Fork/Shock Settings Question

Ducati Forum

Help Support Ducati Forum:

Denver Rick

Denver Rick

Joined
Aug 16, 2012
Messages
452
Location
Denver, Colorado
I am trying my best to adjust the stock fork and shock settings on this to allow for my 150-160lbs to ride comfortably without having to spend $700 for new fork and shock springs that would actually match my weight. My only real concern with the stiffness is that it is knocking me off my seat hitting bumps on freeway. And doing so with adjustments making it as soft as I can. I've kept compression to rebound settings about even. Would I be correct in thinking that if I make the compression soft, but keep the rebound harder, that might keep me from being bumped off the seat. As in, is the rebound what is throwing me up off the seat, or is it just a very strong spring.

Thanks for any input.
 
It sounds like a combination of both.
I know you don't want to spend, but it's honestly worth it once you do. I can guarantee that you'll never regret getting the right springs for your weight. Otherwise you'll be riding not only with irregular feedback, but it sounds like a possible ejection...

I'm the same weight BTW, and I've struggled with the same setup on my old 848. But getting it sorted is probably the first mod any of us should do.
Equate it to your shoes; make sure they fit so you aren't in pain, or tripping all over the place.
 
Last edited:
For optimal results the suspension is set by first setting the spring preload (sag) then matching the rebound damping to the spring response to get a smooth and balanced return after the spring is compressed. Compression is tuned separately and more of a rider preference, you can soften up the compression to reduce the "jarring" effect of bumps and give up a little bit of support for hard cornering. Generally compression and rebound will be balanced fairly close together, in other words you don't want really soft compress and really stiff rebound or the fork response will be totally out of whack. In that scenario, the fork will compress really quickly but rebound very slowly, which is what we call "packing" and it's a recipe for instability, headshaking and lowsiding in a turn. The opposite where compressing is really stiff and rebound is really soft, generally causes a really harsh ride and the front end wanting to push wide mid-turn during hard cornering.
 
Model?

I am guessing you are talking about a "Base" model here?
First question - do you have rear linkage set on F or P Rick? HUGE difference!

If you have the electronic suspension I can send you the settings I have on both front and back of my bike which seems to suck up the bumps really nice and handle perfectly for street riding. If you are talking about a base setup then I am not familiar with setting for this.

I have sent this out on many other forums here and other sites too. My cousin just happens to be one of the most sought after suspension kings in the US and has tweaked every suspension in the world for just about every rider as well. This means Club Racing, AMA, World SBK, and Moto GP. He is all over Google and You Tube as well.

Feel free to reach out to him and tell him I sent you his way for advice.

Mike Fitzgerald AKA "Thermosman"

Thermosman Suspensions
 
If all you want is a comfortable setting without spending a dime. Try the 4-2-1 method.

Get the rider sag correct to start. around 40mm in the front, 30mm back give or take. There are 2 thousand how-to on setting sag.

Then everything is by feel, assuming you don't know anything about suspensions, how they work and how they should work. This is like the beginners 101 method.

Put all the clickers back to stock setting, 10-10 in the front and 10-10 in the back, i think according the manual.

Start at base (10), adjust 4 clicks to (14), and ride, adjust 4 clicks the other way to (6) and ride. See which one works best, there's 8 clicks of change, the difference should be noticeable. Say if you like (14), go 2 clicks both ways, see if you like (12) or (16). if you pick (12), then go 1 click each way (11/13) and pick the one you like best.

Start with Rear Rebound, then Front Rebound, rear compression, front compression.

Might take you a few hours, but it'll get you to a comfortable setup without spending any $.
 
Buy the proper springs to achieve the proper sag, then address the damping.

Thank us later. :)
 
Also, springs won't cost u $700. I'm in the process of getting new springs for the front and rear. Rear cost $90 and the two front springs cost $148. Well worth it in my opinion.
 
Gunny Fitz said:
I am guessing you are talking about a "Base" model here?
First question - do you have rear linkage set on F or P Rick? HUGE difference!

