Sports: Re: [DucatiST] DC but not ST

Nick Woods, on Sat, Aug 20, 2011 at 07:00:37AM -0000 you wrote:
>
> --- In [1]st2_owners@yahoogroups.com, Jan Wysocki <st@...> wrote:
> >> Nick, you didn't get any advice!
> >
> > Changing the grade of the oil in your forks will have an equal effect
> > on the compression and rebound damping. Only changing the spring will
> > change the travel for a given load. If you've got 50mm forks, I have
> a
> > pair of Marzocchi forks, with rebound adjustment that you could
> borrow,
> > to try and maybe buy. They're from an M900 "dark".
> >
> > I had my rear shock absorber rebuilt at 55,000 miles. That made a big
> > difference to the ride as it had lost a lot of compression damping.
> > Now, with another 37,000 miles covered, it's feeling tired again.
> > I don't know whether to get it rebuilt again, as I'm tempted to get
> > one with an external preload adjuster (probably a Hagon since an
> Ohlins
> > would probably cost as much as the Monster is worth)! A rebuild would
> > certainly be softer on the wallet.
> >
> > Talking of Hagon, you could buy Hagon progressive springs for your
> forks
> > for GBP 80. They will certainly be lighter at small loads.
> > See [2]http://www.hagon-shocks.co.uk/
> >
> >
> > --
> > Jan
> > On the road:'03 ST4s ABS (since April 2010), '99 M900 (since new)
> > Languishing: 'Guzzi V50 III & that legend of unreliability: a Lario!
> > Norwich, UK
> >
> Thanks Jan; no, I didn't get a lot of help but I consulted Darren at
> MCT suspension specialists in Stowmarket. Naturally, they like Ohlins
> and the other techno-shocks, but are realistic about customer's
> requirements and budgets. Darren said he could strip and do some mods
> to the OEM shock for maybe �150, but I've opted for his very strong
> recommendation; a custom-specc'd basic Wilbers. He speaks highly of
> their suitability, performance and resale value if I come to sell the
> bike, and the price is just about affordable at �400. The fork he sees
> as no problem, given some progressive springs and tweaking the oil and
> level, but thanks for the offer of the 900 parts. Mine is the single
> disc 750, and I actually prefer it that way! Once Darren has waived his
> magic wand over it (as he did with the ST4), hopefully I won't need
> adjustability.
> Personally, I've gone right off Hagon shocks, as the internal friction
> of their twin-shocks, at least from new, is so high that they are
> hopeless. I've wasted money on them for the Sachs, so will not fall
> into the trap of paying a meagre �250 for a Hagon Monster monoshock,
> only to find it isn't an improvement.
> Currently, the little Monster is with Carl for a valve check, plus I've
> asked him to trace an unpleasant noise coming from the wet clutch. I
> really like the bike, but it's taking some time and money to refine
> it....
> Nick, UK

Nick, thanks for the news of Darren at Motor Cycle Technics. I used
to have his website bookmarked, when his website vanished, I assumed
that he'd gone elsewhere. It's very good news for Suffolk that he's
still in business. When I worked at Martlesham Heath, he had a very
good repututation among BT bikers.

I'd not heard of Wilbers, but now I'm interested.

I fail to see why Ohlins suspension is so expensive. Leaving aside
active suspension, a normal Ohlins suspension unit is a pretty simple
piece of engineering. I think we (if we choose to buy their products)
are just giving them money to have fun and go racing with. Oh, but then,
why are our Ducatis so expensive?

--
Jan
On the road:'03 ST4s ABS (since April 2010), '99 M900 (since new)
Languishing: 'Guzzi V50 III & that legend of unreliability: a Lario!
Norwich, UK