Any 696 Fork progress ???

[Spencer]

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It's been about a year since I tried, and failed to have my forks upgraded. The 696 hasn't been ridden much in the last 6 or seven months (have other bikes), waiting, hoping that a sollution would show its head. Is there anything new regarding direct replacement forks ??  I do not want to swap out the TT or do any machining.  I want to maintain the stock brake components.  I am even contemplating purchase of a set of 1100 forks and re-working them. Can anyone tell me if the increased length is in the tubes or just a spacer change?  It's either figure this out and finish the bike or sell it and go to a Street Triple R  


2009 Ducati Monster 696 .....vin # ends in 666
Mivv Suono full Carbon cans
Galfer front rotors & pads
Spiegler rear wave brake rotor w/Kevlar pads
DP "Race" ECU and air filter
DP oil cooler
Ohlins rear shock
14t front sprocket
46t DP rear sprocket
EK Quadra X-ring chain (Black)
CST Case Saver
Removed charcoal can replaced w/ factory Euro left side shroud
Spacers removed from front signals
DP tail chop
Scorpio alarm with perimeter sensor
Pazzo brake and clutch levers (Black)
Motovation frame, fork, and swingarm sliders
Rizoma conical bar end weights/sliders (Black)
Rizoma "Radial Naked" mirrors (Black)
DP CF tank Pad
Tec Spec tank grip
DP CF top and bottom tank cover
DP CF front sprocket cover
DP CF header heat shield
DP CF Headlight cover
DP CF Belt covers
DP CF Cable guard
Oberon "touring" pegs (Silver)
Rizoma billet oil filler cap (Black)
Speedymoto crankcase cover (Black)
Sato 28mm clutch slave (Black)

[crimsoncloak]

Have you tried sending them to race-tech, Dan Kyle, Traxxion Dynamics, Cogent Dynamics, etc to have different cartridges installed?  The 1100 fork idea may pan out better since they are adjustable and you can add the Ohlins cartridges or just Ohlins pistons/valving depending on your budget.  If you are tall enough you could just run the longer forks and buy a M1100 shock mount for a couple dollars to compensate for the longer forks.  Then you'd have additional ground clearance to take advantage of your improved suspension.

Are the forks doing something wrong in specific?

[hackers2r]

So I'll tell you the problem with your 696 forks.  The reason why no one offers any cartridge kits for your bike is because only one fork has a damper in it.  The other has only a spring.  Because of this, setting up a cartridge replacement requires machining of parts which is quite delicate and time consuming.  Instillation of a cartridge kit is therefore, quite the custom and extensive job.

[Grampa]

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=30907.0

[Raux]

Ducati Indy has a tech article about it. they changed up springs and damper.

[Spencer]

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Thanks for the replies and yes, Kyles did my shock but can't do anything with the forks.  I even hand delivered my forks to Traxxion after they insisted that they could do the AK-20 installation just to have them refuse to touch them after having them for a few days.  Basically the stock units MUST be replaced in their entirety to get where I want to be.

As I said I don't want to do any machining so the swap in the link is a no go and upgrading without going to adjustable cartridges in both legs is not acceptable.  

Looks like the 1100 swap is the only option for what I need and Ducati wants $1200 per leg.....$2400 per leg for the Ohlins, and Ohlins refuses to sell them directly  

Had I known about the set up before I purchased the bike...I probably wouldn't have....

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[xcaptainxbloodx]

why are you so opposed to machining and swapping brakes?

[Spencer]

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Been down that road before with other project bikes, one off or a mix matched set of parts just swaps one problem for another most times.  Being able to order stock replacement parts makes things much easier if a problem arrises and for the next owner.

The idea is to upgrade without it being overly obvious.

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[hackers2r]

I know a company has done just cartridge installs for these forks but as I had mentioned, it required machining of parts and was quite custom.  If you're interested, let me know.

[Spencer]

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hackers2r dropped you an e-mail, machining of the forks themselves is not a problem for me.

Thanks sir

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[crimsoncloak]

Maybe we should check the length on S4RS forks.  Those are 50/54 and radial.  Probably a little long, but like I said, if you are tall enough you can just replace the rear shock mount (which is a bolt on clevis).  They should have the right offset for M1100 brakes wheel/brakes.  I can't imagine paying over $800~1,200 for nice used set of those.

[corey]

Maybe we should check the length on S4RS forks....I can't imagine paying over $800~1,200 for nice used set of those.

I think you'd be surprised.

[Spencer]

Well.........

Saturday on the 75 mile ride to the dealer to have the DP ECU re-tweaked the horizontal cam cover started leaking...bad...agian...after replacing the cover and the O-ring for a 2nd time...and then the air temp sensor failed leaving me with a bike that would barely idle and ran like crap up until 4K.  It was the last straw...and this with a bike that has 1500 miles on it.  Did I mention that the VIN # ended in 666.

So.....I purchased a new set of fully adjustable forks with some other stuff attached:



time to start over 

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[RC Fan]

I sympathize with your issues with the 696.  I never realized how bad the suspension was until I took my recently purchased XT250 for the first ride.  The 696 can be punishing.

Congrats on the Street Triple R!  It is a bike I would also consider now that my dealer is selling Triumphs.  Can you let us know how you like it?

[Spencer]

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Don't get me wrong, I loved owning the 696 even though it was possessed by oil leak demons (I fixed 4 others) just wish they hadn't cut corners with the forks...I have owned quite a few Ducs and the STR now puts me over the top of 30 bikes in my lifetime.  Currently four in the stable.

The way it sat the 696 was a supermodel, but unfortunately for me when I got to know her I found she was fun to date, but not marriage material.  Yes I dressed her up and fixed what I could but in the end after a little over a year had to let her go.

The STR is a homely little beast, and I am still in the break in period, but I can say that the stock suspension and handling are what I wish I could have accomplished with the Monster (even after the rear Ohlins and what tweaking I could do with the forks), the brakes are better than the upgraded system on my Monster, and the STR motor.....that motor.....I have yet to get it in the power but even just at half throttle the torque feels more like my old 748 than any modern 600.  I can't wait to be able to wring it out up top  

I'm going to have to dress it up a little to be able to stand looking at it but it is absolutely performance first with this one.  I feel the same riding it as I did looking at my 696.....sublime.

More later

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