I'm getting tired of discouragement - Ducati.ms

amehl · Oct 6th, 2011, 12:09 pm

So I bought a spare set of forks for my motorcycle. SBK upgrade for my 750 Supersport. I have all the seals, oil, tools, and time to try and rebuild them. This is my first attempt at rebuilding motorcycle forks and I have been reading about it for months.

I am constantly getting "leave it to the experts" advice. What is everyone's take on this? SHOULD I leave it to the experts if I want it done properly? This is a project I got for winter that I think will be really fun, but like the title says, I'm getting really discouraged. I already sank a bunch of money into this project in parts.

Thought? Is it a black art that few can master?

spitfire1776 · Oct 6th, 2011, 1:01 pm

Where there is willingness to learn, f*ck the naysayers. Never be afraid to learn.

Boostedxt · Oct 6th, 2011, 1:09 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by spitfire1776

Where there is willingness to learn, f*ck the naysayers. Never be afraid to learn.

This. learn and be better than everyone who said leave it to the experts. In my opinion. To them its just forks. To you its your bike and your toys. You will put more effort and care into them than they would.

joe

jcasella · Oct 6th, 2011, 1:12 pm

It is better to have tried and failed than to never have tried at all!
(you can always call in the experts after).

rummaggio · Oct 6th, 2011, 1:21 pm

go for it! only you know the limits of your patience, desire and budget.

I'd ask you to document the process for my reading and learning pleasures though.

**YellowDuck** · Oct 6th, 2011, 1:23 pm

I have had every single piece of both my forks completely disassembled at one time or another. They work perfectly and do not leak. It is not rocket science and, in fact, as wrenching tasks go it was one of more enjoyable ones I have undertaken.

Once you have been in there you will know so much more about what is going on with your suspension. It is a great experience and I strongly encourage you to go for it.

I wrote a thread on putting AK-20 cartridges in the Marzocchi forks a few years ago. Have you read that one? Lots of pictures and stuff.

Puttin' in the AK-20 (report, no question)

amehl · Oct 6th, 2011, 2:20 pm

Thats more like it... Thank YD for that link, that really has some great tips and is an entertaining read! I'm back in! I still need a cartridge bleeder tool, looks like Traxxion is a good cheap option (I have the Traxxion spring compressor).

Thanks for the ENCOURAGEMENT! this should be fun.

rummaggio · Oct 6th, 2011, 5:32 pm

By the way, what made you choose going to SBK versus more of a stock set from a 1000ss or 900ss?

What are you doing for the upper and lower triple?

amehl · Oct 6th, 2011, 5:44 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by rummaggio

By the way, what made you choose going to SBK versus more of a stock set from a 1000ss or 900ss?

What are you doing for the upper and lower triple?

those 1000ss forks are really hard to come by, and there are TONS of sbk forks out there. I got a pretty smoking deal on a TiN set a few months back. I am just going to bore the top out to 53mm and shim the bottom. That seems like the most common and the most economical rout. Or I could spend $400 and get a speedymoto or cyclecat conversion.

here is a pic from a forum member's facebook who took great pics.

rwortman · Oct 6th, 2011, 6:05 pm

It all depends on your mechanical skill. If you can work on other parts of the bike or other types of equipment, a pair of forks is not that complicated. If, on the other hand, you have to ask how to get them off the bike, you have no business taking them apart.