Ducati Monster Forum

I am looking to get catridge or change the front fork for better suspension on my monster 696. I am not sure if someone had done it or there was a discussion about it here. The only thing I could find googlin is the following :

http://www.evolutionsuspension.com/parts/ (http://www.evolutionsuspension.com/parts/)

If someone has done from above source or may be even have done something different and could give some advice, would be awesome.

Also, if anyone knows if I can may be use other bikes front forks/suspension into monster 696?


 

Forks:
PJs parts can get Matris items. Matris makes cartridges that should work.

There's Traxxion Dynamics AK-20s
http://www.traxxion.com/AK-20AxxionCartridgeKit.aspx (http://www.traxxion.com/AK-20AxxionCartridgeKit.aspx)
- They don't list the 696, but give a call. The forks on the 696 are probably the same works as some other older Ducs.

There's that option you list... but you'll notice that they are installing used parts from the GSXR. Though they have probably been serviced and check out, that would lead me with some trepidation

Least amount of hassle would be to call Öhlins and see how much it would cost to have them retrofit with 3-way adjustable internals. Someone here did that very thing with their cheap nonadjustable stock forks. Also GP suspension in Portland, Oregon. Those are the only two places I know of that can make the stock forks work well. 

The sure fire way is to get some 848/1098 forks and put them on the 696. It works real well and those forks are very good.
 Here's a link on how it's done  http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=46205.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=46205.0)

I remember reading a thread awhile back that a company was offering an upgrade kit in the neighborhood of $1,000-1,200. You had to send your forks out to them so they could modify them.

The problem with the SBK fork upgrade is that you have to change a lot of parts, most notably the front wheel. And if it were me, I'd have to replace the back one, too, so it matched.

you don't have to change the front wheel, just the brake rotor offset

Oops, my bad! Spreading more bad information... [bang]

I just finished with the 848 mod for my wife's 696.  I modified the OEM forks before starting on the 848 mod, and found that with some trial and error you can get the OEMs pretty good. 

My wife is short and light (130 lbs) so I had to lower and weaken.  6kg/mm springs were a tad weak but worked.  One 6kg/mm spring (Tiger 1050) in left fork and one 7kg/mm in right is about right for her.  The 7kg/mm (from SV650) is perfect fit in 848 with no mods to spacers, with preload backed all the way out for her weight.  Yielded 33mm rider sag and 18mm static.  Fork oil level at 155mm (no springs or spacer and fully collapsed fork).

For the OEMs the only thing you can do is get the correct spring rate in there and change preload spacer length and oil weight. 

Everyone still seems to think that fork swaps are the only answer for the nonadjustable forks. That's no longer true, at least two members here have gotten their stock forks converted to fully 3-way adjustable.

Here's one example: http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=35761.msg643116#msg643116 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=35761.msg643116#msg643116)

Another member sent his 696 or 796 forks to Öhlins and they basically did the same thing. It used to be that one had to swap out the forks entirely and deal with a lot of switching of parts, machining of spacers, lower triple shims, boring of top triples, etc. but that is no longer the case. It's not cheap to retrofit the OEM nonadjustable forks but it certainly is quicker and easier.

From above

http://www.gpsuspension.com/ (http://www.gpsuspension.com/)
http://www.gpsuspension.com/news/newsstory.php?story=62 (http://www.gpsuspension.com/news/newsstory.php?story=62)

Thank you all for feed backs and suggestions.

I tried calling every where and talked to some people and so far this is my finding.

http://www.evolutionsuspension.com/parts/ (http://www.evolutionsuspension.com/parts/) : Is out because it costs $800 plus another $200 for labor and parts are used.

Pj Parts (Matrix) - Called Pj , he said he have nothing for 696 :(

http://www.traxxion.com/AK-20AxxionCartridgeKit.aspx: (http://www.traxxion.com/AK-20AxxionCartridgeKit.aspx:) - Is on short list, they said they have catridge for 696, but the forks have to be sent to them and they will make custom catridge , depending on the weight and riding style and such . Quote : $1400 installed

Ohlins : is a no go , the guy said they have done few forks before for monster 696, and the cost ran around $2000, He did gave me info on the company who they did for and said they might have build something out of the prototype catridge.

GPsuspension: Thanks to sad panda, as the link states its $1400 installed.

I am prolly gonna stay away from for swap, as I probably could get forks for ~500 , but I have to do other stuffs, and I do not have a garage to work on or tools. And athe cost might run close if not more to the catridge.

Thanks every one for all the advices, I am going to call few more places and update if I happen to come across any new info on catridges.

here

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ducati-OHLINS-Shock-Absorber-Monster-796-1100-1100s-/350478665135?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item519a2805af (http://cgi.ebay.com/Ducati-OHLINS-Shock-Absorber-Monster-796-1100-1100s-/350478665135?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item519a2805af)


and this is from another forum... but I think they may have been picked up for that Monster Randy at Bellisimoto is building

"Originally Posted by smurfsky101 
I actually have a fresh, mint set right now (from a 2009 Monster 1100s) - i can send photos if you'd like.
Where are you located?
I'm new to this forum but my established ebay id is kristie8510, i've got (i think) 100% feedback, my paypal account is sterling, etc.

I'm located in Harrisonburg, VA

Make me an offer on the forks!
571 332 0095

"

Yep, that's the one I had seen before. Thanks for posting.

Is the Ohlins rear shock from the M1100S the same as the Ohlins upgrade shock that Ducati sells for the M696? I thought there was something different with the shock mount or something. I may as well apologize now in the event that I'm spreading even more misinformation.

same shock on the 696/796/1100. There is a mounting clevis between the subframe and frame that varies from bike to bike to give it different ride heights. I changed my 696 to raise it to the level of an 1100 while using the same shock. So yes, an 1100S Ohlins will work on a 696.

in the picture on the one for sale, they kept that clevis on the shock.

