Suspension Questions

[ctrain]

So I think i might be the fattest guy to ride a Ducati Monster (self proclaimed).  I have a 2006 S2R 1000 and have read a lot about getting the suspension set up for my weight. Im about 250lbs (with gear) and went in to talk to the local dealer to price it out. He gave me a quote of about $1000 for both front and rear. He stated i would have to have everything re-sprung (which i believe) but $1000?! He said that would be the best option and have the best suspension set up on the bike. Im not looking to spend $1000 nor do I have the money. I was hoping for something significantly cheaper.

Is this my only option?

If not, how much am i looking at for materials?

Length of time for the build?

How hard is it to do this myself? I have basic tools (willing to buy what i need), but am pretty competent with directions.

 

[He Man]

heres your options

a) $100 shock spring+30 labor to get it put on. $150 fork springs+$30 oil you can do this yourself
b) send it to somewhere cheaper, youll get a pretty good setup for valves springs and oil ~$600-700 for the forks.

just doing springs will make the fork 10x better.

[Howie]

We need to know what you are getting for your $1000.  If you are just getting springs and oil you are getting ripped badly.  If you are getting full Ohlins you are getting a super bargain.  Surely, you are getting something between the extremes.  Get an itemized list of what they will be doing.

[WetDuc]

If it's the full Ohlins setup that's great!  He did say "that would be the best option and have the best suspension set up on the bike"...

[A.duc.H.duc.]

From the sounds of it, that would be nothing other than new springs and oil and then setup, though it might include re-valving the forks. That would make $1000 high. You can get and replace your own springs front and rear, and change oil in the forks, and do a basic setup yourself with basic tools, and that would be a lot less money. It probably wouldn't be setup as nice as the shop would do for you, depending on how good your shop is, but it probably would be adhering to the 80/20 rule, that is: 80% of the value for 20% of the cost.

If you are only looking to improve the suspension for general road riding for your weight, I would go this route first. Get springs front and rear for your weight, change your fork oil, and get your sag, etc. setup right with the help of some friends. You'll see a world of difference in the suspension, and you should be able to do it for a few hundred bucks.

[ctrain]

The guy at the shop said it would be "top of the line suspension" and made it sound like it was something similar to the setup on the 1198. I didnt as specifics because I was instantly turned off to the idea because of the cost. Im not looking to spend that much. Nor do i think i am a good enough rider to warrant that type of set up.

I am mostly going for a set up that would work for my weight. I dont race the bike (though I would like to take it to the track to have some fun) but 99% of my riding is on the street and up canyons.

Where can I find the springs (front and rear) and oil I need for my weight?

Guess its time to look up a tutorial on this... off to the DMF archives i go... 

[caboteria]

Where can I find the springs (front and rear) and oil I need for my weight?

Shoot a PM to ducvet.  He's the man.

[fasterblkduc]

DIY...buy this book,  Even if you don't DIY, buy the book. It is your suspension bible.

http://www.amazon.com/Sportbike-Suspension-Tuning-Andrew-Trevitt/dp/1893618455/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271442942&sr=8-1


As someone above said, springs are fairly cheap. You can buy springs from www.racetech.com and do the whole thing yourself. If you have that book and read it, you will be so far ahead of the average rider that you should be able to re spring your suspension, set it up, and be able to make adjustments to get it just right. You can spend thousands on buying really trick suspension with infinite valving but if you are not racing for money...what's the point? Setting up your stock stuff to get you in the range of where you need to be is the cheapest way to go, and arguably plenty adequate for all non competition riding.

[Autostrada Pilot]

How hard is it to do this myself? I have basic tools (willing to buy what i need), but am pretty competent with directions.
 

I am neither competent with directions nor tools. 

I need to setup my suspension as well (no new springs or oil for me as I'm a lightweight), just need to get it adjusted for me.  Let me know if you need any help. I don't know what I'm doing, but I'd be happy to help out. 

[He Man]

pop cap off, hold down the spring with ur hands and glvoes remove the cap and preload spacer. replace springs and reverse.


little more to it then that, but thats about the jist of it.

since i wont be going to 848 forks... ill be renewing the oil on my forks and ill post some pics up.

[ctrain]

pop cap off, hold down the spring with ur hands and glvoes remove the cap and preload spacer. replace springs and reverse.


little more to it then that, but thats about the jist of it.

since i wont be going to 848 forks... ill be renewing the oil on my forks and ill post some pics up.

That would be great! Quick question about the fork oil though... is it similar to dealing with brakes? Will I have to bleed it or is it just fill it up, put the cap on and call it good?

[He Man]

That would be great! Quick question about the fork oil though... is it similar to dealing with brakes? Will I have to bleed it or is it just fill it up, put the cap on and call it good?

you fill it up, and pump the catrdige to get all the small bubbles out, and then set the height with a special tool.

ive never done it so i cant say first hand. Ive just watched a lot of ivideos on USD forks.

with the new spring, it may be too stiff to compress with your bare hands so you might need a spring compressor....