Hey guys... I've been reading that tuning the suspension according to weight and riding style improves the handling dramatically. I will take my bike to my local shop for the adjustment, but honestly I have no clue about what I should ask for to be done. I don't ride aggressively and most of my riding takes place in the city. All I know is that if my monster can be an even more enjoyable ride, then I want it done. What am I looking for out of my suspension? As always, any suggestions will be MUCH appreciated!!!!!! [thumbsup]
Just tell him what your needs are, hell set it up approriately, and ask you to take it out for a spin. Dont be shy, take 10-15 minutes and ride it as hard as you normally would, go back to him and tell him what you feel.
Do you want the bike to be a pregnant dog more twitchy? Does it bounce up and down? does it absorb bumps well? does feel like it's diving under braking? etc. he will then re adjust accordingly. But if the springs arent set for your riding style to begin with, you wont see much imporvement, if they are then youll see a dramatic improvement.
Quote from: He Man on August 20, 2008, 07:55:49 PM
Just tell him what your needs are, hell set it up approriately, and ask you to take it out for a spin. Dont be shy, take 10-15 minutes and ride it as hard as you normally would, go back to him and tell him what you feel.
Do you want the bike to be a pregnant dog more twitchy? Does it bounce up and down? does it absorb bumps well? does feel like it's diving under braking? etc. he will then re adjust accordingly. But if the springs arent set for your riding style to begin with, you wont see much imporvement, if they are then youll see a dramatic improvement.
Thanks for the reply! The thing is that I have no way to know how a properly adjusted suspension feels like. I could be riding the worse setup and to me it would be the only one I know. Do I make any sense? Anyway.. what should the proper suspension feel like? Isn't it supposed to make the ride as smooth as possible?
In a perfect world...
the wheels would move...
and the bike wouldn't...
if you catch my meaning.
Quote from: julianista on August 20, 2008, 08:25:48 PM
Thanks for the reply! The thing is that I have no way to know how a properly adjusted suspension feels like. I could be riding the worse setup and to me it would be the only one I know. Do I make any sense? Anyway.. what should the proper suspension feel like? Isn't it supposed to make the ride as smooth as possible?
cant explain it but, the bigger the smile, the better the tune
Quote from: ducpainter on August 20, 2008, 08:34:08 PM
In a perfect world...
the wheels would move...
and the bike wouldn't...
if you catch my meaning.
I hope My S4R's suspension is good enough to do that.. ;D
Interesting question, I've been wondering that myself. My monster is the first bike I've ridden for 30 years. The first being a dirt bike me being a kid. Anyway, I always thought mine was a little stiff up front then the ride height got raised 1/2 inch and it feel into corners better. The front still feels stiff until I've ridden about an hour then it feels just fine, like maybe the fork oil has gotten warmed up. The rear feels kinda harsh but both wheels feel like they take bumps about the same. Sharp bumps are mildly harsh and normal bumps are smooth and easy. Lots of small quick bumps are just weird like nothing has time to settle.
I'm thinking a new rear shock would help as I only have preload. Bike is a 2000 dark 900 so the stock suspension is not the best out there but I still think it's beyond my ability to out ride it.
S0---------I quess I'm wondering the same thing juilanista is wondering. But how do you put it into words?
Stock Monsters are undersprung and overdamped.
They're not stiff...
I'd describe it as "harsh"
Have the bike sprung for your weight, and revalved if you can afford it...
it will transform the bike.
Julianista, how much do you weigh?
You should adjust the sag. This will make the biggest difference. No guessing - set to spec. Ohlins web site has good instructions.
Quote from: Speeddog on August 21, 2008, 10:51:37 PM
Julianista, how much do you weigh?
I'm light.. 135lb after eating my morning oatmeal ;D I was wondering what is revalved and how much are we talking about.
Revalving changes the rate the oil flows through the valve to accomplish damping. The damping controls the speed the wheel moves in either direction (up-compression/down-rebound)
What model is your bike?
Quote from: ducpainter on August 23, 2008, 05:25:28 AM
Revalving changes the rate the oil flows through the valve to accomplish damping. The damping controls the speed the wheel moves in either direction (up-compression/down-rebound)
What model is your bike?
that makes a lot of sense.. my bike is an 05 S4R
Quote from: julianista on August 23, 2008, 11:38:03 AM
that makes a lot of sense.. my bike is an 05 S4R
There are better valves and springs available from race-tech for your bike.
