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Skittish under heavy braking.

Started by Howley, June 11, 2011, 07:17:15 PM

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Howley

June 11, 2011, 07:17:15 PM
I changed the forks on my '94 900 a while back from the stocks to showa adjustables of the same era.
Since then, I've noticed the front end seems really skittish under heavy braking, sometimes, if the road is rough, to the point of feeling like I'll lose the front.
Any suggestion as to what needs adjusting?

jerryz

#1
June 11, 2011, 07:22:26 PM
If the forks came off an S4 than this is a problem as they are crap read this thread  www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=49759.0


If they came off an SBK they can be sorted I have similar problems with an S4

but my M750 and 750ss are fine with standard forks non  adjustable

ducpainter

#2
June 11, 2011, 07:27:23 PM
Did you change tires?
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
 a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent."


Howley

#3
June 11, 2011, 08:09:35 PM
This is them:

DP I didnt put new tires on. Forks were the only change, didn't lower the front or anything.

ducpainter

#4
June 11, 2011, 08:20:35 PM
Quote from: Howley on June 11, 2011, 08:09:35 PM
This is them:

DP I didnt put new tires on. Forks were the only change, didn't lower the front or anything.
Just because you now have adjustment doesn't necessarily mean the settings...spring rates etc... are right.

How is sag?
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
 a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent."


Howley

#5
June 11, 2011, 08:52:07 PM
Sag is spot on.

ducpainter

#6
June 11, 2011, 08:54:16 PM
Quote from: Howley on June 11, 2011, 08:52:07 PM
Sag is spot on.
Add some compression ?
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
 a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent."


Howley

#7
June 11, 2011, 10:46:49 PM
How much will make a difference? One click? Three clicks? I don't have any experience with adjustable suspension.

Raux

#8
June 12, 2011, 02:36:39 AM
what about tire pressures?

Ddan

#9
June 12, 2011, 02:51:24 AM
Quote from: Howley on June 11, 2011, 10:46:49 PM
How much will make a difference? One click? Three clicks? I don't have any experience with adjustable suspension.

Base settings ( I think) are 3-4 clicks out from fully seated.  I'd set both compression and rebound there and then make adjustments to one or the other 2-3 clicks at a time until it felt right
2000 Monster 900Sie, a few changes
1992 900 SS, currently a pile of parts.  Now running
                    flogged successfully  NHMS  12 customized.  Twice.   T3 too.   Now retired.

Ducati Monster Forum at
www.ducatimonsterforum.org

Howley

#10
June 12, 2011, 03:18:29 AM
Raux, tire pressures were recently checked and ok. Dan, thanks, I set them to their base setting when I put them on (but I forget what that was).
Would you say I need to go in or out on compression?

Ddan

#11
June 12, 2011, 04:07:51 AM
Pretty hard to say from here.  I'd take two clicks out of rebound first and see if that made any change.
2000 Monster 900Sie, a few changes
1992 900 SS, currently a pile of parts.  Now running
                    flogged successfully  NHMS  12 customized.  Twice.   T3 too.   Now retired.

Ducati Monster Forum at
www.ducatimonsterforum.org

ducpainter

#12
June 12, 2011, 04:32:52 AM
I don't think rebound adjustments will help if the front is skittish while loaded.

How much are the forks compressing under heavy braking? Are you bottoming?
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
 a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent."


Cloner

#13
June 12, 2011, 05:24:58 AM
What do you mean by "skittish"?  Is it wallowing?  Is it pushing?  Is it just plain old rough?

DP is right in saying that simply changing the forks won't help you much.  To make matters worse, the adjustability of stock forks is virtually useless.

Try this.....adjusting the compression damping ONLY (at the bottom of the fork leg) by turning both of them all the way clockwise.  Ride a little, then adjust them both all the way counterclockwise and ride some more.  Did you feel any difference?  I thought not.

The answer is to spring the bike (forks and shocks) to your weight and riding style, then to get the damping to do what you want, again for your weight and riding style.  RaceTech gold valves, or similar products made by others will work wonders.   Oh.....and they'll make it where you CAN feel a difference when you make adjustments!

Sorry for the bad news.  No cheap quick fixes out there that I'm aware of.  You either spend the money to set it up right, or spend several thousands of dollars to buy top shelf bits and order them with the corret springs and damping rates.
Never appeal to a man's "better nature."  He may not have one.  Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage.  R.A. Heinlein

'64 Ducati Monza 250
'67 Aermacchi/HD Sprint SS (race bike)
'00 Aprilia RSV Mille
'03 Ducati 800 SS (race bike)
'04 KTM 450 EXC
'08 Kawasaki Ninja 250 (race bike)

jerryz

#14
June 12, 2011, 10:56:07 AM
before you waste any money on stock Ducati showa adustable forks read the article by Torbjon in the other thread  as I have wasted a fortune on my S4 and the forks are still suspect .even revalves , springs may not help as the standard adjustable showas have a design error .
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