S2R800 Fork Dilemma

[TitanMonsterS4R]

Evening Ducati Tech Gods-

Here's my predicament.  

Currently working to improve the suspension on an 06 S2R800 since the stock forks are abysmal.  

While the bike was at the shop for maintenance I had them do the SBK swap for me.  I have triples that measure 53/53 and a 10 spoke 999 front rim.  The problem is that the 999 gold TiN forks I got right fork lower caliper bracket is bent to the point that the right rotor constantly rubs against it.  We've tried shimming and a bunch of other things to get this bike right.  In case I need another option, what 53/53mm forks will work with my stock 5 spoke rimand what 53/53mm forks will work with the 999 10 spoke?

Thanks for the advice.  

This is how she looked when I left her this evening.....

[suzyj]

998 and 748 forks will also work, and will even work with your stock fender.

[TitanMonsterS4R]

998 and 748 forks will also work, and will even work with your stock fender.

Thanks for the reply.

Will the 998 forks work with the 10 spoke rim or will I have to bolt that to my stock 5 spoke?

[DarkStaR]

Just get a new/used fork lowers...don't know if these will fit, but guessing as your trying to shim the caliper, it must be an axial mount...

Just to give you an idea:

Motowheels - 748-998 Showa Fork Lowers

[suzyj]

Will the 998 forks work with the 10 spoke rim or will I have to bolt that to my stock 5 spoke?

I can't see why not.  Axle and caliper mount are identical between 998 and 999 as far as I'm aware.

[TitanMonsterS4R]

Just get a new/used fork lowers...don't know if these will fit, but guessing as your trying to shim the caliper, it must be an axial mount...

Just to give you an idea:

Motowheels - 748-998 Showa Fork Lowers

I might have to give MotoWheels a call to see if these will fit my 999. 

[TitanMonsterS4R]

I can't see why not.  Axle and caliper mount are identical between 998 and 999 as far as I'm aware.

Just a little worried about the spacing for the rotors/calipers.  This is all new territory for me.

[booger]

It should be well-known by now that 749/999 and 748/998 have different rotor offsets. Axles will be different as well.

749/999- 15mm offset

748/998- 10mm offset (this is also the configuration used by all S2R Monsters, and most of the previous gen as well)

If using stock S2R wheels & rotors- 999 forks will work, but you have to either use 5mm rotor spacers to space the rotors out 5mm, or 5mm caliper spacers to space the calipers in 5mm.

999 wheels will not accept S2R rotors and vice versa as the bolt pattern is different. So you have no chance of getting it wrong there.

If you have a 999 wheel you should not be having any trouble fitting the forks. Of course you will also need the 999 rotors as well.

I wish you would post a picture of the fork bottoms rubbing the rotors. If what you're saying is true, that caliper mount must be bent quite a bit. Dunno but I'm just having trouble visualizing it.

Is that Donnie's shop in the photo? If your bike's with him he shouldn't be having any trouble at all getting it done.

[TitanMonsterS4R]

It should be well-known by now that 749/999 and 748/998 have different rotor offsets. Axles will be different as well.

749/999- 15mm offset

748/998- 10mm offset (this is also the configuration used by all S2R Monsters, and most of the previous gen as well)

If using stock S2R wheels & rotors- 999 forks will work, but you have to either use 5mm rotor spacers to space the rotors out 5mm, or 5mm caliper spacers to space the calipers in 5mm.

999 wheels will not accept S2R rotors and vice versa as the bolt pattern is different. So you have no chance of getting it wrong there.

If you have a 999 wheel you should not be having any trouble fitting the forks. Of course you will also need the 999 rotors as well.

I wish you would post a picture of the fork bottoms rubbing the rotors. If what you're saying is true, that caliper mount must be bent quite a bit. Dunno but I'm just having trouble visualizing it.

Is that Donnie's shop in the photo? If your bike's with him he shouldn't be having any trouble at all getting it done.

Thanks bergdoerfer ....
I just bit the bullet and got another set of 999 forks.  The bike is currently at Battley's in Gaitherburg.  New forks should arrive tomorrow so when I head up there I will definitely post pictures of the old 999 set.  I decided to go with the 999 forks since I have a 999 rim with rotors on them.  I purchased EBCs before I decided to head down the SBK road.  So those will be going up for sale as soon as I can bring them back as well as the stock S2R from and rear rims.  Battley's will just wiggle with mounting the calipers (Brembo goldlines) to get everything to line up correctly. 

Have been to Ducpond once but they have never done any work on my bike.  I like the guys out there, just a little bit of a hike and they have so many bikes to work on turnaround time has always been a concern.

With only a couple more weekends to ride I'd like to actually enjoy these upgrades before winter gets here. 

[corey]

Okay let's all relax.
I have 999 forks on my S2R800, and they will fit. Your forks are not bent.
You need four very simple spacers made, all exactly the same, as well as 4 new bolts for your calipers that are a bit longer.
I don't have the exact specs on the spacers right now, but i can give you the gist. They are 5mm thick (as the rotor spacing on the 999 is 5mm more than our monsters, thus you need to move your caliper 5mm closer to the rotor)... The outer diameter of the spacer is something similar to the mounting area of the caliper/fork bottom.. it's somewhere between 3/4" to 1" or a bit larger (i think my machinist actually used stock 1-1/8th" steel rod... the outer diameter really isn't all that important)... the Inner diameter is the same as the bolt hole for your calipers. You just stick these four little rings between your calipers and their mounting points on the fork bottoms. It's basically just a 5mm thick washer.

Now i know everyone is going to freak out... OMG it's your brakes, spacers are soooo dangerous... It's 5mm guys. It works perfectly. I used steel for my spacers, and bought 316 hardened stainless bolts from Pro-bolt to complete the kit.

You also want to use your STOCK axle (drill holes in it if you want for the bottom adjusters), as the spacing on a 999 axle is incorrect for the monster. ask me how i know.

Everyone can chime in as necessary, but this is how it worked on my S2R800. It fits, i have ZERO issues after 4000 miles.

999 forks.
53mm bored top triple.
53mm shimmed bottom triple.
5mm spacers for calipers.
Longer bolts to accommodate caliper spacers.

Any machine shop should be able to make those spacers for you on the cheap.
As berg said, if you have a 999 wheel with 999 rotors on it, it should bolt right on, aside from the fact that you'd need new calipers to accommodate the 320mm rotors, as your stock S2R800 rotors are only 300mm.

hopefully this helps, feel free to PM me if you need any guidance on the swap.

[corey]

See you posted again.
If you're going with 999 forks and a 999 wheel/rotors, you should be fine on caliper spacing.

[booger]

^ what he said. You shouldn't be having any trouble if you have the 999 wheel & rotors along with the 999 forks. You got the package right there. Could it be you bought a pair of wrecked forks the first time?

[Artful]

[TitanMonsterS4R]

^ what he said. You shouldn't be having any trouble if you have the 999 wheel & rotors along with the 999 forks. You got the package right there. Could it be you bought a pair of wrecked forks the first time?

I don't think so and hope not.  Got them from a fellow DMFer and a stand up guy who had them on his.  So something must have ge wrong between the dismantling of his bike, me and trying to install them.

[corey]

Advice on rotor spacers that directly solve the OP's dilemma is not useful?