Ducati Monster Forum

I have looked everywhere. Does OHLINS make any after market kits for the S4Rt? I was hoping to upgrade her suspension. Looking for fork cartridge kits (30mm or 25mm) as well as a rear shock. Am I out of luck?

Contact Kyle racing (kyleusa)?  I think he is a major distributor. 

There are certainly valving kits available for the forks.  Most Ohlins shops keep them in stock as they fit a ton of Showa 20mm carts.

I will second contacting Dan Kyle (KyleUSA) as he was very helpful in getting me set-up with a new set of Ohlins R&T forks along with a DU046 rear shock (and was able to order the Ohlins system for my sportscar cheaper than anyone else that carries them). 

They do make a rear shock for your bike.  However, the cartridge kits they do not make.  Would probably be a custom job for them.

Thanks for the feedback.  [beer]

I'd suggest fitting SBK forks to the front.   [thumbsup]

I have been down that route with my previous ride. Too much trouble. Besides.. from what I have read, the 30mm or even 25mm Ohlins kits are proving to be performing better than some of the earlier RT forks. And definitely better than some of the OEM Ohlins.

:)

Ought to keep reading then..... [thumbsup] Nice article on 20mm vs 25mm out there....and why the 20's are better.

30mm for the street?  Why unless you just want to brag about it at starbucks?

Just sayin'.....SBK forks, fitted with the correct triple = win.  And it's the newer ohlins forks on ducs (1098+) that arn't the real deal Ohlins....the 999 stuff and earlier are the same internally (so says the ohlins shop that does my forks).

Easiest thing would be to find a s4rs part out and get the forks from it.  I never could find a set, so a custom triple, 1098 forks with ohlins internals, and away I go.

I remember asking (and you replied TAft) about a set of 1098S forks. Anyways... that is long past.

What kind of custom triple are we looking at for the 1098 Showas? And why is it better than the Showa that comes with the S4R, besides the nitride sliders?

If I were to replace the internals with Ohlins anyways, I reckon I'd save a bundle keeping the original forks in place. Thanks!!

If you are sticking with the fork body (showa) now, and can find ohlins catridges for them that drop in, you're all set.  Look for the AK20 stuff as well....It's around 1200 installed.

Speedymoto makes a triple to fit the monster with SBK dimension, a few others do too.  The s4rt is different from the older s4r's (and s2r's) because you've already got the correct rotors, axle, wheel etc....  there is no spacer that has to be machined, etc.  Simply have your top triple bored to 53, and shim the lower one....whala  749/999 and 848/1098 stuff bolts on.



I thought you were trying to find a set of ohlins forks that would drop into the OEM triples (50/53) of which (AFAIK) don't exist outside of the s4rs forks.

Thanks again for your help. You are most helpful.

I am wishy washy to be honest. The problem mostly is the fact that i live in the far east. And this posses all kinds of challenges when one wants to mod anything.

Good to know about the 1098 or 999 forks working.

gecko,

the part number for the S4Rs Ohlins shock is DU 5034. It will of course bolt straight on to the S4RT. It is an OEM part so not sure how easy to order from Ohlins dealers; nevertheless they should be able to build one.

The other Ohlins shock that almost certainly will fit is the DU 333, which is the aftermarket listing for the 2003-05 S4R (Desmoquattro). It has tube-mounted remote reservoir and hydraulic remote preload adjuster (typically mounted on the right side frame beside engine), where the S4Rs shock has piggyback reservoir and lock-ring preload. S4Rs in pic below has DU 333 mounted:

(http://daffyduc.smugmug.com/photos/880440527_kMPPs-M-1.jpg)

Many don't seem to have a problem with the stock S4Rs shock. However, I've found mine way too firm on medium-speed compression. Have had compression side revalved to DU 333 spec, and it feels way, way better. But will get around to softening the compression side further.

IF you end up replacing your forks, let me know, i might be interested in buying them.

Do you know the length of the top tube?

Thanks Moronic. Good to know about the available options for the shock. :)

To clarify, as I am an Ohlins dealer, the only place to get the OEM Ohlins products is from Ducati dealers.  And to be more specific, those forks you mentioned are upwards of $5k. 

