2014 796 ABS Front Forks

[WylieMutt]

Hey all, I have a question that perhaps someone can answer for me. I have a 2014 796 ABS that I purchased new about 1-1/2 years ago. The owners manual indicates that the model has adjustable front forks but my bike does not actually have them equipped. I've read that earlier 796 models did not have adjustable forks.

Could my bike perhaps be from early 2014 and they had not yet made the change to adjustable forks? Any insight would be appreciated.

Wylie

[Howie]

The manual is incorrect, your 796 came with non adjustable forks.

[Charlie98]

My '13 manual says the same thing... and, no, they aren't.  Much to my dismay.

[Curmudgeon]

The 796 has a Marzocchi fork which I find pretty acceptable but changed to a cheap Ohlins shock/spring prior to delivery which was ordered from Ohlins for my weight and riding style and set up by my dealer who is an Ohlins tech. The stock Sach "worked" but was basically "dead". FWIW and IMO, once the rear is set up acceptably, the fork works better.

On my last service had the fork oil changed to Red Line 10W and "tuned" by the same Ohlins tech. It's smoother but also slighly firmer. (I'm 175# plus gear.) My dealer/master tech weighs 190# and thinks my bike is a gas to ride. He's qualified to know that.  http://www.ducpond.com/aboutus.asp

The suspension is ~ 90% now vs high-end SBK. These are "budget" solutions in line with the bike. Would cost a fortune to get that last 10%, more than the bike is worth. In my riding though, the chassis never gets upset by any irregularity and is comfortable while not "touring" plush.

Just my $0.02... 

[TWDucfan]

Just my $0.02...   

Bookmarked. 

[Charlie98]

On my last service had the fork oil changed to Red Line 10W and "tuned" by the same Ohlins tech. It's smoother but also slighly firmer. (I'm 175# plus gear.) My dealer/master tech weighs 190# and thinks my bike is a gas to ride. He's qualified to know that. 

I've already found my '13 M796 not quite balanced... the front diving and a bit unsettled compared to the firmer (if not spectacular) rear.  I've already started thinking about 10W in the front (It's what I did on my XR) but am also wondering if anyone makes a better spring?  I put Progressive Suspension springs in my CBR1000 and it made a HUGE difference.

[Curmudgeon]

I've already found my '13 M796 not quite balanced... the front diving and a bit unsettled compared to the firmer (if not spectacular) rear.  I've already started thinking about 10W in the front (It's what I did on my XR) but am also wondering if anyone makes a better spring?  I put Progressive Suspension springs in my CBR1000 and it made a HUGE difference.

You don't say how much you weigh; my weight you'll find listed above. If you weigh 215+#, the 10W Red Line might help and much heavier than 225# and straight rate springs might be needed.

If you weigh less than 200#, try backing off the shock preload a bit as the fork and shock work together. You may have the fork overloaded and the bikes are delivered with that preload set for a light rider and light passenger, maybe for liability reasons. During setup many dealers don't bother to set the shock preload for the client.

As mentioned above, I swapped out the Sachs for a cheap Ohlins and spring for my weight and riding style prior to delivery. On the demo I rode, the Sachs wasn't doing much.

When my dealer set the sag on my Ohlins for his weight which is close to mine, he only needed to back off the combined compression and rebound adjuster one click to achieve excellent balance front to rear.