696 suspension geometry change

[scott_araujo]

The correct spring for your weight will go a long way to making that shock adequate for your use.

Try it before you drop that kind of money on a new blingy shock.

+1, and springs are usually about $100.  I put heavier straight rate springs in the fork of my 800 Dark.  I'll be doing the same to the stock rear shock when I get some spare cash.

Scott

[DucatiTorrey]

i talked to my dealer, they are hard to work with, they seem to not want to do any "mods" to my bike. I asked about rear springs, and they said they could do that with a revalve job (whats that?) but he said he doesn't like to do front springs or internals, it "really tears you shock up". cant wait to move to denver to get a new dealer to work with. They ahve also been giving me shit about lifting the rear shock with the 1100 spacer. Sorry for the rant.

I emailed Ohlins about the new spring

"A stiffer replacement spring will help with load carrying capacity & ride height issues. But the extra energy of the stiffer spring rate puts extra stress on the (already weak) stock shock. This breaks down the oil inside quicker & the resulting high heat could damage the shock. Oil seal failure is also a real possibility. Worst case, the ride will be springy, bouncy etc.
You really need the whole package for a safe, comfortable ride but we understand it is a large investment."

[Raux]

yeah if i was making money selling Ohlins at those prices i would say the same thing.

you aren't tracking the bike. you are just getting a spring to match your weight.

revalving involves changing the internals of the shocks front or back to change how they act.

you also can change the front springs very easily on the 696. there is only one shock on the front of the 696 though. so it is cheaper to revalve if you go that way.

honestly everything you are saying about your riding would benefit from stiffer springs front and back. you're relying on the shock to compensate for the extra weight.

call up Indy Ducati. they have done all this on a 696 with great results.

[DucatiTorrey]

Great thanks. i'll start with a new spring and revalve in the rear this spring.

thanks Raux. Hows the weather in Germany?

[Raux]

Great thanks. i'll start with a new spring and revalve in the rear this spring.

thanks Raux. Hows the weather in Germany?

really you should check out Ducati Indy's tech article on the 696. they mention how they changed the springs front and rear and what the differences did.


freaking riding weather and my bike is still in parts

[DucatiTorrey]

so after talking with my dealer he said adjusting the height on the front forks to level out the geometry is feasible, but will leave marks where the triples were. I'm doing it anyways, but anyone know how to clean this up, or if you even can? its it going to be scratches or just "grime".

TIA

Torrey

[ducpainter]

so after talking with my dealer he said adjusting the height on the front forks to level out the geometry is feasible, but will leave marks where the triples were. I'm doing it anyways, but anyone know how to clean this up, or if you even can? its it going to be scratches or just "grime".

TIA

Torrey

I wouldn't count on him being correct.

regarding the comment from Ohlins. It is true that if the spring is changed and the stock damping was correct for the spring the oil will burn up and you won't gain much. The thing about Ducati components is they are typically under sprung and over damped. When you change the spring you are bringing the designed spring and damping rates closer together.

I'd try it before I spent oodles of cash on a shock.

[DucatiTorrey]

. When you change the spring you are bringing the designed spring and damping rates closer together.

even if its an ohlins spring / stock shock? i'd like to learn more about this.

I'd try it before I spent oodles of cash on a shock.

absolutely

[ducpainter]

even if its an ohlins spring / stock shock? i'd like to learn more about this.
absolutely

Doesn't matter the spring brand.

The only reason a shock has damping is to control the spring. Without damping it would be like a pogo stick.

The spring controls your and the machine weight. There is only one (ideal) weight spring for that particular combination.

So the first step is to get the correct spring on the shock/forks for you and your machine and then figure out the valving characteristics required to control that weight spring.

[z0mb1e_DUC]

soooo, I can get a better spring alone? not a whole shock? hmmmis this the 1100 shock? or an ohlins version of a 696

It's the 696 application specific shock, per Ohlins website.   It might very well be the actual shock from the 1100s, just sold as the 696 model, who knows?   FYI, it's the same one from DucatiIndy's project bike. 

[DucatiTorrey]

Doesn't matter the spring brand.

The only reason a shock has damping is to control the spring. Without damping it would be like a pogo stick.

The spring controls your and the machine weight. There is only one (ideal) weight spring for that particular combination.

So the first step is to get the correct spring on the shock/forks for you and your machine and then figure out the valving characteristics required to control that weight spring.

thank you

and thank you
It's the 696 application specific shock, per Ohlins website.   It might very well be the actual shock from the 1100s, just sold as the 696 model, who knows?   FYI, it's the same one from DucatiIndy's project bike.