TracTive X-TREME PRO shocks and cartridges
Dutch suspension specialist TracTive is no stranger to developing extreme condition suspension solutions for the ADV market - indeed it could be said that it wrote the book on how to engineer shock absorbers and front fork cartridges for this most demanding of applications. These products are distributed and serviced worldwide by TracTive technical partners, including the renowned Rally-Raid Products Ltd. in the UK, Touratech GmbH in Germany and Boano Moto Srl in Italy.
"Our X-TREME products are recognised as the ultimate choice for big adventure bikes and for riders who travel the world with heavy luggage or explore off-road trails," says TracTive co-founder and General Manager Tom Glazemakers.
"However, more riders are now making the switch from heavyweight, highway and urban jungle bred large displacement ADVs to the easier to handle, more responsive and versatile medium sized adventure bikes. As they spend more time and do more miles riding harder and more aggressively off-road, then a lot of changes happen to the demands being placed on ADV models, not least for the suspension - probably the most important component system for hard off-road riding."
'the first twin-cylinder to make 17 stages points in the allotted time'
The ultimate proving grounds in the off-road and Enduro racing world are the Dakar, the ultimate long distance test, and the big bad Erzbergrodeo Hare Scramble, the notorious Iron Giant, where suspensions are pushed to the edge and beyond.
Riding the Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally Raid, Pol Tarrés became the first man (or woman) to reach the 17th of the 27 stages of the punishing multi-surface, multi-obstacle course on a twin-cylinder machine.
"While every rider, from amateur to professional, benefits from upgraded suspension, Pol Tarrés' Erzbergrodeo Ténéré 700 featured a new generation of TracTive X-TREME products - the all-new and substantially enhanced X-TREME PRO shock."
Tarrés used a Rally Raid by TracTive shock with longer length and stroke than anyone could yet 'buy off the shelf'. "The new X-TREME PRO shock is a further improvement over the proven qualities of the existing X-TREME line for riders who mainly ride hard off-road or compete in rallies and require more damping and bottoming resistance."
The X-TREME PRO shock has an improved bumpstop, protector sleeve, bearing seals, a new damping set-up, including a revised Position Dependent Damping System, improving bottoming safety.
'the PRO set-up is almost bullet-proof'
Also available in the range, the X-TREME PRO cartridge kit has a new main piston, offering increased oil flow, a new damping set-up and improved hydraulic stop function.
A review from a test rider, who switched from the X-TREME to an X-TREME PRO set-up, stated that "the new (PRO) shock outperformed the old shock in every way. Softer initial movement, smoother free-flowing stroke and more bottoming resistance.
"The new (PRO) cartridges are the perfect complement to the new shock. This set-up for me is bullet-proof - I can't fault it and I can't break it. The new (PRO) is exactly what I was trying to achieve when modifying the existing X-TREME. I feel like the new (PRO) suspension will suit everyone from the faster riders looking for more bottoming resistance. The range from soft to hard settings is much larger". Where the X-TREME products excel in stability, control and comfort in all road conditions, the X-TREME PRO is the product for the hardcore, faster rider.
The 2022 Erzbergrodeo is already being talked of as being the most gruelling in the competition's 26-year history. The third of the eight stops on the 2022 Hard Enduro World Championship circuit, it was 35.2 km of harsh terrain that included fields of massive boulders, near vertical hill climbs, plunging descents and single tracks that zig-zagged through thick, muddy forests. Riders also had to survive dust and mud and extreme high temperatures.
TRACTIVE SUSPENSION
www.tractivesuspension.com
