There are two reasons I decided to blog about this book. The first is that I’ve been riding for about 16 years and have to confess I’ve never so much as turned an adjuster on my suspension. The second reason is that it was written by own of our colleagues, Andrew Trevitt, the Senior Editor of Sport Rider magazine. An expert rider with plenty of competition experience, he was involved in an accident that left him with extensive and permanent injuries. Money from the sales of this book goes toward his rehabilitation, which is documented on his daily blog at http://getwelltrev.blogspot.com/

Having extricated the wallet from my pocket, I thought I’d let you know about the book and encourage you to buy it. Sportbike Suspension Tuning is an absorbing journey through the black art of motocycle suspension adjustment, which aims to take remove the mystery and fear many people hold for the subject.
In the past 16 years I’ve owned many sportbikes, from CBR to GSX-R to YZF-R, from Ducati to Aprilia. It’s been an exciting adventure and one in which my riding skills and knowledge of motorcycling has increased with experience. Indeed, I finally reached the point at which I was able to distinguish which bikes handled well, and when one was not.
My last Yamaha R1, for example, had some horrible handling traits. It was far too choppy for commuting, yet refused to take tight hairpin bends, wanting to understeer into the undergrowth. I even went so far as to research some recommended suspension settings published in Sport Rider magazine by Andrew himself. Yet I was too intimidated to act on the information.

The problem was thrown into sharp relief after this particular R1’s theft (I hope the culprit suffers genital burns!) and its subsequent replacement by a newer R1. This particular motorcycle was a former test bike loaned to Sport Rider and setup by Andrew himself. The difference was startling – it’s comfortable, turns quicker and is more stable.
I resolved to learn more about motorcycle suspension so I wouldn’t have to accept a poor setup again. Thankfully, Andrew’s book is easy to read, informative and features step-by-step instructions. It explains what you’re doing and, equally importantly, why you’re doing it.
I’ve not yet finished reading because I’m taking my time to understand the simple and practical explanations so I’ll have a better understanding in the future. But I’m starting to appreciate why none of us should accept the “default” settings on the bike we buy. The manufacturers give us so many adjustments on modern spurtbikes, it’s time we start using them intelligently.
Sportbike Suspension Tuning is available from outlets like Amazon, but you will benefit Andrew more if you buy it directly from the publisher, David Bull Publishing.
To do this, paste his blog site into your browser (http://getwelltrev.blogspot.com/) and click on the book link on his homepage. There are also signed copies available if you’re a Sport Rider fan, as well as links to ebay auctions to help Andrew’s recovery. While you’re there, you can catch up on the latest blogs chronicling his remarkable recovery, which is a truly inspiring insight into his strength of character. Get well, Trev.

Greg Emmerson