Ducati Monster Forum

Trying to find an alternative to $5500 retail for a set of 1100s forks, or the SBK conversion, you can get Ohlins R&T forks for about $2k  ...now Ohlins is Ohlins...so how is there not a fork variation for SOME bike that would fit with a little less work (spacers, triples etc) than the SBK.  For instance: http://www.hardracing.com/Ohlins.htm (http://www.hardracing.com/Ohlins.htm) has a whole list of forks for various bikes, what do yall think is the likelyhood that SOMETHING would be dimensionally the same..

if I were trying to stay stock sizing, have your forks rebuilt by Kyle racing or any other race shop like that.

Contact Traxxion Dynamics to see if they make an AK-20 set for your bike. 

The 796 has the Fred Flintstone damping cartridge, only in one side, to boot.

Keep an eye on this site:

http://www.gothamcycles.com/servlet/the-Suspension/Categories (http://www.gothamcycles.com/servlet/the-Suspension/Categories)

they sometimes get in some m1100 forks and you can snag them at a pretty decent price.

Interesting comment. In practice my Fred Flintstone Marzocchi works quite well with my "cheap" Ohlins out back which was built and set up for me by Ohlins in NC. Donnie Unger was planning to pull my forks apart and play with fluids and levels when he first set up the bike, but with the new shock he was pretty happy with the bike's behavior. I have to say I have no major complaint either since it responds quite well to big and small irregularities at all speeds and input and feedback are great. I'm very sensitive to shock too, having broken my shoulder bigtime three years ago.

Sure..., it would be fantastic if the fork could be more plush without loss of any of the control above or balance with the rear which is near perfect currently. So..., is there an economical way to do this or would this job be a "project"? It's a $10K bike after all, so major expense is not attractive for a 10% gain in suppleness.

Your thoughts?

My experience with the previous one-side-damping forks on Monsters....
They're not revalveable.
There's no compression damping circuit that I've been able to detect; *substantial* increases in oil viscosity produce no change in compression damping force.
They seem to be the absolute cheapest method Ducati could find to hold the front end up.

Perhaps I was making an erroneous assumption, and the new forks may be better.
But I'm skeptical.

The left fork leg doesn't have the bolt on the bottom, so it'd be a project just to equip it with a damping cartridge.

Thanks! Somewhere I recall reading that the new Marzocchis have compression in one leg and rebound in the other. Maybe in a European rag; can't recall. No idea whether that's correct. I don't blame you for being skeptical though.

One thing for sure; the stock Sachs didn't do much of anything out back. With the cheap Ohlins swap, serious improvement. Donnie said the shock made all the difference. He knew what I was looking for too as we had a long discussion when I bought the bike and this isn't my first date. ;) I'll admit he's a superior wrench and a racer, not a salesman. He's so meticulous though that he would have ripped these forks apart if he didn't like the way they were working. So, try them on a 796 with a decent shock and see what you think.

I'm open to a more supple fork though, as long as I don't lose any control and the cost isn't silly. I'm 175#, 5' 8",  and my 245#, 6' 3+", 33-year-old son thought the bike was sorted and perfect for him except that it's a bit small. He figured that it must be too firm for me overall, but it really isn't.

You will be able to find a Jap bikes with a set of forks that will match your triples  but the wheel is a different story. So you'd end up with a whole knew front end, forks/wheel/rotors/brakes or spacers for the duc wheel. Don't let the spacers thing worry you too much. I did the sbk conversion and it was simple and quick. Put 848 forks on a 696 for under 800 bucks and that includes new springs and re-valve for the 848 forks. The forks are fantastic by far the best 800 ever spent.

Take a look at ducati indy they did some work on the showa forks

Thats probably the direction ill go when my tax return comes in...Kinda wish I hadnt just bought that 50mm Top triple and 50mm woodcraft risers...well, im sure SOMEONE on here will want them when I go to the next phase of project "S2R 796, code name: Sasha  ;D"

I don't know if Rick at Cogent has seen a set of the 796 forks yet but he made complete adjustable 25mm cartridges for older 900ss showas and marzocchi forks as well. Options run from about 550~900 depending on whether you want it revalved or revalved with adjustable caps.

I dont know about that...you can get a front triple tree stand for about $60...

 ;D  [roll]

I'd keep the Woodcraft if you like em'. You can get them bored out a few mm to fit the sbk forks it will prob cost about $80=$120 for the machine work. Get your plan together buy all your parts (if you buy used forks I'd go for at least a service, re-valve & springs that way you wont be taking them back off any time soon) if your going to have machine work done call around get some quotes and you'll get a feel for the type of shop you want to use. Take some measurements before you pull your bike apart that way you will have a baseline to get it to stock rake/trail and work from there. Good luck with "Sasha"

somone selling m1100 forks on .ms... if they are in good shape, this'll be the easiest route to get adjustable forks on your 796:

http://www.ducati.ms/forums/129-parts-accessories/129409-fs-2010-monster-1100-parting.html (http://www.ducati.ms/forums/129-parts-accessories/129409-fs-2010-monster-1100-parting.html)

um...I dont have an .ms account...can someone PM that guy my email??  freeclimbmtb AT yahoo DOT com

I would VERY much appreciate it...

Here's some 1098 forks for sale http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/mcy/2805717994.html (http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/mcy/2805717994.html)  exactly what I used for the 696.

m1100 forks up, $500

http://www.ducati.ms/forums/129-parts-accessories/130262-fs-2009-monster-1100-adjustable-showa-forks-tall-shock-mount.html (http://www.ducati.ms/forums/129-parts-accessories/130262-fs-2009-monster-1100-adjustable-showa-forks-tall-shock-mount.html)

if you're looking for them, i'd talk to that guy asap, those tend not to last too long.