With the Stormy being my first big bike I wasnt too clued up as to how crappy the front end on the 'storm is. Depite many of you here saying it, if you dont ACTUALLY know the difference its hard to gauge. Now, Ive ridden my mates blade and a few others and know how horribly soft the front is. Knowing that its the front that washed and me also wanting to get on track day I bit the bullet and booked up MCT to get her set up correctly. Those that know them will know MCT have a notoriosly long waiting list, but with a bit of gentle persiasion I managed to whittle the wait down to a month long, he started with 7 weeks. Which I was still suprised how close that was considering the tales Ive been told.
Anyways, that day was May 18th (Yesterday
), so I made a nice bimble to Stowupland to get Darren to work his magic. On arriving I was greeted with smiles and handed over my keys. Darren rode the bike around the building to the back where the magic happens. I commented how horrible the front was, and he agreed and added the back was nasty as he pushed down on it a few times. I said with the lack of experience I'll take his word on it.So, with that Darren and his Apprentice set about old 'stormy, I had a feeling that she might be one of the older girls he see's to, as the workshop was a immaculate, you could eat your dinner of the floor. All adorned with stainless steel with a tricked up track only 'blade sitting quietly in the corner emblazoned with a MCT logo down the side of it. First out was the forks "eugh, smell that" darren said, smelt like oil to me, but apparently as far as fork oil goes, that sh1t stank! Aparently the worst he's seen in years. I remarmed there should me a marked improvement and Darren just smiled. So, old oil out, which was black as you like, old springs out, a thorough clean out and new uprated springs in with some carfeully measured out Motul fork oil. He then put the forks back together and set about adjusting the knobs on the top.
Whilst all this was going on his apprentice was getting my shock out, hadnt realise just how dirty it was in the nooks and crannies back there
. Once out and spring off they then took the shock apart. The main man then set about measuring out shims and placing them on the support my ample butt. He said the whilst the spring is more then enough the damping was well off. So, shock all rebuilt and regassed and all back in. Darren took her for a blast to check it all performed as it should and came back with a smile and handed me the keys for my turn. Now, Ive heard lots of talk about MCT from friends. Also read the articles in MCN when they take their bikes to them. So I was well aware how well they work their magic, but having absolutely no experience as to how a bike set up to the owners weight and riding style (I went for a track/road set up) I was a bit sceptical as to how much of a difference it would make. So, I hopped on and immediately she felt more solid. I proceeded to ride down the wee rode to to leave the estate and by the time the front brake was applied I was grinning like a cheshire cat! Luckily for MCT theres an excellent smooth windy B road just a few hundred yards away which they ask you to test on. I had previously ridden this route a few times so knew the road fairly well, so I made my way to the twisties and hit the first real bend with a bit of speed. Holy sh1t! She actually went exactly where I pointed her, was planted as fook and braking prior to the bend she felt superb. Now, every bend I came onto I leant the bike more and more and couldnt believe how well she took it.
Now, it cost a pretty penny, but I think MCT are the higher end of the set-up market due to the expertise they have. But the money was well worth it as she is like a new bike. I was out cleaning her today (Getting rid of the build up of grime hidden around the linkages) when JD-Man popped his head over the wall and introduced himself. After some discussion we got onto the front end issue so I mentioned how Id just got her set up the day before. I then shew him the half inch or so chicken strip I had that I couldnt get rid of, that since last nights ride is now gone
If your running stock set up, I highly recommend you give MCT a ring, or somewhere local anyways. MCT also do a postal service aswell so you could post your folks and shock to them for the magic.
http://www.mctsuspension.com/home.htm
BTW, I dont work for them or anything, despite how my hard on for them sounds. Im just a VERY happy customer itching to hit the track haha.
