696 front suspension talk

[1313]

I'm content with the re-valving of the 696 forks by Race Tech. I know it's not a full blown upgrade but anything is better than nothing at this point. 
I rode this past weekend on some twisties and it felt great. Tweaking the front a bit should be enough for my riding style.

But yes, replacing the rear shock made a huge difference in handling.

[DoWorkSon]

I'm content with the re-valving of the 696 forks by Race Tech. I know it's not a full blown upgrade but anything is better than nothing at this point. 
I rode this past weekend on some twisties and it felt great. Tweaking the front a bit should be enough for my riding style.

But yes, replacing the rear shock made a huge difference in handling.

What rear shock did you upgrade to?

[1313]

What rear shock did you upgrade to?

Ohlins

[DoWorkSon]

Sorry, should of been more specific, which model#?

[Raux]

Ok, if you had NO front end on a 696...
What would you put there? (reasonably priced or used)
I want to keep my stock brake Calipers, that's the only thing left from my bike. Which is what is making things difficult to find. The radial mounted brakes are only on the newer Ducati bikes. Also the length of the 696 stock forks seems there will be issues using just any fork.
Luckily I also have no triple clamps.
So, triples, forks, wheel and mounting... all have to be replaced.

[junior varsity]

superbike? see if there will be problems with the steering stem and all that, but you could try to snag some of that stuff. or off an  ST.

[Raux]

how about a SF ? the only problem i see with using the SF is the 330 vs 320 mm brake rotors... but since i also need new brake rotors.... the travel length is almost identical also.
what would be the steering stem problem? length?

[caperix]

I think the 1098 uses spacers to between the caliper and the fork.  People who have put monoblocks on 848's with 320mm rotors have said they are bolt on.  So the same may be true on the Street fighter.  What is the legnth of the 696 forks?  The GSXR front end swap is popular on the older monsters, you maybe able to keep your radial brakes if the bolt spacing is the same.  999s/r maybe another option too look into for ducati radial mount forks.

[Raux]

I think the 1098 uses spacers to between the caliper and the fork.  People who have put monoblocks on 848's with 320mm rotors have said they are bolt on.  So the same may be true on the Street fighter.  What is the legnth of the 696 forks?  The GSXR front end swap is popular on the older monsters, you maybe able to keep your radial brakes if the bolt spacing is the same.  999s/r maybe another option too look into for ducati radial mount forks.

that's a good point. maybe the SF radial brake mounts have a 5mm spacer on them to make the 330 discs work.
Anyone able to verify this with their new street fighters (Calling Asado!)

[stopintime]

This picture shows no spacers?

[Raux]

actually ... didn't know that... SF uses a front mount speedo sensor.
but there does look like they have 5mm washer/spacers.
wonder what the brake offset is.

[caperix]

That pic show the bracket for the front speed sensor for the traction control acts as the spacer.  The other side prob just has washers.  I do not know about the rotor offset on the SF or the 696.  My '04 monster measures 11.6mm from inside edge to inside edge of the rotors.  My 848 measures 12.5mm from inside edge to inside edge.

[Raux]

That pic show the bracket for the front speed sensor for the traction control acts as the spacer.  The other side prob just has washers.  I do not know about the rotor offset on the SF or the 696.  My '04 monster measures 11.6mm from inside edge to inside edge of the rotors.  My 848 measures 12.5mm from inside edge to inside edge.

so not only do i have to know the brake rotor offset (10mm on the 696) i have to know the fork caliper mount distance to the rotor... UGH

why is this SOOO hard. 

[junior varsity]

that's what she said

[chisel]

I agree with Raux. This seems way too hard. I've been attempting to find something, anything, to do with the front forks. The best I can see (best being easiest) would be to order 1100 or 1100s forks. But the cost seems so extravagant for just replacement items. Additionally, it appears as though work would need to be done to the triples if the super expensive Ohlins replacements were ordered for the front. I'm not even sure what other sorts of issues would arise (for example, just from looking at the parts catalogs for the 696 and the 1100s, the brake calipers have different part numbers). I'm assuming that in the end, one of us will simply end up ordering stuff and attempting to fit it. Hopefully whomever that may be (who knows, maybe it will be me) documents the process so that the rest of us too scared, cheap, or lazy to attempt such an impressive mod could follow in their footsteps.
Stupid 696 forks. Bleh.

I just did a quick search on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ducati-848-1098-1198-Showa-Radial-Front-Forks-Fork_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem518cfa1a9dQQitemZ350257552029QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Just in case that doesn't work: used, straight SB forks for $599. I think one 1100s Ohlins is like $2500 or some such nonsense. ONLY ONE FORK!