were lots of 1st 2nd and occasionally 3rd gear hairpins but mainly 1st and 2nd……on the wrong side (as far as I’m concerned) of the road……as we drive on the left.
My California has front and rear Matris and the forks handled everything okay but the bike wallowed on bumpy left handlers and felt to bottom out…not sure about this…maybe I was bottoming out!
Also the bike seemed very susceptible to road lines and surface changes. I know it’s not a Ducati and I checked pressures on the nearly new Bridgestones……but I am still a bit surprised that it handles as it does…..I became Captain Slow in the group I was with
Anyway, the question is….has anyone reset or altered the base settings on the Matris rear shocks and if so….could they indicate the setting they used….please.
Being big boned as my old granny used to say…I tip the scales at 17 stone wringing wet and add to this riding gear. 17 stone is approx 230 lbs or 108 kg.
Your input would be appreciated as I’m sure that the factory settings on the Matris…even if they has been set up for my weight need a bit of alteration
Thanks in advance
Wibbily Wobbily Gavin
The journey involved 3 alpine passes in the South Tyrol into Italy….Innsbruck Austria down to Bolzano Italy.
The general altitude about 10000 ft in Protestant or 3800 metres in Catholic.
There were lots of 1st 2nd and occasionally 3rd gear hairpins but mainly 1st and 2nd……on the wrong side (as far as I’m concerned) of the road……as we drive on the left.
My California has front and rear Matris and the forks handled everything okay but the bike wallowed on bumpy left handlers and felt to bottom out…not sure about this…maybe I was bottoming out!
Also the bike seemed very susceptible to road lines and surface changes. I know it’s not a Ducati and I checked pressures on the nearly new Bridgestones……but I am still a bit surprised that it handles as it does…..I became Captain Slow in the group I was with
Anyway, the question is….has anyone reset or altered the base settings on the Matris rear shocks and if so….could they indicate the setting they used….please.
Being big boned as my old granny used to say…I tip the scales at 17 stone wringing wet and add to this riding gear. 17 stone is approx 230 lbs or 108 kg.
Your input would be appreciated as I’m sure that the factory settings on the Matris…even if they has been set up for my weight need a bit of alteration
Thanks in advance
Wibbily Wobbily Gavin
Moto-Uno
High Miler
On my 2018 Eldorado , I installed some replacement shocks . The stock lovely looking units were far beyond awful !
As it now sits , the bike sags a bit less than 1/4" when lifted off the side stand , when I sit on it (185lbs) it sags pretty
close to another 1/4" . That's with the springs on the lowest preload . The ride quality is very good to excellent and
even with 24000kms on the stock tires it exhibits nothing like a wallowing , actually it's quite stable in corners on the
Duffy Lake road here in B.C . The limiting factor is my fear of flying off the side of the mountains . I'm of the belief
this should be a good starting point and from there further fine tuning should be a pleasure . Peter
As it now sits , the bike sags a bit less than 1/4" when lifted off the side stand , when I sit on it (185lbs) it sags pretty
close to another 1/4" . That's with the springs on the lowest preload . The ride quality is very good to excellent and
even with 24000kms on the stock tires it exhibits nothing like a wallowing , actually it's quite stable in corners on the
Duffy Lake road here in B.C . The limiting factor is my fear of flying off the side of the mountains . I'm of the belief
this should be a good starting point and from there further fine tuning should be a pleasure . Peter
Hi Gavin, looks like you didn't purchase these from me, correct? Matris builds to my spec, which IMO is superior to what they deliver. Per the suspension thread here (that I've combined this with), be sure to check/set the sag, and make sure the damping is the same front to rear. I can't go into great depths on this here, so perhaps seek a local race shop that can set it up for you. Hope that helps.
Todd….you are correct…I purchased them from the dealer in the UK….before joining the GUZZITECH community.
Although…by now as you will be aware I have purchased everything from fueling kit, full exhaust, risers and lights from the GTM store…..so I’m not trying to do it on the cheap!
If it is possible could someone list the setting for the front and rear settings for the California Touring 1400…..that’s the Matris shocks without the piggy back
Much appreciated
Gavin
The Scottish Engineer
Although…by now as you will be aware I have purchased everything from fueling kit, full exhaust, risers and lights from the GTM store…..so I’m not trying to do it on the cheap!
If it is possible could someone list the setting for the front and rear settings for the California Touring 1400…..that’s the Matris shocks without the piggy back
Much appreciated
Gavin
The Scottish Engineer
Thanks, yes, point being I can’t be of help remotely here with it unless in person since it’s not my spec.
The first post here covers the sag info.
D
Deleted member ANutt
Guest
Does anyone know the difference in eye-to-eye length for the rear shocks on the Custom vs the Touring? Is the stroke also longer on the Custom?