With origins going back to 1980, Matris, "home of the Wolf", is marking twenty years of being headquartered in Vicenza (since 2000).
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| Matris is owned and operated by Technical Officer Tiziano Simonato (left) and Commercial Officer Alberto Turcato. |
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| SDR top level steering damper |
It was back in 1980 that the founders of Matris began to collaborate on the design and subsequent production of hydraulic suspension systems for super sportsbikes - at that stage the primary objective of the company.
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| M46R top level, ‘Dark Series’ option |
HYDRAULICS
Suspensions have evolved from simple "assemblies" of components by means of which the chassis is connected to the wheels of the vehicle to sophisticated hydraulic "systems" that allow chassis engineers to take motorcycle design further than ever, with advanced and sophisticated developments in damping allowing engineers to achieve ever greater control and reliability over the movements of the chassis with regard to the wheels.
In addition to their increasing power and performance, or rather in conjunction with the increases in power and performance seen in the past 40 years, most sport and non-sport bikes increasingly adopt rear swingarms with progressive single shock linkage systems - these systems allow a wide range of controlled movements due to the improvements that have been achieved in the dynamics of monoshock responses to the energy flowing through them.
Consequently, hydraulics and their control have become of primary importance to optimise suspension performance, and this is where Matris is focussed, applying "entry level" and "top high-end" valve systems to its products for "good" and "best" hydraulic control of the suspension.
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| 'Dark Series' M46KD entry level shock |
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| F43SP complete USD fork |
The 1990s saw Matris introduce its revolutionary steering damper with external volumetric reservoir tank and "Speed Sensitive" damping system - still a reference point for steering damper design to this day.
In the 2000s Matris added new ranges of rear monoshocks and hydraulic fork cartridge kits, a specific line of twin-shocks for classic and custom bikes, the high-end pressurised USD F43SP complete fork and the "entry level" mono and twin line.
The product range then saw the development of more new technology - the innovative "quad-valve system" (F15K) and "sealed" F25SA fork cartridge kits. Most recently, 2018 saw Matris introduce a new rear shock series for maxi scooters to mark 40 years of continuous development and improvement.
Since then the Matris R&D department has been working on a wide variety of front fork applications and solutions, from simple spring kits to multi-adjustable, conventional or sealed hydraulic cartridges right up to complete nitrogen pressurised forks.
On a custom engineering basis, Matris is well known for its on-demand, "bespoke" application- specific suspension systems for a wide range of uses from motorsport to snowmobiles.
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| F25SA sealed hydraulic fork kit |
MADE IN ITALY
The company's products are made entirely in Italy by a small number of specialised Italian suppliers, with the components then quality-checked on receipt and again after final assembly by its small but experienced team.
Using specialist manufacturers allows Matris to specify component quality that exploits the wide range of specialist, precision skills that are available to them in Italy and focus instead on design integrity and reliability at the assembly stage.
Matris' quality is recognised worldwide. The close working relationship it is able to build with its supply chain, the versatility of its vendor network and the flexibility this business model gives them results in an ability to respond to demand and new model launches quickly.
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| M46R top level shock in Matris' distinctive orange |
ORANGE
Every brand needs a signature colour, and for Matris orange is the branding of choice. "Orange is impactful and experts in the sector associate it immediately with Matris," says Alberto, "though we have now also added our 'Dark Series' for those customers who want something for the contemporary trend towards black with extra black!
"The name Matris owes its meaning to the concept of a matrix, of origin and the mother. These are the meanings of the name: a mother who gives security, the origin that defines originality, and the matrix, a more technical concept, at the same time creation and originality and basis for the birth of other products."
THE WOLF
However, Matris branding doesn't stop there. "The strong visual brand identity of Matris is the LUPO, the wolf, which, combined with the slogan "Go wild in total safety", pushes motorcyclists to challenge their limits in complete safety," explains Alberto.
Wild and powerful, Matris has designed product lines for different types of motorcycles: Supersport, Naked, Tourer, Adventure, Classic, Custom and maxi scooters.
On request, Matris' technical department will supply distributors, dealers, race teams and riders with advice on how their suspensions can be customised for the use - for example racing or street - and to the weight of the rider, passenger and/or luggage. This is a service that is available for most of the popular models on the market.
"The first impact is what counts," says Alberto. "First impressions are so important, and the look and Made in Italy design are recognised as an added value in foreign markets, a design with inimitable and always recognisable lines that make the product a real jewel for the bike!"
MATRIS S.R.L.
www.matrisdampers.co
