Does anyone have experience or know about this shock? Bitubo Ducati Monster 2002+ XZE Rear Shock. It's $655 at Pro Italia and the site says it is set up for your weight, riding style, and whether you ride 2 up or not. I'm trying to get a better shock for 2 up (about 30% of the time).
They are really popular for the TL1000S. Made in Itally. The one for the TL is a rather unique design for that bike, but in general its a mid-level shock. Probably a bit below an ohlins or penske in damping sophistication but above maxton and the rest I'd guess. I suspect bitubo's for other bikes will be completely on-par with ohlins.
I'd grab a penske for about the same price, I prefer penske over Ohlins actually as they're in the us and out at a lot of track events to help you get the right set up and it's built specifically for you and your bike, weight,riding style etc.
Do you have a recommendation on a site to research the Penske?
ask and ye shall recieve
http://www.penskeshocks.com/Motorcycle.php (http://www.penskeshocks.com/Motorcycle.php)
any ques feel free to ask as I used to sell them and one of my friends now works for them, see if I remember anything about them :P
i got my penske through Traxxion. it has been absolutely great. One day I will upgrade some bits on it - go to a higher spec penske, ti spring for quicker action (well, quick as valving settings will allow - less controlled by steel spring's slower movement from inertia) and weight savings overall.
i would not replace my Penske with an Ohlins, but if I was choosing between the two on a "shock-less" motorcycle (or having to decide because I was replacing an OEM Showa) I would certainly be focused on three - *the* Ohlins for my 93-01 framed M900s (only 1 offered really, a few bells/whistles you can add), the 8981 (or is it the 8983 now?) Penske - which is the less expensive - very comparable to the Ohlins, and the 8987 / 8700 (essentially the same shock, with the 'pro-racer' 8700 having a finer adjustment, but over the same range).
If I had the jingle-jangle, the high-dollar Penske for sure. With additional jingle-jangle found in the couches during a 6-mi radius neighborhood search, I'd go for a ti spring. Penske comes black from the factory, which is a plus over the Ohlins gold to me - harder to see dirt, doesn't stand out as much, etc.
what about Matris shocks? ive heard some great things about their shock.
i've never gotten to play with one. I would definitely like to ride and fiddle and ride and fiddle with one on a bike i'm familiar with though
What about this Ohlins? DUCATI MONSTER OHLINS REAR SHOCK
[96613103B]
http://www.store.commoto.com/ducatistoremonstersuspension-ducatimonsterohlinsrearshock-p-867.html (http://www.store.commoto.com/ducatistoremonstersuspension-ducatimonsterohlinsrearshock-p-867.html)
I think I can get one for $600 from a local guy. I like the fact that it has a remote preload. Makes for a faster adjustment when 2 up, right?
Yes. That would be a great shock - you'll likely mount your remote reservoir on the side of the frame above the clutch cover. If you are prone-to-crashing, a frame slider will protect it because it doesn't stick out as far as the reservoir. There are billet mounts available if you do not like the "straps+rubbers" that usually come with them.
The shock you linked to should fit all ST-based DSS Monsters - that is, Monsters from 2002-2007 with double sided swingarm. Occasionally you'll see an Ohlins shock listed that it fits X or Y bike, and not Z - when the only difference is the XY bikes, or perhaps the Z bike is getting a different Ohlins part number - but the model is the same, only one version will have more bells and whistles.
For example, you may find a version of the shock you listed that does not have the remote preload adjuster, and it may specify it fits only a few of the bikes, or perhaps it lists more - they both are the same actual model, with the additional letter-acronyms indicating it has more features equipped. There are similar models with completely different letters - be ware of those, some are piggy back, and some are remote. It makes a difference, there's not enough room for clearance of a piggyback reservoir on some models.
Quote from: rideserotta on April 03, 2011, 11:22:13 AM
Makes for a faster adjustment when 2 up, right?
only if you a) ride 2 up frequent enough to warrant it, and b) not just taking your passenger out to grab lunch and going for an actual ride, or if you are going touring and loading lots of stuff on (though 100lbs of stuff seems almost unfeasable, thats a lot of shit!)
adjusting your preload by hand on some bikes its almost ridiculous and youd want to shoot the guy who designed it, but not the case here. it is pretty easy to get in there.
