Upgrade Forks on S4

[TitanMonsterS4R]

So working on upgrading the forks on the S4.  Already going with a 53/53 speedymoto complete triple.  Just need to know what forks will work with current rotors/brake calipers/wheels.

Thanks for the help community. 

[ducpainter]

Any SBK of the same generation should work, as well as everything up to the advent of radial brakes.

Maybe 998?

[jerryz]

first throw the standard forks away they will never work , then buy superbike forks but make sure they have softest springs you can get then a revalve kit , it will make the bike handle 100%  better but comfort may be an issue as i said springs are critical. you may need fork shims


if all that does not work contemplate buying a new bike ,if i can sell my S4 I will buy something else .

[TitanMonsterS4R]

first throw the standard forks away they will never work , then buy superbike forks but make sure they have softest springs you can get then a revalve kit , it will make the bike handle 100%  better but comfort may be an issue as i said springs are critical. you may need fork shims

if all that does not work contemplate buying a new bike ,if i can sell my S4 I will buy something else .

Understand from everything I have read, stock forks are junk.  Not that bad for me being I am slightly over 170lbs with gear on.  Can't sell it, just bought it

Seems like a fun bike to ride with tweaks .  THat's the fun part. 

Any SBK of the same generation should work, as well as everything up to the advent of radial brakes.

Maybe 998?

COP TZR has some 998's I hope will work..... Paging COP TZR

[Raux]

if the S4 has the 25mm axle even new gen sbk will work, just need spacers on the rotors?

[MonsterHPD]

Well, just as an alternative, upgrading with the K-Tech shimstack kit and rework as per Showa Blues, they will work just as well as any Duc SBK (Showa) forks, and everything else fits ...     

Admittedly, does not look very trick, but if that is not the important issue, it IS an alternative.

[Speeddog]

Stock S4 forks aren't junk, they're the best forks on Monsters as delivered from the factory.

The OEM compression valve isn't very good, have your local suspension guy fix that.
The OEM 0.85 springs will be good for you.

[jerryz]

Stock S4 forks aren't junk, they're the best forks on Monsters as delivered from the factory.

The OEM compression valve isn't very good, have your local suspension guy fix that.
The OEM 0.85 springs will be good for you.

they are junk they have no Proper rebound circuit the neddle at the top does sweet FA ,, only a rebound circuit that goes to the cartridge works properly

and yes do not use springs harder than 8.5 nm

[MonsterHPD]

Well, I hate to risk appearing to go on about this, but basically the Showa 50 mm / 54 mm forks as fitted to Monsters, SSie´s, ST´s, S4´s etc. aren´n junk. They are probably exactly what Ducati ordered: Cheaper than SBK forks, "adjustable" so you can charge a bit more, and foolproof as you can´t really adjust much, at least not on the compression damping (*).

As far as I have been able to determine, fork tubes, bushings etc. are no worse, the cartridge is of simpler general execution and not intended to be dismantled, cartridge rod steel instead of alumium. The damping layout, however, is crap (see above*).

If you get a proper shimstack kit, and rework the rebound damping circuit as per the Showa Blues tutorial, you get a fork that works just as good as any SBK fork, and probably a bit better due to the K-Tech, or whatever kit you prefer using, beeing superior to stock SBK valving.
If you use the K-tech kit, I can´t see the mod beeing any more complicated than modifying triple clamps to suit other fork leg diameters, and cost is not that bad (for the improvement).

Of course, bling factor is non-existant, which might be a draw-back ...