2018 Alta MXR Shock Re-Spring and Re-Valve

[Philip]

AMA is going to be left behind if they don’t adopt the E-bike class soon. I would be willing to host the first “electric only” Mx race with or without AMA.

Sweet! Was that your personal track in the video with Charlie?

 

[Fod]

Sweet! Was that your personal track in the video with Charlie?

Yeah remember he invited the electric riders to come over and enjoy the track he runs! He offered free riding, housing, bike maintenance, day care for our young ones, and food for as long as we like if I remember correctly!

 

[MattB]

Unfortunately they were not willing to share. I’ll have to look when I do an oil change.

Matt

 

[MattB]

Yeah remember he invited the electric riders to come over and enjoy the track he runs! He offered free riding, housing, bike maintenance, day care for our young ones, and food for as long as we like if I remember correctly!

Tents for everyone! Kids can sleep in pine forests right?

 

[Philip]

Unfortunately they were not willing to share. I’ll have to look when I do an oil change.

I will be mailing my fork out to Adam at Kreft Moto soon. He can do the fork without looking at the bike.

Some local Alta owner promised to give him the whole bike. He will then measure things and will be able to do shocks. The problem is that I am not a hostage to that other Alta owner who I do not know.

I guess I should ask Adam to introduce me, so that I could hurry him up myself.

If that does not work as planned, I will be calling your tuner asking to buy your shim stack specs.

 

[MattB]

I’m probably heading back to Highland Park this weekend. I will try to talk to the head tech while I am there. I think they should share the information as it will help Alta owners get on the right track and potentially sell more bikes.

 

[Philip]

I think they should share the information as it will help Alta owners get on the right track and potentially sell more bikes.

I agree, they should. They just might not want to do it for free.

Did they revalve your fork as well?

 

[MattB]

Since I purchased though them the entire suspension work was 50% off which Included revalve of fork and shock, new spring (which I did not end up using), oil, seals, and any incidentals along the way.

Matt

 

[Fod]

Since I purchased though them the entire suspension work was 50% off which Included revalve of fork and shock, new spring (which I did not end up using), oil, seals, and any incidentals along the way.

Matt

I wonder why they sold you a spring?!?!?! What rate spring did they recommend/sell you that you didn't use?

 

[Philip]

They sold him a 64 N/mm spring for some unknown reason. The next step up from the stock 60 N/mm would have been 62 N/mm.

 

[Philip]

Matt -- that 64 N/mm spring should be a great upgrade for the MX @Josh402

 

[Philip]

Just got an email from Alta:

Kevin Burns (Alta Motors)
May 9, 15:08 MST

Hi Philip,

We are currently developing the the specs for the MXR's rear shock. They are not ready yet, but we will get back to you with that information once validated. Thank your for your understanding and support.

Stay Fast!

Kevin

 

[MattB]

I wonder why they sold you a spring?!?!?! What rate spring did they recommend/sell you that you didn't use?

Initial thought was that I needed a heavier spring but didn’t in the end. I kept it anyway just In case I wanted to go stiffer in the future. If someone with an Mx needs it I would be more than happy to sell it.

 

[Fod]

Just got an email from Alta:

Ha ha...I guess that's better then them saying it's an alta spec!

 

[Mark911]

Spring rates and damping work collectively but in totally different ways. Trying to change one to make up for the other never works. In addition, if a major change is made to one end a corresponding change should be made to the other to maintain proper balance (assuming the bike was balanced within reason to begin with). Otherwise, strange things can happen when a series of successive bumps are hit. Many tuners create what I call "one bump wonders". Bike feel great on a single hit or two. However, hit some major braking or accelerating bumps and it's a different story.

 

[rayivers]

Bike feel great on a single hit or two. However, hit some major braking or accelerating bumps and it's a different story.

Yes - it's so cool to have the bike stay level w/only the wheels moving over a succession of bumps, instead of the rocking-horse crap. I wonder how long it'll take production MX bikes to get active damping control, like some works-MX and street bikes have. It would be great to have separate shock settings for acceleration, and fork settings for braking.

 

[Mark911]

I think the first step will be variable viscosity fluids which are already popular in many automotive applications. Some of the new mtn bike valving designs are interesting as well. I envision some form of pre-active (as opposed to re-active) system where the terrain ahead is constantly being scanned and settings applied immediately before they are needed based on time step analysis of the scanned data. That would be cool.

 

[rayivers]

That would be outstanding! I guess that would ferro-fluid or something similar?

Maybe you've seen this already & it's not exactly on topic, but I still can't can't enough of it (1:30 on is amazing)

 

[Philip]

I envision some form of pre-active (as opposed to re-active) system where the terrain ahead is constantly being scanned and settings applied immediately before they are needed based on time step analysis of the scanned data. That would be cool.

A couple of years ago I heard Ford was investing in this exact technology.

 

[MattB]

I rode out at Highland Park yesterday and had a chance to speak with them about my particular suspension specs. They said "Giving out specs on the suspension would probably not work because each setup is very different."

My particular setup is geared for :

207lbs with gear
C Class Mx Rider

I do however think Alta needs to adopt a different out of the box standard that would suit the motocross rider since it is technically an Mx bike. If a customer buys an MxR for mostly trail riding then they can rework the suspension. Every MX bike I've owned over the last 10 years (mostly KTM) has been 80% ride-able off the show room floor. The Alta MXR off the show room floor would have been okay for trails but not even close for an MX Track. I do think they are working on this and will eventually have it nailed, it's just going to take some time.