Quote from: j v on April 01, 2011, 04:41:19 PM
i got my penske through Traxxion. it has been absolutely great. One day I will upgrade some bits on it - go to a higher spec penske, ti spring for quicker action (well, quick as valving settings will allow - less controlled by steel spring's slower movement from inertia) and weight savings overall.
i would not replace my Penske with an Ohlins, but if I was choosing between the two on a "shock-less" motorcycle (or having to decide because I was replacing an OEM Showa) I would certainly be focused on three - *the* Ohlins for my 93-01 framed M900s (only 1 offered really, a few bells/whistles you can add), the 8981 (or is it the 8983 now?) Penske - which is the less expensive - very comparable to the Ohlins, and the 8987 / 8700 (essentially the same shock, with the 'pro-racer' 8700 having a finer adjustment, but over the same range).
If I had the jingle-jangle, the high-dollar Penske for sure. With additional jingle-jangle found in the couches during a 6-mi radius neighborhood search, I'd go for a ti spring. Penske comes black from the factory, which is a plus over the Ohlins gold to me - harder to see dirt, doesn't stand out as much, etc.
Hmmm.... That's good to know.
[coffee]
the upgrade-ability? or that the 8987 and 8700 are essentially the same (not in price!) but the 8700 - with twice the number of 'clicks' for adjustment is over the same range, but in finer "detail" of adjustment?
The 8981 was replaced with the 8983, or other way around. I am not good at remembring their number system, especially since their 'highest-spec' model has a lower number than the other two premium shocks and then there's the budget line of shocks that are designed for motorcycles where there are really no other aftermarket options and the OEM shocks have essentially dried up - that's how that "third" line of shocks that are significantly less expensive was explained to me by the Penske rep when I was ordering a shock for a customer's 907ie 'back when'. The 907ie was getting the 8987 model - the 'top-premium' consumer model, instead of the 8983 - which was described as the 'upgrade' consumer model - to show that one was an upgrade from the OEM equipment, and the other was the top level for regular folks, while the top dollar was not considered a consumer piece, since the changes were more in subtle and for tuning in various track/race characteristics for traction/etc.
So, I can't recall the correct numbers, but it looked like this:
8981/8983 or whatever - the "upgrade" to the original equipment shock - well under $1k. An upgrade for all originally equipped adj. rear shocks - be it a 1995 M900 boge-sucks, or a 1198S Ohlins DU515. (he made no mention of the ttx, because I believe that is a direct competitor to the next model series).
8987 - Premium consumer shock. Just over $1k, so higher priced than 8981/8983 shocks, more adjustments, more range of adjustments. I believe it would be compared against the Ohlins TTX, which is interesting, because the 8987 has been around with its multi-adjustability much longer than the TTX. Kind of like Ohlins is getting into this game a bit later - perhaps more research took longer, or perhaps they were riding on the old technology thinking it was good enough for quite awhile, only to update when they perceived their goods were falling a bit short. I don't really know a great way to find out, because anyone you ask is either an Ohlins Rep/Retailer, or a Penske Rep/Retailer - or has an opinion tainted by which one has a better reseller markup. You can't get a non-biased answer from most shops - like KyleUSA or DucShop for example, since they are heavily invested in selling TTX shocks, eye-links, and rockers - a 3-piece sale versus an Ohlins (even if same stuff might be used). A little disappointing, and it seems like settling such a debate would require a consumer to buy both and test the hell out of 'em. I can't really rely on the magazines, because they get skewed by advertising sales, pre-formed older opinions, and "who gave 'em the shock versus who made 'em buy one, etc"
The Penske 8700 "Pro Racer" - same range of adjustments as the 8987 shock, but the adjustments are more minute - the detail of adjustment is "finer" - I believe he said that it has double the number of clicks - so if the 8987 had 20 clicks of rebound, the 8700 would have 40. With outer-most bounds "0" and "20" compared with "0" and "40" would be identical. Same range divided over more clicks for finer tuning. Apparently that also equates to "big dollars" because it ain't cheap. damn near $1,700 iirc.
That's my recollection of the Penske lineup from Penske's mouth.
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I'd really like to see a bench comparison of the top level Penske, Ohlins, Bitubo RaceTech, Mupo, K-Tech, etc. They all have a product available for the 1198 so that would be what I'd probably test - its also the bike model from Ducati that I'd figure they'd put the most features, etc into since its the highest spec track-oriented Ducati. I don't think it would be a fair comparison to acquire what each makes for a M696/796/1100 or a SportClassic as often these bikes get a "whatever we feel like throwing together that could be profitable)
Great thread guys.