Nitron Suspension – Performance, Reliability, Style

Many of you, like us, not only enjoy classics of the four-wheeled variety but you also get your kicks on two wheels as well. It’s plain to see really when you look at just how many motorcycles are bought and sold on the Car & Classic site, whether that be through our auctions or our classifieds, and we love to see it. Many of us on staff, myself included, are avid riders and motorbike enthusiasts and seeing as how spring has well and truly sprung (we recently had a bank holiday and it didn’t rain, which is frankly unheard of here in the UK) we all know it’s time to dust off our bikes. It’s time to fold away the covers, reconnect the batteries and make sure everything is tickety-boo before heading out for that first tentative ride, wishing that we’d maybe put on that extra layer we left on the back of the chair because we thought it looked warm enough to do without.

Well, as part of our pre-season scrutinising (which makes us sound like pro-racers, so we’ll stick with the vernacular for the sake of our ego) we decided to finally replace the rear shock on our 2006 Triumph Speed Triple 1050, a job that’s been on the to do list for as long as we’ve had the thing. In the absence of a rear hugger the factory shock has taken a bit of a beating over the 17 years since it was bolted to the bike and was looking (and feeling) a little tired and sorry for itself so we took the plunge and ordered a brand spanker from Nitron, a company that we had not only heard good things about in the press but also one that had been recommended to us by a fellow biker and word of mouth has historically always been a good indicator of quality.

Having been at the forefront of motorsport suspension technology since 1998 Nitron knows a thing or two when it comes to making bouncy bits for cars and bikes. With over two decades of success, including prestigious race victories, class wins and lap records around the world, its suspension – engineered, designed and manufactured in the UK at its base in Oxfordshire – is now globally recognised and the company has gone from strength to strength, taking its place as a top player in the industry.

Founder and CEO Guy Evans adheres to a simple company philosophy, saying: “Nitron aim to provide the highest quality automotive and motorcycle suspension through a combination of innovation, uncompromising quality and attention to detail whilst also representing excellent value delivered through outstanding levels of customer service”. Having ordered directly from Nitron and been able to put one of its products through its paces it’s difficult for us to argue with that statement. Built to our exact requirements – from our weight, desired spring rate and whether we ever take a pillion passenger or not, to how we use our bike and even the colour of the spring – we were looked after from day one, safe in the knowledge that the shock would be built and set up specifically for us and our bike.

Out of the various shocks available for the Triumph, from road use to professional racing applications, we opted for Nitron’s NTR R1 rear shock which is perfect for street riding and exactly how we use the Speed Triple. Developed from the full race unit the R1 gas mono shock can be used on track but can also be depended on for year-round riding. It was a doddle to install, especially since we opted to not include the hydraulic preload adjuster due to not taking pillions, and came with detailed yet simple to follow instructions. Since our factory shock had corroded and pitted it was nice to know that the titanium and hard-anodised Nitron replacement was fully protected and serviceable. With just one single damping adjustment affecting both compression and rebound simultaneously it makes for a simple setup and along with spring preload and shock length adjustment it has all of the built in tweaking we need for road riding.

Out on the road the Triumph feels much more assured and dialled in when cornering, providing increased stability and confidence when riding closer to the limit. Not to mention the rear of the bike just looks better. Gone is the crustiness of the factory unit (which really brought the overall look of the bike down), to be replaced with a shiny new damper and spring, and who doesn’t like shiny new bike parts? Nitron even threw in some stickers. We just need to install a rear hugger now to keep the Nitron looking factory fresh for the duration.

It isn’t just motorcycle suspension that Nitron produce, however. With full coilover and strut kits, as well as custom designs, individual dampers, springs, links and bearings, it offers a comprehensive range of suspension systems for myriad manufacturers, applications and budgets. This is proven technology too, with Nitron having supplied suspension packages around the world for the likes of the MINI Challenge series, Lotus, Kawasaki and Triumph, amongst others. Not only that but the company offers full servicing of all of its products so you can be safe in the knowledge that if anything does need to be fixed, tweaked or replaced then you’ll be covered.

We like Nitron. It makes quality suspension that doesn’t break the bank, which is a growing concern today. It’s comforting and refreshing to know that you can still buy a great quality product at an affordable price and trust that it will perform as intended. This isn’t a faceless company bashing out cookie cutter products from a factory in China, this is a British firm producing excellent components backed up by fantastic customer service. If it sounds like we’re gushing that’s on you, the fact of the matter is that Nitron very much knows its onions when it comes to automotive and motorcycle suspension and we highly recommend that you give them a shout the next time you need to upgrade or replace any of your classic’s springy parts, whether it be on two or four wheels.