Meet Race Tech’s MEGA M.A.X. Chassis Master

After a significant motorcycle crash, there's always a lingering fear that your frame, fork, or swingarm might be bent. Unfortunately, there isn't any way for the home mechanic to check his chassis, so after I chucked my Yamaha YZF-R3 down the track I was left feeling anxious about the bike's condition.

Some Googling revealed numerous forum posts about now-defunct G.M.D. Computrack service centers, then, finally, a solid hit: A frame-checking facility right up the road in Corona, CA. Race Tech, the suspension superpower that recently re-opened its engine-service center, also has a MEGA M.A.X. system that checks the straightness of your bike's frame, and it does it without having to dismantle the bike.

MEGA M.A.X. has a lame, straight-outta-the-‘90s name, but it’s the quickest and easiest way to tell if your chassis is in good shape. For $250 you can get your frame checked, or for $350 Race Tech will perform the full CMS (Chassis Maximizing System), which brings into play more reference points to check the straightness of the fork, swingarm, and subframe, and measure things like head angle, trail, swingarm angle, and wheelbase. CMS is essentially a dyno tune for your chassis, and for a wrench monkey and racer like me, that information is incredibly valuable.

As it turns out, my R3 is bent, but it only strays from Yamaha’s specs by a scant 0.06mm. That’s not enough to warrant a frame replacement or even affect handling, so I’m relieved. And as with every service Race Tech offers—whether it’s a custom shock or fork setup, cylinder porting, or dyno tune—you get a spec sheet that documents findings, settings, and results. The CMS analysis showed some room for improvement in the rake and trail department, so I’m looking forward to experimenting with front and rear ride height the next time I head to the track.

MEGA M.A.X. can be applied to any kind of motorcycle, and with the data CMS spits out and Race Tech's geometry expertise, the system isn't just an asset for riders that have had accidents, it's an asset for anyone that wants to improve their bike's handling and performance.