If you have the electronic suspension I can send you the settings I have on both front and back of my bike which seems to suck up the bumps really nice and handle perfectly for street riding. If you are talking about a base setup then I am not familiar with setting for this.

I have sent this out on many other forums here and other sites too. My cousin just happens to be one of the most sought after suspension kings in the US and has tweaked every suspension in the world for just about every rider as well. This means Club Racing, AMA, World SBK, and Moto GP. He is all over Google and You Tube as well.

Feel free to reach out to him and tell him I sent you his way for advice.

Mike Fitzgerald AKA "Thermosman"

Thermosman Suspensions
Click to expand...

That would be fantastic Gunny. And I have the Tri. I thought that was a given from my avatar. :)
 
MacaveliMC said:
Also, springs won't cost u $700. I'm in the process of getting new springs for the front and rear. Rear cost $90 and the two front springs cost $148. Well worth it in my opinion.
Click to expand...

I agree on the parts price, the rest was labor, especially forks. I'm sure as hell not replacing them myself.
 
Gunny Fitz said:
I am guessing you are talking about a "Base" model here?
First question - do you have rear linkage set on F or P Rick? HUGE difference!

If you have the electronic suspension I can send you the settings I have on both front and back of my bike which seems to suck up the bumps really nice and handle perfectly for street riding. If you are talking about a base setup then I am not familiar with setting for this.

I have sent this out on many other forums here and other sites too. My cousin just happens to be one of the most sought after suspension kings in the US and has tweaked every suspension in the world for just about every rider as well. This means Club Racing, AMA, World SBK, and Moto GP. He is all over Google and You Tube as well.

Feel free to reach out to him and tell him I sent you his way for advice.

Mike Fitzgerald AKA "Thermosman"

Thermosman Suspensions
Click to expand...

Oh, and yes I had them set to progressive when I bought it.
 
Denver Rick said:
I agree on the parts price, the rest was labor, especially forks. I'm sure as hell not replacing them myself.
Click to expand...

Ahh. Well I wouldn't know about that unfortunately, as my suspension guy said if I buy the springs and bring him the forks & shock, he'll replace the springs for free. :D
 
MiKyHuT said:
thanks for that. so me being a good 15lbs lighter than that, id be best to change my springs also? or do the springs have a large weight range?

I get bounced off the seat a lot also
Click to expand...

Have you tried setting preload?

Set your preload first, and from there you can tell if the spring is too stiff or too soft. If you're cranking in barely any preload, then your spring is probably too stiff. If you're cranking in a TON of preload, then your spring is probably too soft.
 
MiKyHuT said:
thanks for that. so me being a good 15lbs lighter than that, id be best to change my springs also? or do the springs have a large weight range?

I get bounced off the seat a lot also
Click to expand...

Possibly. My parts guy spoke with Ohlins and for my 150-160lbs with only street riding, Ohlins recommended .9kg front springs, and 8.5kg rear spring. And looking to me like it is a functional enough (and safety) modification that I'm going to have to suck it up and do.
 
Last edited:
I'm finding some conflicting information on what springs are stock on ohlins forks and shock here. Anybody have any information? The guy at the shop who orders parts says he doesn't know and Ducati doesn't release that. That sounds so stupid I don't even know what to say. The info I have is only from forums. So anybody know?
 

Similar threads

nightrider899
How much is 1 turn? setting up my suspension
2
Replies
20
Views
751
baggerman
B
B
Ohlins High Speed Damping Valves
Replies
0
Views
422
baggerman
B
rja4z3
For Sale Tuneboy QS/Blipper + Ohlins Fork/Shock Springs
Replies
4
Views
652
rja4z3
rja4z3
B
Showa fork oil
Replies
3
Views
841
baggerman
B
I
For Sale 2019 Panigale V4R
Replies
0
Views
183
in4n0
I

Register CTA

Register on Ducati Forum! This sidebar will go away, and you will see fewer ads.

Recent Discussions

Back
Top