Scotts Rotary Damper, first ride impressions... - Ducati.ms

josephvman · Jul 13th, 2008, 6:50 pm

There have been a few threads about whether or not the HM needs a damper, and I can say that in my first 2k miles without one I never felt that the bike did anything spooky, but I did notice a few things. Once I got the suspension professionally dialed in, which in my case meant softening the front end (my tech tells me that the front end on Ducati's setup from the factory just doesn't let the forks work) and raising the rear end, the steering got a bit quicker, with a lot more feedback from the forks. Along with the more responsive setup came a bit of a flutter in the steering at times. This was most noticable when getting hard on the throttle coming out of slower corners, bumpy corners, exiting uphill corners when the front end gets a little light, and riding the highway in the wind at higher speeds or when getting stuck behind the gust of an 18-wheeler. I really liked the stuff I read about the Scotts rotary damper, and after reading one of the recent threads describing the package, I thought I'd try it. I won't go into the installation, which has been covered in other threads, but I will say that the machining of every part in this kit is absolutely first-rate, as are the technical people at Scotts who I spoke with regarding settings. Today I did around 200 miles on the bike with the damper, and all I can say is that this thing is great! The front end feels so much more planted and stable than it did before, with virtually none of that busy feeling that it occasionally exhibited. It was just as easy to push into the turns, but much more confidence inspiring to ride. I started with 8 clicks from full soft damping (out of about 22 total clicks) and settled on 10 clicks, which gave all the damping it needed. This is really a great device, easily the best money I've spent on my Hyper.

mountainrider · Jul 13th, 2008, 8:07 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by josephvman

, but I did notice a few things. Once I got the suspension professionally dialed in, which in my case meant softening the front end (my tech tells me that the front end on Ducati's setup from the factory just doesn't let the forks work) and raising the rear end, the steering got a bit quicker, with a lot more feedback from the forks..

This approach to setting up a hyper is a little different than others have posted. Who did you work with?

josephvman · Jul 13th, 2008, 8:56 pm

I worked with an independent shop here in Houston who's owner is something of a local suspension guru who does a lot of our local Ducati club bikes. He just bought his wife a Hyper and has a great reputation. I'm not a racer or even a knee-dragger, and will rarely do a track day; just a slightly agressive street setup. I'm 99% sure the dealer didn't do any form of setup on the bike, and I'm 100% sure they never asked or offered, so I'm assuming the bike was delivered "out of the crate".

My suspension guy had some interesting things to say about the stock suspension, mainly that the problem isn't the shock (he said the standard Showa was actually pretty good), but an extremely shitty OEM Chinese spring that will change rate and become very non-linear in just a few thousand miles. He also said the S-spec Ohlins was a low-spec Ohlins, and frankly not any better than the Showa. He said the best bang for the buck in suspension is to change the OEM spring with a quality spring set for the rider's weight. I'll likely change shock and spring at around 5k, probably with a top-end Ohlins, maybe Penske.

HYPRmoTARD · Jul 13th, 2008, 9:06 pm

I thought the standard model came with a Sachs shock not a Showa.

josephvman · Jul 13th, 2008, 9:35 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by HYPRmoTARD

I thought the standard model came with a Sachs shock not a Showa.

I think you're right, my error. I think my BMW has the Showa.

**donkeyman** · Jul 14th, 2008, 10:22 am

I agree - the Ohlins that came with the S version is not quite the same as other Ohlins I've had before. I'd like to get one with the remote preload adjuster. Anyone one know which model will fit our bikes?

AZ_Scott · Jul 14th, 2008, 1:35 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by donkeyman

I agree - the Ohlins that came with the S version is not quite the same as other Ohlins I've had before. I'd like to get one with the remote preload adjuster. Anyone one know which model will fit our bikes?

Your best bet is to talk to an Ohlins rep, like Dan Kyle, for instance, but I've noticed in the Parts Unlimited catalog that there's a nice one available for the Multistrada, and I'm about 90% certain that would fit the Hyper. Don't quote me on that, though!

Niss, P. · Jul 14th, 2008, 5:04 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZ_Scott

Your best bet is to talk to an Ohlins rep, like Dan Kyle, for instance, but I've noticed in the Parts Unlimited catalog that there's a nice one available for the Multistrada, and I'm about 90% certain that would fit the Hyper. Don't quote me on that, though!

I've been told that as well.

As a matter of fact, a lot of parts are derived from the ms including the frame.

mountainrider · Jul 14th, 2008, 6:15 pm

I called Penske today. They were waiting on somene who could live without their HM for 3 weeks to lend them theirs for measuring up. I expressed the beliefe that the shock for the MS was the same. They said if someone could send them careful measurements, they could verify compatibility. I said maybe I would do that. Anyone have their shock off and capable of measuring wanna volunteer?

freezer16801 · Jul 14th, 2008, 10:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainrider

I called Penske today. They were waiting on somene who could live without their HM for 3 weeks to lend them theirs for measuring up. I expressed the beliefe that the shock for the MS was the same. They said if someone could send them careful measurements, they could verify compatibility. I said maybe I would do that. Anyone have their shock off and capable of measuring wanna volunteer?

hmm, I live in PA. I'd be willing to lend mine for a nice discount on a shock once it is built.