Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: YellowDuck on April 27, 2026, 08:13:11 AM
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No question, just wanted to share my happiness with these fork cartridges.
I installed them over the winter (very straightforward job for someone who has any experience at all taking forks apart - no machining needed), and just recently got the weather needed to go try them out here in SW Ontario.
Mine came with 7 N/mm springs, and the forks are very compliant. Matris's suggested preload setting gave me sag of exactly 1/3 of travel (so, they did the math right). I also started with the suggested damper settings, and they were immediately such a clear improvement over the OEM forks! I have fiddled with rebound quite a bit since, but am finding I like the suggested setting as much as any other, on the pretty rough roads I ride. I always find compression harder to tune, but I will eventually monkey with that as well.
Honestly, the forks are so good now, it makes my rear suspension with Shock Factory 2Win shocks seem a bit basic. Nothing against the 2Wins, I think they are great, but there is only so much you can hope for with a twin shock, linkage-less setup. I had the same experience with YSS fully adjustables on my RE Interceptor - it's never going to be great with that geometry.
But the forks...if they were any better, I doubt I could tell the difference!
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I was really focused on what my suspension upgrades could do for me on crappy, broken asphalt - mostly, reducing the harshness of the compression damping over sharp bumps, and the lack of control over extended bumpy sections.
The changes have improved both of those things, but as I ride the bike more, I am realizing that the benefits on relatively good asphalt are even greater. On smooth pavement with lots of corners (like, switching from a medium speed left immediately into a medium speed right), the improvement over the stock setup is incredible. Feels more or less like a sport bike. It's really a remarkable difference over the stock setup for that kind of spirited riding.
I take deliver of my V85 Strada next Friday. I guess we will be back at square one on getting the suspension sorted on yet another bike. Might wait a bit to start that project. I already bought the MG Urban panniers (and associated hardware) for it, so $$'s getting a little tight!
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A tip, set the new v85 up exactly as the owners book states. From there never go more than 1 turn or two clicks. They make a big difference. I raised my forks up 4 lines instead of the 1 it recommends but mostly because I'm short.
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A tip, set the new v85 up exactly as the owners book states. From there never go more than 1 turn or two clicks. They make a big difference. I raised my forks up 4 lines instead of the 1 it recommends but mostly because I'm short.
Is there a guide or manual I can use to set up my Matris cartridges? A previous owner installed and I love to tinker, but am ignorant.
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A sheet would have come in the box with the recommended settings. FWIW mine said 15 clicks rebound, 15 clicks compression, 6 turns preload, 130 mm air gap.
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I've said what you have for over 15 years. One need not be trying to qualify for Superbike to enjoy the benefits of proper suspension. The results of a job done correctly are superlative and make a huge difference in everyday riding.
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A tip, set the new v85 up exactly as the owners book states. From there never go more than 1 turn or two clicks. They make a big difference. I raised my forks up 4 lines instead of the 1 it recommends but mostly because I'm short.
Thanks for that V, I'll have to pull out the owners manual and try to figure out where my suspension "should" be. I got my v85 used and haven't messed with the suspension and don't know if the PO did either.
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I had considered these, instead it went the cheaper route. Hyperpro springs and raised the fork tubes a 1/2". For the most part its a good set up, but the Matris probably better with all is adjustability.