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CourseMotorcycles & 2-Wheelers Applications open

USD vs. Telescopic Front Suspension Course

Online course of 300 hours in USD vs. telescopic front suspension. 6 modules covering fork functions, conventional telescopic and upside-down forks, adjustment and setup, maintenance and diagnosis, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor
Virtual lab · try it before you enrol

Take the controls.

Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Explain the functions of the fork and its influence on geometry.

02

Compare conventional and upside-down telescopic forks.

03

Describe internal damping systems.

04

Set preload, compression and rebound.

05

Diagnose faults and carry out fork maintenance.

06

Select the right fork for each use.

07

Produce a technical setup data sheet.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Suspension technicians working on road and competition motorcycles.
  • Race mechanics who set up front ends trackside.
  • Chassis engineers interested in fork design and stiffness.
  • Motorcycle mechanics expanding into suspension work.
  • Supplier support technicians for suspension brands.
  • Track bike builders and preparers.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter suspension workshops.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ISO 8855 (vehicle dynamics and road-holding ability: vocabulary)
  • ISO 6725 (motorcycle dimensions: terms and definitions)
  • ISO 9130 (motorcycles: measurement of centre of gravity location)
  • Delegated Regulation (EU) No 44/2014 (vehicle construction and general requirements for L-category vehicles)
  • FIM technical regulations (technical rules for motorcycle racing)
  • BikeSim
  • MSC Adams
  • Dewesoft X
  • MATLAB
  • AiM Race Studio 3
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Guiding the front wheel
  2. 1.2Absorbing road irregularities
  3. 1.3Steering geometry
  4. 1.4Rake and trail
  5. 1.5Load transfer under braking
  6. 1.6Torsional and bending stiffness
  7. 1.7Unsprung mass
  8. 1.8Travel and ride height
  9. 1.9The fork and rider feel
  10. 1.10Workshop: measuring rake and trail
  1. 2.1Stanchions and sliders
  2. 2.2Bushings and friction
  3. 2.3Damper-rod (orifice) damping
  4. 2.4Cartridge forks
  5. 2.5Progressive and linear springs
  6. 2.6Fork oil
  7. 2.7Cost advantages
  8. 2.8Stiffness limitations
  9. 2.9Use on general-purpose motorcycles
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: changing oil and seals
  1. 3.1Sliders at the top, stanchions at the bottom
  2. 3.2Higher bending stiffness
  3. 3.3Lower unsprung mass
  4. 3.4Stanchion protection
  5. 3.5Titanium nitride coatings
  6. 3.6Closed pressurised cartridges
  7. 3.7Air forks
  8. 3.8Use in racing and off-road
  9. 3.9Cost and maintenance of the upside-down fork
  10. 3.10Lab: bench stiffness comparison
  1. 4.1Spring preload
  2. 4.2Compression and rebound
  3. 4.3Fork height in the triple clamps
  4. 4.4Oil level and air gap
  5. 4.5Static and dynamic sag
  6. 4.6Setup for the rider
  7. 4.7Setup for the circuit layout
  8. 4.8Recording setups
  9. 4.9Adjustment tools
  10. 4.10Case study: setup for a 90 kg rider
  1. 5.1Seal leaks
  2. 5.2Scratched or pitted stanchions
  3. 5.3Worn bushings and play
  4. 5.4Degraded oil and loss of damping
  5. 5.5Noises and knocks
  6. 5.6Symptom-based diagnosis
  7. 5.7Disassembly and reassembly
  8. 5.8Using a shock dyno
  9. 5.9Service schedule
  10. 5.10Case study: a fork that dives under braking
  1. 6.1Choosing the motorcycle and its use
  2. 6.2Geometry analysis
  3. 6.3Comparing options
  4. 6.4Fork selection
  5. 6.5Defining base settings
  6. 6.6Road and track test plan
  7. 6.7Estimating the cost of the solution
  8. 6.8Fork technical data sheet
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is BikeSim, MSC Adams, Dewesoft X, MATLAB and AiM Race Studio 3, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for workshop geometry measurement, shock dyno testing and trackside suspension setup. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: ISO 8855, ISO 6725, ISO 9130, Delegated Regulation (EU) No 44/2014, FIM technical regulations.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of ISO 8855, ISO 6725 and ISO 9130 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:BikeSim, MSC Adams, Dewesoft X, MATLAB and AiM Race Studio 3, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a front fork selection and setup project for a specific motorcycle and use, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Geometry analysis
Measure and analyse the steering geometry, rake and trail of the chosen motorcycle.
Comparing fork options
Compare conventional and upside-down solutions for the intended use.
Base setup
Define preload, compression, rebound and sag for the rider.
Test plan
Plan road and track tests and estimate the cost of the solution.
Final project
A fork technical data sheet with the selected solution and settings, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Suspension technicianRace mechanicChassis engineerMotorcycle mechanicSupplier support technicianTrack bike preparer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior qualification is required.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with BikeSim, MSC Adams, Dewesoft X, MATLAB and AiM Race Studio 3, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, a computer capable of running the programme's software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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