Reply to link - or anyone else with 696 experience. Very interested in your comments re 696 suspension as you seem to know what you are talking about. I have a new 696 and weigh @ 250 lbs and find the front end so stiff it is jarring. Road irregularities and bad surfaces make the front end feel almost as if it is solid. Yet, when I put the front wheel against a wall and pump the forks, they feel fine.
I seem to be the only one who complains about this. If anything I would think the forks would be too 'soft' for my weight. Do you think going to a 5 weight oil may help.
The guys who are telling you the stock springs are too soft are correct & your just blowing thru the stroke and bottoming or getting to a point where the fork valving gets real harsh and feels like bottom. Your also having problems with the rear shock (if you still have the stock spring on that) I'm new to Ducati so I don't know if your local dealer could put new springs in the forks & shock but if your in the US PM me & I can give you a few names of some very good suspension shops that will get your suspension sorted out. For now go put a zip tie around your fork tube pretty tight and up high near the fork seal & go for a ride and see how far the tie has moved & that will tell you how much travel your using, you will know right away if you are bottoming out. Also when you compress your forks (use the front brake don't put the wheel against the wall) you should be able to move them about 3 inches or so and they should take about a second to come back up. I would not recomend a different oil until you get the correct springs. I weigh 185 and never got close to bottoming the 696 forks. Remember that the you need both the front & rear suspension to work together and problems with rear will affect the front & vice-versa.
Good Luck
