Dan Kyle Racing Clinic

[Fresno]

Based on advice from the forum I took the Hyper to Dan Kyle racing in Monterey today. Turrned out to be a great learning experience.

I'm a new B class rider and have been having problems with my braking/acceleration transitions. I got the Kyle racing throttle and all of the slop and play is gone. That alone solved more than half my issues.

If you go to Kyle racing prepare to be impressed. It's the real deal. He is the largest Ohlin's dealer-period. He custom fabs parts and tests them. I got to watch him revalve a set of front forks for a 1098. It's really amazing what a custom set up will accomplish over the out of the box set up.

A real eye opener was the variation in rear springs. The exact same size and model of spring can vary enormously. Dan puts each spring on a special dyno that measures it's resistence throught the compression. The graph instantly separates the great from the no so great. Whey you get a spring from Kyle Racing they include the dyno graph.

I previously had done a $50 suspension set up at a track day. Wasted money. The correct way is to go to someone like Dan and get it done right. If the valves or springs need to be changed it can be done right there.

I was also impressed by all the tools they have personally fabricated to adjust suspension. How many times have you seen the "suspension gurus" at the track banging away at someone's Duc with a mallet and and screw driver. Not at Kyle racing. Every part had a jig and a special tool that protected the part and the finish.

To top it off, one of his staff is a trackday instructor and sat me down in front of a computer to show me some basics he teaches in his course. It was the kind of professional education you just can't get by just following an instructor's line or a quick chat in the pits.

All in all, a great day. Cleaned up my throttle, upgraded my steering stabilizer and got some great instruction to boot.

I used to believe that suspension set up was "more art than science". That's what I had been told but to see the lab set up at Kyle Racing it is clear that it is all science if you really understand the physics of the suspension components.

[Da_Bull]

A lot can be done with a hammer and a screw driver.

[ADHD]

In 2006, during MotoGP's US round, I put Dan's shop on my list of things to see while in Northern California. His set up is amazing. It's literally Toys 'R Us for adults. It's a shame he doesn't have a satellite shop with knowledgeable people on the east coast. This winter, I'm going to send Dan my HM's shock to for a new spring and revalving if necessary.

[desmolvr]

Fresno - We should hit the hills one day soon.

[MongoWERA]

If you want a shop on the East Coast you could always just go directly to Ohlins in NC...

[lelenb]

I had no idea there was such a resource just down the road from me. I was planning to buy the throttle tube after reading about it on this forum, but I think a proper suspension setup is even higher on my list.

[dukepilot]

Originally Posted by lelenb

I had no idea there was such a resource just down the road from me. I was planning to buy the throttle tube after reading about it on this forum, but I think a proper suspension setup is even higher on my list.

Dan has a very nice shop that includes a dynojet 250 dyno, metal fabricating tools, and suspension setup equipment/tools. Next door is his parts/accessories warehouse.

He can dial in your rear shock but the Marz forks have a sealed cartridge that don't allow any valving changes. He's been talking to Ohlins about a fork cartridge kit to fit the Marz. forks. Hope this will be available soon.