BIMOTA Tesi 3D steering geometry Q ???

[daotoys1]

Regarding the BIMOTA Tesi 3D.......Questions;

If a slightly longer rear shock was used to raise the ride height of the rear of the bike would it change the steering geometry and tighten/quicken the steering ???

I know that doing this would shift more weight onto the front wheel which often is helpful for aggressive riding.

Since the Tesi 3D has double swing arms and no front forks, Im guessing that at least some basic principles still apply.

On most of my sports bikes I raise the rear and lower the front to get the handling I want. I do 90%+ of my riding in the tight paved Mountain canyons close to where I live in Colorado.

I dont want to lower the front end on the Tesi 3D ( remember the issue of the front fender potentially hitting the underside of the front fairing if/when the front bottoms out)......

So the only geometry adjustment is raising/lowering the rear of the bike.

There is a small amount of rear shock length adjustment, but this is +/- 10mm or so.....not very much.

Im thinking a 1/2" to 1" longer rear shock might give me the handling Im wanting......

Im hoping that the Tesi 3D owners, and/or anyone that has had the pleasure of working and/or riding on these bikes will give their opinions.

Ive researched this and found a few BIMOTA Tesi 3D bikes being raced in Europe and in Japan. A number of these race spec Tesi 3D bikes have put aftermarket rear shocks on the bike and from the looks of things the shocks are longer than stock and the rear of the bike is higher than stock......Im sure this is to get a more aggressive racing geometry......

Ive ordered a Fournales Air-Oil (no metal spring) adjustable rear shock for my bike and it will allow me to change the ride height from stock to + 1" or more if I so wish.

Ive got Fournales on other bikes and personally I really like them alot. ( I also have Ohlins, Bitubo, WP, Paioli, Extreme Tech, and other top of the line shocks). Not very many people here in the USA know these French made shocks because we have no importer in our country. But they are half the weight of most shocks and work well IMHO........

Thanks for any shared thoughts.....

[JLSB8]

Raising the rear will indeed steepen the steering geometry. Lowering the front has no effect due to the constant geometry designed into it. Rake and trail stay the same. This rake can be changed by altering the length of the control rods though.

[daotoys1]

Originally Posted by JLSB8

Raising the rear will indeed steepen the steering geometry. Lowering the front has no effect due to the constant geometry designed into it. Rake and trail stay the same. This rake can be changed by altering the length of the control rods though.

One of the Tesi 3D race bikes in Japan had custom control rods along with other mods. These control rods looked like they had alot of adjustability for length both to lengthen or to shorten the rods. This must have been done to help change the front end geometry.

[froryde]

Originally Posted by JLSB8

Raising the rear will indeed steepen the steering geometry. Lowering the front has no effect due to the constant geometry designed into it. Rake and trail stay the same. This rake can be changed by altering the length of the control rods though.

+1

Haven't tried it myself, but from what I understand that's how they work. Let us know how it works out. Would be interested in to have the Tesi flick into corners quicker as well