Is it the tyres - Ducati.ms

jimszx14 · Feb 3rd, 2011, 10:45 pm

I have a new 1100 EVO which is fitted with Diablo Rosso Tyres. The static sag was set after 1000kms. I have now done 1500kms. In that time I have had the rear end slip out twice and the front end slip out twice. Two of the incidents occured before having the static sag set. This morning I had the first tank slapper I have had in years, I can not even remember the last one. I concede the incident was worse than it should have been because I did every thing I should not have during the incident but that does explain why it started. Every corner this has happened on I have ridden around dozen of times on different bikes. The corner for the tank slapper was smooth, dry, good surface, really a perfect bend. I know the Hypermotard encourages me to go hard but I certainly wasn't going any harder than usual. Anyone else had the same problems, any ideas if it is the bike, tyres or just me. I have never had Pirelli tyres in the past. I am losing confidence in the bike very quickly.

Decreasing Dave · Feb 3rd, 2011, 11:04 pm

What is your sag set at??

Dave

jimszx14 · Feb 3rd, 2011, 11:13 pm

Dave, stuffed if I know and I knew someone was going to ask me. It was explained to me at the time and I must admit I didn't write the setting down because it sounded fine. I know it was not below 30mm.

el tardo · Feb 4th, 2011, 1:48 am

tank slappers can happen from sitting wrong on the bike,the steering head bearing could be loose,front forks dropped to much.hard to be exact with riding it. the tires slipping out could be from to high of tire pressure or just pushing it to much or again bad riding position.

i say this because i have been riding supermotos for fives yrs now after getting off sport bikes and nowthat im riding a big bike again i suffer from not having a great riding position.little bikes let you cheat and make bad habits

just ideas to think about

Pop · Feb 4th, 2011, 3:50 am

Yes it is an evil power mad insane machine!

You should sell yours now if it frightens you.

Decreasing Dave · Feb 4th, 2011, 3:52 am

Well......."Not below 30mm" is a broad stroke of the brush but even if it is 30mm, that would be fine for the rear but not enough for the front. The front, due to its longer travel, should be around 50mm. Ideally, you want to set your sag at around 1/3 of the total travel of the suspension component in question.

"The Tard" is also correct as your seating position in combination with sag (or lack there of) and even too high of tire pressure can cause head shakes.

Figure that an imperfection in the roadway, even a small one, is a "cause", and the suspension movement is the "effect". Now, if you have a cause, you must have an effect and if it's not the movement of the forks, maybe it's the deflection of the tires, if not, the effect must go somewhere. By default, that's the oscillation of the handlebars.

You need to find your numbers for your sag and your air pressure to begin with, until then, you have no direction to turn to.

Dave

ajpags · Feb 4th, 2011, 7:42 am

Dave is seriously right. Also note that with twins, the torque is a bit lower and more immediate in the power band, so the front tends to dance when you get on it the same way you would an inline 4. That dancing over any imperfections can lead to a slapper. I learned this from all the ruckus on my TL1000s years ago, but never had the problem. Take the time to learn to ride THIS bike. They're not all created equally.
Pags

Oldrider57 · Feb 6th, 2011, 11:22 am

I'll just chime in with a short note.....Buy yourself a steering stabilizer!!

Decreasing Dave · Feb 6th, 2011, 2:12 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldrider57

I'll just chime in with a short note.....Buy yourself a steering stabilizer!!

This is normally where I would begin my argument, but in this case, Oldrider is right.

I have never believed in steering stabilizers as a "cure". They are, at best, a patch or a bandaid for an open wound. However, with the faulty front suspension (in stock form) on the Hyper, this bike really needs one.

I have one.

However, if you're going to spend $500+ on a steering stabilizer, consider saving up an extra $500 and buy a cartridge kit for the forks. You will fix the bad suspension AND eliminate the need for the steering stabilizer all together.

I already owned mine, so the cost was negligible. I'm saving for a cartridge kit as I write this.

Dave

NikMusolino · Feb 7th, 2011, 12:23 am

NOT saying a steering damper is the end-all/be-all solution, because it most certainly isn't, but I can tell You from mi experience, after setting up suspension and still getting headshake, the Scott's damper kit changed the handling all for better. Plus, they include bar risers. Since that minimal raise, I have raised the bars an inch higher, and I am in lurve with the way this bike handles. It's a Ducati... With experimentation, time and money, You'll get this thing worken for ya!

And don't forget, think "Slow Hands" with this bike, for it can all go wrong very quickly if handled otherwise.