And for my wife, I changed the 1100s clevis on the ohlins shock out for the OEM clevis on the 696 to keep the lower seat height.  Plus I changed the spring to a 70n instead of the 130n that comes on the 1100s.  If you like the spring on the 696, I think it is an 85n.

My wife rejected the 848 fork mod, so I will be selling soon.  I have spacers for brake discs offset (plus longer bolts), spacer for 696 axle to work in 848 forks with 696 nut.  Also bushing for big end of 696 axle to fit inside 848 fork.  Brass shims for lower triple tree to fit 848 forks (tree is 54mm, fork is 53mm) and finally top triple tree bored out to 53mm.

Now she loves the ride with my modified OEM 696 forks (Tiger 1050 6kg/mm springs) and is asking will a 1100 fit?  Heaven help us!

When I went to do my handle bar and forks, I talked to the tech there, and he said the best bet for long term is 1100 front shocks.

I'm gonna wait and look around ebay and stuff to see if any 1100 forks pops up.

I found this at gotham cycles, It says radical fron forks, does it still mean they are adjustable?



http://www.gothamcycles.com/servlet/the-4633/Ducati-Radial-Front-Forks-cln-/Detail (http://www.gothamcycles.com/servlet/the-4633/Ducati-Radial-Front-Forks-cln-/Detail)

They would be fully adjustable, yes.

Nice price too!

Radial refers to how the brake calipers are mounted relative to the axle.
It's a good thing, though not different than what you already have.

I don't know if they fit your bike without modifications - someone else (Raux/Ungeheuer/??) will know.

I talked to a local duc shop here, they said 1100 would fit on 696, and they have done it before. I  did email them askin for specs and how old the forks are. I will prolly pm Raux.

thanks.

interestingly those don't look like 1100 forks since they don't have the lower adjusters.

but yes the 1100 forks are a direct swap although taller. so you either have to pull them through a bit or get the 1100 rear suspension piece ($20 or so) to raise the rear as well.

Photographed from the inside?

It's hard to tell, but should you be able to see the top adjusters as well?

Could it be 696 forks or maybe a generic photo?

no i think you can see the flat spot where the adjuster should be.

i think that's a stock photo... I would call the company and 100% comfirm with an email photo

I swapped from stock 696 to 1100 showa fork. Very simple and a big improvement. You will also have to change the mounting clevis of the rear shock to make front and rear match riding height. Your bike will be 2 cm higher what I found the biggest advantage because I lost a fortune buying toe-sliders. :-) Handling is much better IMO, too. If you can get those forks somehow it is the easiest and most valuable upgrade. [thumbsup]

You can see the adjuster on this pic. (Don't be confused by the black tubes.  ;D )

(http://i55.tinypic.com/34qwm6b.jpg)

[quote ]

You can see the adjuster on this pic. (Don't be confused by the black tubes.  ;D )

(http://i55.tinypic.com/34qwm6b.jpg)


[/quote]

Did you vinyl wrap the forks? I have mine vinyl wrapped, If I end up gettin those forks , have to do it all over again .

I'm gnna have a duc shop do the swap , and prolly have them adjust the rear too .

Thanks

I just got reply from there, apparently it is adjustable 1100s forks, I requested some additional pics of the actual fork.

Does it matter greatly how many miles the forks has ?. He said it has less than 6k miles. I'm not sure if that is something I should factor in , which changin and lookin at prices.

Thanks

As I understand it, at normal use forks will not need service until 15-20k miles.
My experience has been that they can last quite a bit longer and even then it's normally only seals and oil.

IMO, you might as well change the oil now and spend a little more for an expert to adjust them to you and your riding style.

I can't see any reason for this not to be a very good buy [thumbsup]

Nope, anodized black. Not an easy one cause you have to dismantle the complete fork but it was worth it. Absolute blistering look

Forks do need service from time to time. Like anything it depends on how hard a life they have had, but mileage gives you at least some sense of how long they have been in service. 

if they are saying 1100S forks... at that price and the pics are of gold anodized forks... GET THEM, they are Ohlins

now for sure that photo is either stock or someone is not telling the truth.

Here are the  parts number they have :

34420231B
34520231B

Haven't heard back from them yet, and apparently no where on their website, they mention where they located at or list their phone number.

I checked other forks they have on their website, they all seem to have same stock pics.

917-597-7154

They are in New York. I just bought some small parts from them and bought some stuff for my 620 in the past.

nope not 1100S Ohlins

hmm someone is feeding you BS

wierd, www.gothamcycles.com (http://) is registered to a person in Florida.

I'll double check my packing slip...

But domain registrations is far some a solid indicator of geography... though phone numbers aren't so much these days either.

But my main point is they they are real, if you send money you do get stuff.

I called the number, after 3 tries finally got hold of him. He said he will send the pics tomorrow. They are not ohlins, but from monster 1100 and are showa front forks, and fully adjustable.

Ok here are the pics I got from them .

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/anantaraut/IMG_0377.jpg)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/anantaraut/IMG_0376.jpg)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/anantaraut/IMG_0375.jpg)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/anantaraut/IMG_0374.jpg)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/anantaraut/IMG_0373.jpg)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/anantaraut/IMG_0372.jpg)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/anantaraut/IMG_0371.jpg)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/anantaraut/IMG_0370.jpg)



It's gonna cost me around $750 shipped.

I would not buy those - they have those ugly reflectors  [puke]

Oh, that is to hide the hidden ducati logo underneath it . I found it on my factory forks, and I shall find it on this one when i pull them out.

750 shipped .. a little high. but they look in good condition.