Installed Ohlins rear shock on my Monster 1100 EVO

[greenmonster]

 

[koko64]

Great outcome.

[ducpainter]

About the time you sent that, I was out in the garage with him... so I didn't see it. 

He did a miraculous job on it, however... it's like a new bike. 

He dropped my forks about 15mm, for one thing... which seriously helps steering while braking.  My 796 does not have adjustable forks... sadly.

I set the initial preload about half the way up the shock... thinking my ride weight might be a bit much for the stock spring rate.  He told me the Ohlins actually has a pretty stiff spring... he took about 20-25mm of preload out, which would explain why the rear felt so squirrley.

Yes, we talked about tire pressure...

I am a control person... I don't care how comfy the ride is, I need to have confidence when I roll into a corner or turn.  The bike is like a guided missile, now, over having to shove the thing down into a corner.  I thought raising the front end would make the thing turn like a pig... not at all.  Besides taking out that rear preload, I think dropping the forks down (raising the front) probably was the biggest change he made.

He said I'll have to get it out on some of my riding roads to see if I need to adjust the damping... he was spinning the damper knob like a roulette wheel, but I don't know if he started with it out, or in (full.)  I'll have to axe.

Just curious what he recommended for pressure.

[koko64]

+1 on that DP.

Charlie. Remind me what tyres you're running.
So he raised front ride height by 15mm? If so, probably to compensate for the excessive sag from the soft oem springs.

[Charlie98]

I'm running Rosso III's front and rear.

I think he put 32 in the R, 34 in the front.

Yes... 15mm, I just went out and checked, again.  The 796 forks are not adjustable for anything (although the manual say is it...  ) so that would seem reasonable at first blush, but it made a world of difference.

[koko64]

Pirelli site says 32 F 34 R (2.2/2.4 bar). However, with such a light bike my tyre bloke suggested 32 at the rear to get it to warm up and make the tyre work. Also if he put more pressure up front it could be a performance based thing for more stability up front due to the soft springs.
I have removed the pillion pegs and hangers so have no need for pillion tyre pressures on the Evo. I can't see anyone staying on the back for long without the bike wheelieing and throwing them off, as its just too angry.

[Charlie98]

I've carried a passenger exactly once... and it's not likely I'll do it again.  The 796's passenger pegs are intergal with the front pegs.  I actually bought parts to delete them (I don't remember what the pegs came off of... perhaps an Evo...) but never got around to swapping them out.

Dude said the Rosso has a fairly soft carcass, so 32-34psi is the normal range for it.  I don't want to have to replace the front wheel... so I expect I'll continue with 34psi in the front for sure.