The right suspension tech can set up the stack so you'll feel like you're riding a magic carpet.
Where are you located?
Quote from: ducpainter on August 23, 2008, 04:44:49 PM
There are better valves and springs available from race-tech for your bike.
The right suspension tech can set up the stack so you'll feel like you're riding a magic carpet.
Where are you located?
this is some great info...... would changing the valves and springs be too expensive? are the parts or the labor what's expensive ? if it is too much (I am saving for pipes)... maybe at least the tech can set up what I have to make it the best possible... I live in nashville.
Setting up your suspension and getting new suspension are two completely different things. I don't recommend you get new suspension until you see what it feels like to ride your bike with the suspension set correctly for you. I think the key factors in setting it up correctly are 1) finding the right guy or guru and 2)providing him with as much detailed info about your riding style as possible. As a matter of fact when I talked to a suspension technician he encouraged me to mess with the adjustments as much as possible before meeting up with him. If you want take your sag to the min; see how it feels for a while. Then take it to the max and see how it feels. Try to notice how your bike feels uphill versus downhill on the same stretch of road? Things like that will give you a gauge. Good luck.
Not to confuse the issue but I asked Dan Kyle of Dan Kyle Racing , (a former AMA Racer ) what would make my 1098R turn faster ( I ride it agressively on the street only ). After I gave him about 6 pieces of information he gave me a typed page of changes to make for my bike just to make it turn a little faster.
For someone like julianista it may be overwhelming to hear what I read, but a simple solution may be best for someone who really doesn't understand how complicated suspension tuning can be and will that person want to go to the time and expense that it takes to reach perfection.
I would say( for the average rider so to speak) , minor adjustments probably will mean as much to them since their riding demands aren't such that they need the most correct setup . Especially if they are closer to the so called average person that Ducati sets their bikes up for from the Factory.
There is no doubt better parts to replace those that come on a Ducati from the Factory are readily available .
I'd like to see more effort in the area of working w/ the bike as it is when it comes to the suspension for street riding.
Setting rider Sag and adjusting any dampening adjusters .
Unless a rider rides agressively on the street it seems like overkill to be replacing Springs and Shocks and revalving Forks , not to mention the expense. Dolph
Quote from: julianista on August 23, 2008, 08:28:12 PM
this is some great info...... would changing the valves and springs be too expensive? are the parts or the labor what's expensive ? if it is too much (I am saving for pipes)... maybe at least the tech can set up what I have to make it the best possible... I live in nashville.
You can call Ohlins USA in Hendersonville, N.C. and see how much they would charge you to revalve your Forks if you have Ohlins Forks.
Come to think of it , I don't think you have Ohlins Forks do you ? Dolph
First thing and the least expensive would be to have your local Ducati Tech set your Rider Sag. The Ducati Tech will take measurements w/ you on your bike on a bike lift. Just be sure to wear what you would normally wear when you ride so there is an accurate measure of your total weight on the bike and the Tech will do the rest.
Won't take but a couple of minutes to get the necessary measurements and after the Rider Sag is set by the Tech if you have any other dampening adjusters like preload, rebound, compression the Tech will ask you what you don't like about how your bike feels when you ride it or what you want your bike to do that it is not doing .
If you can't get what you want done at the Dealership, then you would need to talk to someone like GP Suspensions, Dan Kyle Racing, or any other motorcycle suspension shop for advice . Check the internet if there is nobody local . There should be some local Ducati riders who you can get in touch w/ that may beable to help you. Dolph
I'm pretty sure his bike has Showa fully adjustable forks.
I don't believe they can be adjusted enough with the parts installed to match his weight or riding style.
It is true a good suspension guy can make a difference with the stock parts...but I don't think he'll make the springs work with a rider of 135 lbs.
Quote from: julianista on August 23, 2008, 08:28:12 PM
this is some great info...... would changing the valves and springs be too expensive? are the parts or the labor what's expensive ? if it is too much (I am saving for pipes)... maybe at least the tech can set up what I have to make it the best possible... I live in nashville.
I believe springs and valves are about $300 plus oil. Labor will vary.
I don't know of anyone in that area.