Altus Factory Performance

Premium Suspension

Premium motorcycle suspension can transform your bike from a machine that suffers from mediocrity, to a finely tuned instrument that can make your riding experience amazing. Stock motorcycle suspension components are a series of compromises intended to suit a wide range of typical riders. But, you're not a typical rider, are you? Why not let us unleash your bike's potential?

You'll discover how proper motorcycle suspension can help you ride more proficiently and with greater precision. We sell and install direct OEM replacement shocks and fork products from Penske, Ohlins, Race Tech, K-Tech, and JRi. These products are proven performers by racing experts worldwide. We also specialize in custom fork and shock revalving, to suit your riding style. Only the best for our customers!

With over 19 year in the suspension business, we have seen almost everything. So when we decided to start installing and servicing motorcycle suspension, we made a commitment to you, our manufacturers and ourselves. Not only will we sell the best products on the market, but we will also install and set up every fork and shock that leaves our shop. This means that if you want one of our fork products, you will have to ship your forks to us for the installation. We know that this can be a big inconvenience and added expense, but you if saw what we see on a regular basis you would agree it's worth it. Valve kits installed upside down, compression valves in the rebound valve position, oil levels set incorrectly, spring spacers cocked and jammed into fork tubes, and other atrocities too vile and pornographic for even the internet.

Computrack Measurement

The heart of the G.M.D. Computrack system is the measurement process. Using a surveying instrument called a theodolite, and a lap top computer, coupled to a track and rail stand, we can measure a chassis to very exacting tolerances. The degree of accuracy produces empirical data used to detect twists and lateral misalignments in the chassis as a whole and in the individual components such as the frame, swing arm, and front end assembly. G.M.D. Computrack focuses on three areas critical for scientific measuring, Accuracy, Repeatability, and Resolution. It is not too difficult to achieve two of the three; however it took over fifteen years of development and nine prototype machines to achieve all three. Many pundits have said this degree of accuracy is far greater than what should be required, however several other companies have tried to copy Computrack, including leading 3-D CMM manufactures, without any success. In fact others have strived to achieve a level of accuracy that Computrack rejects. It is this level of accuracy, repeatability and resolution that allows each and every G.M.D. Computrack shop to provide the same expertise and quality of service throughout the world.

Chassis preparation is minimal. A complete chassis only needs to have the fairing and fenders removed, and many models require no prep work at all. Targets are placed in strategic locations on the chassis, and are used to define the planes and axis of the chassis. Due to the method of target placement and measurement process, we can measure a bike with bent wheels, fork tubes and triple clamps, and still get the accurate assessment of the frame and swing arm. Alternative suspension design does not affect the measurement in fact Computrack has been used to measure such bikes as the Britten V1000, BMW Paralever/Telelever, Harley-Davidson® Springer, Leading link front ends, and others.

Unlike in the automotive industry, there are no "Specs" for motorcycle chassis. Any dealer or repair facility that says they "checked the Specs" is not being completely honest. The only specs are the wheel alignment marks on the swing arm and these give no indication of frame or swing arm twist, or lateral misalignments. Many shops also say "we checked the frame and it's ok." The tolerance that we have found to be acceptable is so small it cannot be detected with string lines, straight edges, tape measures or angle finders. These seemingly small numbers are easily felt, but are impossible to see. In fact a 0.2 degree twist extrapolated out 500mm is less than 2mm or 0.080 inches. This means that a chassis that has been misaligned will not show clues on the exterior such as cracked paint or stress marks. In fact with the amount of flex additives in today's paint, cracks in the paint may mean that the frame or swing arm is beyond repair. Many times a damaged frame is not found until the new forks, triple clamps and body work fitted. At this point the technician finds that the front wheel is too close to the chin cowl. This leads to a supplemental with the insurance company and often means the chassis should have been declared a total loss and sent to auction due to high repair costs. Since even a small tip over puts a violent shock force into the frame through the handle bars, every crash repair estimate should include a G.M.D. Computrack measurement.