I have an ohlins shock from an 08 s4rs that I can sell you for $400 already revalved for your type of riding.
If you need a different spring is extra (I might have some used ones).
If interested I can sell you ohlins front but also I can revalve your showis for $250 and they will work much better than an stock 25 or 30mm cartridge.

Hi devimau. Woud appreciate a PM with more details as to your OHLINS shock and forks. I live in Malaysia, and I wont be able to revalve my forks in the USA.

I rather get the kits so that I can assemble or install them here.

Thanks!

ok, tomorrow when I get to the shop I'll take some pics and pm you.
I live/work in Frazier Park California and we usually get suspensions from all over the world, Australia, Canada, Europe so living outside US is not a problem, I'm saying in my opinion revalved showas are way better than stock ohlins, but whatever road you take is fine with me.

what valve kits are u using?

is that for me?

Yes it is. Just wondering what valves do you use that are better than the 20mm ones. Were talking about the stock S4Rs ohlins right?

well, you have different options when you want to upgrade your suspension.
1st you can re valve your own components
2nd you can buy better components
3rd you can re valve the better components you bought

that's the key, when you buy better components they are not suited for your specific type of riding, so if you re valve your own components for the type of rider you are and the type of riding you do you are going to have way better results and save more money.
now, if you buy better components and then re valve them to suit your riding style then you'll have the best results but sometimes is not necessary.
let's say that I weight 140 and I'm an experienced racer and I buy a 1098s and go racing, the first thing I do is respring them but then I want to upgrade the valving, if you call ohllins they'll tell you to buy the superbike kit p/n xxxxx.
on the other hand my friend weights 240, has the same year and model bike and is just starting to go to the canyons and wants to upgrade his suspension, we respring his components but he wants more, we call ohllins and they'll recomend us to buy the same superbike kit p/n xxxxx.
now, do you get the idea, there's no way that what works for my under racing conditions will work for a guy 100 pound heavier than my and riding in a different environment with a different rider's skills.
that's why it's important to understand how the suspension works and modify what's needed to meet anybody's needs.
for example we just did a 1098 with showas for a racer for big willow and the bike was cruising doing 1:27 no sweat, so is there a need for somebody to spend 3k on front ohlins because he's just going to start doing track days?
immo no, I'd rather re valve the for $300 and spend the other $2700 on tyres.
sorry for the speech he man, we usually use our own valving, I might use different piston depending on the application but the shim stack configuration is a custom job for each rider to meet his needs.

Devimau. Thanks for the email. Unfortunately, I feel that its is slightly to pricey to pay 600 bucks for a second hand shock (with new spring) and then after factoring the postage, the whole thing is going to cost too much. Appreciate your input and your help though...

Ah, i see, I have a 999 Showa installed on my Monster with the proper spring and always wonder if i should pony up for a used Ohlins, or try and revalve the thing to get some better performance out of it. But i dont know how far revalving can get me to a used ohlins.

no problem, I think is a bargain for an ohlins shock already revalved for you @ $400, also the rear spring is $75 so it would be $475 and not $600.
the postage from california to malasya for the shock only would be $100.

I`m also looking to upgrade the suspension on my 2007 S4Rt.
This is what I have discovered so far:

Rear shock - The Öhlins DU333, as ugly as they can possibly get with it`s golden colour and external pre-load and N2 tank.
                  But a good quality shock that bolts on, no sweat.

                  Penske - 8983 or 8987 good quality (maybe just as good as the Öhlins) and visually a much better match
                  with my gray bike. Ti spring is a nice touch.
                  
                  Matris - M05R kind of a dark horse,  I have not been able to find much feedback regarding installation on a
                  Monster.


All of the above are custom built to suit bike, rider and riding style.

Front forks - Re-valve and respring, a good fix for the Showa. Relatively cheap and "good enough" for street riding?

                  Öhlin SBK / ST forks, need to machine/change triple clamp. But high quality forks BUT again the f*****g
                  gold colour.

                  Matris F05R Cartridge, should be a good fit and high quality but limited info from users.

                  Marzocchi USD 43 Not quite sure of the quality of these forks, guessing OK but  little or no feedback
                  from Ducati users.

I have not decided what I`m going to use on my bike. Leaning towards a Penske (rear) matris (front) set up.
Any input/experience will be very much appreciated!!