Just what is wrong with the forks? - Ducati.ms

Karlr · Sep 17th, 2009, 2:56 am

Lot's of people saying things like...they suck, they're crap etc...but what is it exactly that makes people go out and spend ££ and $$$ on replacements...are they track day gods or was Ruben Xauss running full race spec Ohlins at the launch cos he didn't seem to have a problem :-)

Yours confusedly,

waiting for winter...Angleterre

Revelstoker · Sep 17th, 2009, 10:15 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karlr

Lot's of people saying things like...they suck, they're crap etc...but what is it exactly that makes people go out and spend ££ and $$$ on replacements...are they track day gods or was Ruben Xauss running full race spec Ohlins at the launch cos he didn't seem to have a problem :-)

Yours confusedly,

waiting for winter...Angleterre

Well, from what I have read online at various sites and from having my suspension professionally setup is that the shocks that Ducati specced on Hyper were fine but not ideal. There are some minor build issues but the biggest issue seems to be that the shocks are not adjustable enough to accommodate individual riders.

I had shocks adjusted and it was recommended that I have the front internals (springs and such) changed out and set up for "me". I am 6'2" and 190lbs and the front springs are a bit soft. Tuner said that Marzocchi shocks just don't allow for all the tuning when compared to the new Kayaba shocks that Ducati is speccing out. Not an expert on the subject so I took the comments under advisement.

Note, the rear shocks are just fine and all the issues seem to be with the fronts.

In actual riding experience, I have noticed no problems with mine. The bike does feel more planted now that I have had them adjusted for me but no minor/major issue have been encountered that would deter my purchasing decision.

archimedio · Sep 17th, 2009, 11:27 am

They're not great, but they're not as awful as some say. Some people just aren't happy unless they're finding fault and modifying something on their bike.

Take your bike to a reputable suspension guy, get your suspension set up properly for your weight and riding style and see how you like it. Always a good idea to spend $ on suspension before anything else on the bike, but the reality is the forks on the base Hyper are just fine.

The stuff that comes stock on even the crappiest bikes these days is light years better than what guys raced on 20 years ago and, I could be wrong, but those racers were able to go damn fast on that stuff.

krill · Sep 17th, 2009, 12:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by archimedio

They're not great, but they're not as awful as some say. Some people just aren't happy unless they're finding fault and modifying something on their bike.

Take your bike to a reputable suspension guy, get your suspension set up properly for your weight and riding style and see how you like it. Always a good idea to spend $ on suspension before anything else on the bike, but the reality is the forks on the base Hyper are just fine.

The stuff that comes stock on even the crappiest bikes these days is light years better than what guys raced on 20 years ago and, I could be wrong, but those racers were able to go damn fast on that stuff.

I agree, how many Hyper owners can really ride to the limit of the forks supplied?? don't get caught up in marketing bull that will cost you thousands

GMP · Sep 17th, 2009, 1:12 pm

The flaw that I see is very noticable on the street, over rough choppy pavement. The forks are over damped and cannnot respond to high cartridge speeds, so the ride is harsh and the front wheel can loose contact and deflect off line. That is why lighter oil helps slightly. External adjusters on all forks control a fixed orafice, so they affect primarily low speed damping. I thought "no problem, I'll just revalve them". Guess again, the cartridges are sealed. That is where the big $$ cartridge kit come into play. I plan to get into them this winter, look into machining them open and making a removable cartridge cap.

rummaggio · Sep 17th, 2009, 1:30 pm

Glenn, you hit it right on. At 5'8" and 175lbs, the change was welcomed but not significant - the 5w does result in an improved feel.

Smaller valves and heavier oil working against a good feel, resulting in what has been coined as "crap." Cartridge kits are next but I chose the interim $200 oil change and setup instead.

CodeRed · Sep 17th, 2009, 1:37 pm

Seems like for a bike this expensive, DNA should make it right...they obviously recognize the problem since they changed the forks for '09 to kayaba. Interestingly enough, I have not read or heard any reviews on the KYB forks except for the fact they are tunable. Anybody have an '09 that can vouch for the KYBs? I am leaning to the purchase of an '09 for just that reason.

doon · Sep 17th, 2009, 4:29 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMP

The flaw that I see is very noticable on the street, over rough choppy pavement. The forks are over damped and cannnot respond to high cartridge speeds, so the ride is harsh and the front wheel can loose contact and deflect off line. That is why lighter oil helps slightly. External adjusters on all forks control a fixed orafice, so they affect primarily low speed damping. I thought "no problem, I'll just revalve them". Guess again, the cartridges are sealed. That is where the big $$ cartridge kit come into play. I plan to get into them this winter, look into machining them open and making a removable cartridge cap.

That about sums the problem up, we have changed the springs in ours (ANDI)
had some made that are not progressive.
I have also changed to 5w oil and it is a lot better in the corners over uneven ground, the slaming due to piss poor rebound is much improved.
For the money paid for an S model Ducati screwed us here.

GMP · Sep 17th, 2009, 7:00 pm

Yes, in addition to being overdamped its undersprung for my 190 lbs. Dives on braking and stings your wrists on chop.

I'm going to look into making a removable cartride cap/modifying the stock cartridge, or modifying another cartridge to fit, one that is common and can be revalved. I know suspension and have a neighbor who just bought a machine shop and is hungry for work.

08hyper · Sep 17th, 2009, 8:02 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMP

Yes, in addition to being overdamped its undersprung for my 190 lbs. Dives on braking and stings your wrists on chop.

I'm going to look into making a removable cartride cap/modifying the stock cartridge, or modifying another cartridge to fit, one that is common and can be revalved. I know suspension and have a neighbor who just bought a machine shop and is hungry for work.

Keep us posted!

Aloha Alex