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K-Tech release 25SSK for Big Piston Forks

K-Tech have released their popular 25SSK front fork open cartridge system to fit all Showa Big Piston Forks. Here's what K-Tech have to say about them: These lightweight aluminium units are supplied to the same exacting specification as all other 25SSK fitments with 14mm piston rods and a 25mm cartridge tube, the 14mm piston rods displace a large volume of oil through the 25mm control pistons giving enhanced damping characteristics over the standard Big Piston Fork and allow a bigger volume of air for a more precise feel at the bottom of the fork travel. The cartridge kits have compression and rebound adjustment in both legs and are supplied with 1.5mm Flow Control Valves for a more accurate adjustment, all necessary hardware is supplied to convert the Big Piston Forks to take the cartridges but it is necessary to order the springs you require as these are not included, customer price for the 25SSK cartridges is £725.00 + VAT and are available for the following models:- Honda CBR1000RR 2012 Kawasaki ZX6-R 2009-2012 Kawasaki ZX10-R 2011-2012 Suzuki GSXR600 2011-2012 Suzuki GSXR1000 2009-2012 Contact K-Tech on: +44(0)1283 559007.

Suzuki Reports Q1 2013-2014 Results

Suzuki reported an 18.5% increase in net sales from its motorcycle business in its first quarter ended June 30, 2013. Suzuki reports sales of 70.5 billion yen (US$710.1 million) from its motorcycle business, an increase from 59.5 billion yen reported in the same quarter last year. Unfortunately, despite increasing revenue, Suzuki’s motorcycle operations still remains in the red, operating at a loss of 2.7 billion yen (US$27.2 million) compared to a loss of 3.5 billion yen in the first quarter last year.

Schwantz and Mackenzie on the Nurburgring box

A 500GP bike never fails to stop me in my tracks and that’s exactly what happened when I spotted this Schwantz example from the early nineties, proudly displayed on the Arai stand at the recent Motorcyclelive show.  On loan from Crescent Suzuki and accompanied by a rostrum publicity shot from the 1990 German GP at the Nurburgring, I felt the urge to write a few words on that special weekend. I started the year running my own 250 GP team with fairly standard TZ Yamahas but was drafted in as Kevin Schwantz’s team mate after Kevin Magee suffered a serious head injury at the second Grand Prix in Laguna Seca.  With no testing and some major Spanish food poisoning I finished 8th at the next round in Jerez then followed that up with a 5th place in Misano. Next up was the Nurburgring and after qualifying on the second row of the grid, my crew chief Geoff Crust informed me he had a premonition of a race day rostrum finish. He also told me I better make it come true as he was already looking forward to a few post race celebratory refreshments. While I hoped Crusty was the new mystic meg, the truth was I would have been more than happy to buy the beers if I made it to the flag inside the top five. I had an outside chance of catching one major scalp as Wayne Rainey was riding with a nasty hand injury but I suspected adrenalin would see him through the day. I also followed Mick Doohan a fair bit in practice but he was beginning to find his feet on the Rothmans Honda so was going to be another problem.  When the lights went out Schwantz and Rainey went straight to the front I while I hung in behind Doohan and Pier Francesco Chilli, and then it happened. Coming out of the bottom right hand hairpin, Doohan and Chilli simultaneously high sided in one of the most spectacular crashes of the season. I never liked seeing any fellow riders crash but I made the most of this early race gift and rode my 160bhp/115kg RGV hard to the flag, claiming my first podium of the season.  We partied hard (win or lose we always did) that night and I went on to have my best ever season finishing fourth overall in the championship. After the last round in Australia, I finished second to Kevin at Sugo in Japan then won in Malaysia at another international race that KS didn’t attend. I also tested at Eastern Creek for the following season but then was flicked from the team for reasons that still remain a mystery. Hey Ho!