My new 848sf has rock hard suspension preload is backed off on front and rear and still can't get sag right. Does anyone know what rider weight Ducati consider "standard" and where can I find out the spring rate. At 140lbs sopping wet I'd like to soften up the suspension a bit towards the sports touring range at the moment it seems to be very track orientated chatters over the bumps instead of soaking them up and tries to buck me out of the saddle on a really bumpy road. With my record this bike isn't going anywhere near a track so I'd like to spend a bit of cash to make it as compliant as I can for brisk road work. Any info/suggestions appreciated btw does changing the springs invalidate the warranty?
140lbs...............................................as it says in my post:wink: sorry couldn't resist that
Ok, i obviously missed that bit is that fully kitted or normal, because if it is then the front and rear sag need setting for your weight. Are you confident or have access to tooling that can do this on your bike?
Peter sag all set up but still to stiff guess the next stop I reckon is someone like MCT for a spring change and full setup guess that will have to wait till after xmas. thanks for your interes t
I think your weight is just on the edge of the suspension on the Sf, the springs are weighted for riders between 12-16 stone, so unless you carry a pillion you are a little to light!!!!! nice for some people!!! Have you played with any compression settinfs at all?
Front 0 turns from fully open(fully anti clockwise) and rear no threads showing it's a little better quite nice on smooth roads but like a bucking bronco on the backroad twisties. I will start experimenting with damping next. I really need to get this right eventually as come retirement next april this bike will have to do everything, saturday thrashes and touring. It might cost a bit but I reckon I'll get there.....................anyone know of a good suspension specialist in the Glasgow area? I used Stewart Miller in the past but he is now working for Marc VDS Moto 2 team....... any help appreciated.
You will be best of getting a set of forks springs that match your weight also a rear spring if you are showing no threads as you will have altered the pitch angle by making the linkage longer. A set of fronts and rear will be around £180 plus fitting then your bike should be good to go.
Got a quote from MCT to set my SF up for my weight and style, which includes an oil change in the forks. £140. Can't argue with that.
They've been highly recommended by a mate at work who races, I've been calling them but it's either engaged or rings out guess they're really busy and I'll have to keep trying
Strangely I've started with a set of Rizoma MA008 handlebars which lift my pos'n back and put more weight over rear wheel and it's a much more relaxed riding pos'n. but it's a but of a wheelie machine now but shifting around to put weight over front wheel seems much easier now, as for suspension spoke to the guys at MCT and I'm experimenting with damping click by click and riding same roads to judge difference, weather is crap up here in Jockland so not made much progress in that area. Bike is booked in with MCT for sept, the earliest I can get down, for oil change and revalve front and rear and they reckon that will fix it no need for a spring change in their opinion . Fingers crossed.
Before you start throwing money at the bike, try making big changes to the damping rather than small ones, that way you'll have a better idea of what's doing what. You mention being bucked out of the seat a lot, that says to me you have too little rebound damping dialled in; lighter riders need more rebound, so whack the rebound up a fair bit and see what that does.
