Rebuilding suspension S2R 800 - where's my credit card? But first your advice?

[spaugh]

you don't need to spend that much cash for suspension work.  Just order some stiffer springs and put heavier weight oil in the forks.  I've done it on my dirtbikes, its easy.  I can give you advice on doing the work, but really all you need to do is take the end caps off and replace the springs.  The rear shock is easy enough to just put a stiffer spring on too.  I have no idea what size springs are on our bikes, but getting wp springs should be fairly cheap.  Maybe 300$ at most for front and rear springs.  Oil is really cheap....   

[rockaduc]

You could always pick up a set of SBK forks on Ebay and an S4R shock.  Search around on the board, this discussion has been beaten to death.

[Speeddog]

S2R needs frame modification to fit the S4R shock, no?

[rockaduc]

Yes, cut and grind starter coil braket, repaint the piece of frame, and relocate the coil to next to the shock mount.  All things you can do yourself.

[Ducatiloo]

I have the same bike and I'm talking with "e-mailing" http://www.hyperprousa.com about replacement fork springs and a new rear spring to match my weight.    You should give them a call and see if they will ship to you.

[tangueroHondo]

This is the tech board isn't it
I'm 6'4" and excess weight is 20 above lean weight (= 15% body fat). I'm loosing weight all the time, working as a personal trainer, and won't stop until I'm lean - weighing about 210. Unfortunately that will still be too much for the 800 - which might not be a very well equipped bike to begin with. It might be OK for careful riding, but my point is that if it's going to satisfy any long term expectations it just might require better parts - regardless of weight.

OK - Fix the forks AND buy hockey equipment: 6-4, 210 is perfect defensman size.  I play drop-in hockey with two Norweigians: One of them is my size and the other is your size.  The big guy is definately one of the best defensemen out there.   The 'fix the forks' comment was the Tech part of my reply.

[stopintime]

OK - Fix the forks AND buy hockey equipment: 6-4, 210 is perfect defensman size.  I play drop-in hockey with two Norweigians: One of them is my size and the other is your size.  The big guy is definately one of the best defensemen out there.   The 'fix the forks' comment was the Tech part of my reply.

Fast alpine skiing, strength training (squats mainly) and the occasional cardio work out for me. Give me a call (and air plane ticket) I'll join you for some hockey   Say hi to the other Norwegians for me? If they mess up at hockey you can shout "fittetryne" - fit-a-tree-neh. Make sure you smile when you say that

[Speeddog]

And make sure they have skates on and you have running shoes on. 

Or that you're 7' / 350 lb.

[tangueroHondo]

Fast alpine skiing, strength training (squats mainly) and the occasional cardio work out for me. Give me a call (and air plane ticket) I'll join you for some hockey   Say hi to the other Norwegians for me? If they mess up at hockey you can shout "fittetryne" - fit-a-tree-neh. Make sure you smile when you say that

Thanks for the tip.  Hans (the big Norwegian) brings 8 or so bottles of beer in a little cooler, into the changeroom and passes them around after the game.  He refers to the beer in the cooler as the 'church key'.  Apparently this is an old Norwegian saying?  I certainly don't get it.

[stopintime]

Thanks for the tip.  Hans (the big Norwegian) brings 8 or so bottles of beer in a little cooler, into the changeroom and passes them around after the game.  He refers to the beer in the cooler as the 'church key'.  Apparently this is an old Norwegian saying?  I certainly don't get it.

Something about seeing "the light" maybe - new to me too.

Speeddog, you have the proper dictionary?

[Speeddog]

-------------snip-------------
Speeddog, you have the proper dictionary?

Not sure if I've got the proper dictionary or not.
I googled "fittetryne norwegian".
From what I saw, it seemed it would certainly get a reaction from a Norwegian.

[PizzaMonster]

Wow!  there is some pretty expensive advice being thrown around on this thread.  I'm sure for a couple of grand you can do all kinds of nice suspension mods but apparently they won't work on "fat" guys' bikes anyways.

I weigh about 245lbs.  (okay..so I'm fat...BITE ME!).  I also ride an 800 and found it too soft.  I haven't done anything to the rear except crank the preload way up to compensate for my weight but the front was fairly easy to fix.

I noticed the S2R800 felt like it was wandering compared to the 1K I had also tried before I bought and the dealer suggested stiffer fork springs.  There isn't a specific spring listed for the S2R800 but my dealer installed these.  He races a 999 and does okay so I trusted him to know what he was doing.  I notice a definite improvement with them. I think the springs were about $120 Cdn and the dealer took about an hour to install them.

Racetech p/n   FRSP S3732 095 
37.0 X 34.5 X 315 mm long   .95 kg/mm  spring rate

Here is a link to the Racetech spring rate calculator:  http://www.racetech.com/evalving/SpringRateCalculation/dirtspring.asp?brand=Ducati&yr=00-01&ml=900%20Monster&formuse=form1&SpringType=Fork

[stopintime]

Wow!  there is some pretty expensive advice being thrown around on this thread.  I'm sure for a couple of grand you can do all kinds of nice suspension mods but apparently they won't work on "fat" guys' bikes anyways.

I weigh about 245lbs.  (okay..so I'm fat...BITE ME!).  I also ride an 800 and found it too soft.  I haven't done anything to the rear except crank the preload way up to compensate for my weight but the front was fairly easy to fix.

I'm not fat, I'm really not fat, I have heavy bone structure - my mom told me so

As I posted earlier, I'm closing in on the skill level and riding style that require really good/customized suspension. I plan on staying alive and healthy even if I ride hard. I want the bike to be better than I am, so it doesn't surprise me when I approach MY limits. I want my bike to swallow a surprise in the twisties without sending me into disaster. Does this make sense?

If I have done my homework, listening carefully to everything I hear, considering the background of the advisors, leaving out the "do like a buddy of mine did" advice AND being critically open minded - this is MY take for NOW on MY bike for ME:
To work well for a heavy rider the springs must be changed, it's not enough to preload them - they will be too short.
No GSXR, SBK, 1k, S4RS parts will be "perfect" for me - at the very least I will have to get new springs anyway.
The shocks must be rebuild/changed to work properly, heavier oil is not enough on it's own if the valves are way off.

With my need for a one-stop place to turn to I think the gurushop is the choice for me. Everything will be custom fitted, calculated, documented and under warranty. Of course, only after deciding which bike I'm sticking with for the next 3-5 years. 

[Speeddog]

You're being way more pragmatic than the average Duc rider, but if it works for you, that's fine. 

Seriously, IMO, you've got the right plan. 

[stopintime]

You're being way more pragmatic than the average Duc rider, but if it works for you, that's fine. 

Seriously, IMO, you've got the right plan. 

Thanks, I value your comments.