The Right Order to Upgrade Your Super Duke for Track Performance: Springs, Rear Geometry, Then Front

I often get asked about the "correct" order to upgrade a Super Duke for track performance. It is easy to get caught up in the hype and just start swapping parts, but attacking a bike's handling problems by addressing only one end is flawed.

Step 1: Spring Rates First — Always

If you are riding at a serious pace and the bike feels like it is fighting you, your first priority is always spring rates. No matter what else you do, you must be on the right spring for your weight and riding style. If you aren't on the correct springs, you are just chasing a moving target.

Step 2: Fix the Rear Geometry with the Superlink

Once your springs are dialed, the go-to Super Duke improvement is the "trifecta" of changes: the Superlink (or Sportlink). The Gen 3 and 4 SDRs suffer from rear-end squat under acceleration, which forces the bike to run wide on exits, slows your roll speed, and makes it incredibly difficult to change direction. The Superlink addresses this by increasing your swingarm angle (adding anti-squat) and altering the linearity of the rear shock.

Step 3: Address the Front with the Superclamp

Only after you have addressed the rear geometry should you look at the front. The Superclamp is a brilliant step because it allows you to change your trail directly without having to jack the rear ride height to an extreme, unnatural angle. Adding the Superclamp allows you to turn the bike in quicker, carry more corner speed, and drive out harder.

Do not try to solve front-end steering issues by over-adjusting the rear. Adjust the front for the front, and the rear for the rear.