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The ultimate racing shock
absorber
What is the TRACK System™ ?
TRACK System™
stands for Twin-Rate Adjustable Chamber Knob System. Simply put, the main
goal of the TRACK System™ is to make the
shock absorber adaptable to a variety of racing conditions and to provide
greater rider comfort, thereby reducing fatigue and arm-pump.
This new device is easy to adjust for
any track. Its twin-rate action provides a smooth ride over choppy terrain
while still providing the required impact resistance. No other shock on
the market can deliver both results with the simple on-the-fly
adjustability of a single knob.
The action of the
TRACK System™ on the compression curve is
illustrated by the graph to the right. You can clearly see the device's
“buffer” action that filters peak forces before the high-speed compression
device starts counteracting those forces.
How does it work ?
The principle behind the
TRACK System™ is the addition of a second
chamber in parallel with the standard compression circuit found in
traditional shock absorbers. Adjusted by an external knob, this chamber
offers initial resistance that is independent of the principal damping
circuit. By being activated before the main hydraulic circuit, the initial
resistance provides greater comfort and better control in many situations
without any perceptible transition for the rider.
In a traditional high- and low-speed
shock absorber, movement of the shock is controlled by two independent
circuits. These circuits act on the same flow of oil, and the work is
distributed according to the oil flow velocity. The system always reacts
to impact velocity in the same way, and any adjustments affect only a part
of the damping cycle.
Oil circulation in shock absorbers equipped
with the TRACK System™
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In the TRACK
System™, the oil flows from the main damping circuit into a
parallel circuit. In peak force situations, as when casing a jump on
landing or in braking bumps, the TRACK System™
absorbs a portion of the peak force before the main hydraulic system
reacts. This reduces the force considerably, enabling more efficient
damping by the primary high- and low-speed compression system. This double
action diminishes the workload for the rider. When riding at full speed
over small bumps and choppy terrain, the smooth damping of the
TRACK System™ will keep the wheels in contact
with the ground and erases peak velocity forces to provide a more
comfortable ride with less rider fatigue.
The
TRACK System™ is revolutionary not only
because of the adjustable range twin-rate circuit, but also because it is
position-sensitive. This means that the portion controlled by the device
can vary with the shock's position in its travel. Even when the shock is
deep into its travel, it responds smoothly, absorbing small bumps
in infinite increments.
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