Chassis/Frame Repair

Once a chassis has been measured, it may need to be aligned. This step is very important in both crash repair and handling optimization. A chassis that is not square and true has the suspension planes and axis skewed relative to the swing arm pivot axis, thus setting up a scissor type motion of the suspension as viewed from the back. The chassis then "winds up" or rotates as viewed form the top. This twisted suspension motion sets off problems such as head shakes, pulling one side, turning better to one side or the other, and for racers a straight chassis grips better and is more predictable to ride at the limit.

The greater the suspension travel, the more critical the alignment is to good handling. This makes alignment of off-road bikes even more critical as the long suspension travel makes them more susceptible to swapping, due to the increased lateral displacement. To correct a twisted frame or swing arm, the chassis is loaded in a correction jig and held tight. Braces are placed around the chassis and jack screws and hydraulic rams are used to draw the chassis into alignment. In cases of severe misalignment, heat may be used to relax aluminum or stress relieve steel. Front end alignment is just as critical as the frame and swing arm. We spend considerable time on the front end assembly before it is installed on the frame. It is critical that the fork tubes be in perfect alignment in all three planes or the forks will bind.

Since all the parts in the front end are not made identical, it takes some expertise and patience to assemble correctly. Improper assembly is one of the leading causes of stiction and binding in the front forks.

2016: Crew Chief M4 Suzuki (Team Hammer)

Responsibilities: Worked with rider, directed crew on all phases of motorcycle.

Rider: Xavier Zayat - 600 SuperSport

Achievements: 2 3rd place finishes, 7th place overall points.

2015: Crew Chief/Manager TT Racing

Responsibilities: Worked with riders on all phases of motorcycles, ran racetrack footprint, to include hiring crew members and directing during race weekend.

Rider: Danny Eslick - 1000 Superbike

Achievements: 4 4th place finishes, 5 5th place finishes. 5th place overall points.

2014: Crew Chief M4 Honda (Team Hammer)

Responsibilities: Worked with rider, directed crew on all phases of motorcycle.

Rider: Joe Roberts - 600 Daytona Sportbike

2013: Crew Chief M4 Honda (Team Hammer)

Responsibilities: Worked with rider, directed crew on all phases of motorcycle.

Rider: Joe Roberts - 600 SuperSport

Achievements: 5 for 5 class wins, 2 of 3 pole positions, three track records.

2012: Crew Chief M4 Suzuki (Team Hammer)

Responsibilities: Worked with rider, directed crew on all phases of motorcycle.

Rider: Elena Myers - 600 SuperSport

Achievements: Directed team to Daytona 600 SuperSport win (First female to win any pro race at DIS)

• Melissa Paris - 600 Sportbike
• Robertino Pietri - 1000 Superbike
• Achievements: 4th place overall Homestead and NOLA races.

2011: Crew Chief M4 Suzuki (Team Hammer)

Responsibilities: Worked with rider, directed crew on all phases of motorcycle.

Rider: Santiago Villa

2008: Crew Chief Lucky Racing

Responsibilities: Worked with rider on all phases of motorcycle, ran full racetrack footprint.

Rider: Darren Luck

2006: Crew Chief Citco Kawasaki

Responsibilities: Worked with rider, directed crew on all phases of motorcycle.

Riders: Armando Ferrier

Years in AMA/MotoAmerica: 15

2005: Crew Chief VenniMotos Yamaha

Responsibilities: Worked with rider, directed crew on all phases of motorcycle.

Riders:

• Armando Ferrier
• Victor Chirnos
• Robertino Pietri

2004:Chassis Tech Valvoline Suzuki (Team Hammer)

Responsibilities: Worked with rider Crew Chiefs on maintance and settings for all team motorcycles.

Riders:

• Vincent Hasclovic
• Steve Rapp

2003: Chassis Tech Prieto Racing

Responsibilities: Worked with rider Crew Chief on maintaince and settings for team motorcycle.

Rider: Mike Barnes - 1000 Superbike

Achievements: 4th place overall Road America Superbike, 7th overall season points.