Suspension cam

[Robert Taylor]

I was refering to my initial post Robert

Im having a blonde moment.....

[nodrog:Me]

Im having a blonde moment.....

Tube top and mini skirt?

[Robert Taylor]

Tube top and mini skirt?

Now you're talking! But back on thread it was great to view the suspension action on that Ducati

[rapid van cleef]

well?????????????????????????? how much was it then?

[Robert Taylor]

well?????????????????????????? how much was it then?

Thats for the owner to divulge and its individual to the bike, work required and specification level.

[kiwifruit]

well?????????????????????????? how much was it then?

$1200 - Ohlins Ohlins DU 321 (Monster), custom built to fit
$ 900 - Rebuilt forks with Race Tech emulators, linear wind fork springs and fabricated preload spacers

[Robert Taylor]

Kiwifruit has asked if I will post about the suspension work carried out, so here goes;

FRONT FORKS. Fully stripped and inspected for wear, including condition of bushings. Inspected for truth / straightness. Damper rods machined so that they would actually assemble concentrically inside the forks. Also processed to accept Race Tech Emulators which we also modify / tune to suit the application. Linear wind springs selected in a rate appropriate to the riders personal stats, the bike and the application. Low friction fork seals fitted, its often misunderstood that suspension work is also about reducing friction. Cheap low cost seals all too often create massive friction and that clearly can be felt when riding. Forks filled with super slippery Ohlins fork oil and the level carefully adjusted to set the ''secondary trapped air spring compression ratio''

REAR SHOCK. Custom build Ohlins in a single tube type with an internal gas dividing piston ( to prevent cavitation and fade ) , with rebound adjuster and castellated preload lockrings. A dedicated Ohlins listing has never ever been available for this model so what we first do is to establish the length and stroke required, end fittings and clearance issues to contend with. We then scroll through current listings that Ohlins do make that are as close as possible to the target specification. We then modify to suit and mess around with the spring rate and preload to get it all in the correct window of rider sag and resultant static sag correlation. Once we have got the springing very close that then gives us a pretty reasonable idea of a solid baseline start for an internal rebound valving spec. We will arrange the rebound stack so that the rebound adjuster is in the most responsive range of the needle taper. Most of the work is then done with the internal compression stack, low speed to attain some dynamic holdup but just enough weight transference under power. And a high speed compression stack that is supple enough to allow abrupt bumps to be absorbed. This is all largely done by feel and in the case of this bike we had the shock apart 3 times and successively revalved to get the feel we wanted. The shock absolutely has to match the motion ratio that the swingarm imparts to it. And a rising rate linkage ( where fitted )
Its a big misconception that we send out boxes of pre-built suspension and nothing else. This is in fact time consuming work and while some may freak at the price its likely cheaper than it really should be.

[caspernz]

When it comes to improving one's motorcycle, sorting the suspension out is by far the best value for money one can get. It's not as expensive as you may think either.

With you on that, the advantages are many and you don't even have to be a speed junky to appreciate the improvement. Best money I ever spent on a bike. But like Dennis at CKT, sorry KSS, said when I got mine done: "Now that you've done it to this bike, you'll wanna do it to your next one as well." No argument there.

[kiwifruit]

"Now that you've done it to this bike, you'll wanna do it to your next one as well."

Yeah, that's the only problem eh!

[caspernz]

Yeah, that's the only problem eh!

Here's something you won't often hear from a tight fisted Dutchman: "On a value for money basis, the suspension fix is simply a no-brainer!"

The hard part for some folks might be that money spent on suspension bits, ie bits that don't immediately grab the eye when your ride is parked outside your chosen cafe or pub, is a problem. Well, either that or the misconception that stock suspension is close enough. In my case the stock setup was so far from ideal it just wasn't funny. But you don't find that out until you ride the improved bike.

For me, I bought a $10,000 bike and I spent around $1,800 with CKT for the suspension upgrade. I still maintain it's the best money I've ever spent on any bike.

[jrandom]

Absolutely no sarcasm intended. The cost of mods to this bike including construction of a one off rear Ohlins shock are likely less than many would misconstrue. Certainly the owner is very happy with the end result and the value.

Yep, he's happy enough to have convinced me that it's a worthwhile mod for the Nightster.

Don't worry, Robert, I really will get those measurements through to you at some point before Christmas.

[vifferman]

Pity there was no 'before' footage, and it would've been nice to see the suspension action against a better reference. I suspect if I did that to mine, the back tyre would be skipping off the ground over ripples (at least, that's what it feels like sometimes).

[jrandom]

Pity there was no 'before' footage, and it would've been nice to see the suspension action against a better reference.

We'll do that with the Hardley.

[vifferman]

We'll do that with the Hardley.

So, it's a Hardley? Your 'mate' that I work with rides a CanHardley (sometimes). It CanHardley go around right-hand corners, on account of the oh-so-styley-but-f'kn-huge mufflers on the right. Why the fook would you design a bike that doesn't corner?!?

[jrandom]

Why the fook would you design a bike that doesn't corner?!?

Well, that's all relative innit.

My one goes around corners just fine. Scrapes the pegs fairly soon in the process, of course. If you want to go quicker on it you just have to move around.

Be interesting to see what CKT can do with it.