So other than being burned at the stake for buying something that is clearly witch craft, can i ask when you swap out the stock ecu does that mess with the CJS custom map? Or is the ecu that you swap out nothing to do with fueling? Also Ive tried reading as many posts as possible about the SCU and from what i gather you set all settings to '1-1' and that's where the ohlins gizmo takes over as that's what its looking for, is that correct? Its just that I'm confused as Ive read some posts where people have installed the SCU and then adjusted the settings slightly, but surely if you change anything away from being a '1-1' then the Ohlins stops looking for it and therefor you're not on semi active anymore? Or am i wrong twice in one post? And my final very likely stupid question to add to this thread........ If the Ohlins SCU constantly adjusts the suspension according to the feedback of riding style at the time, where do the stock settings come in? i mean will switching from Sport to Touring to Enduro just alter BHP and/or fueling and throttle response? And the suspension just constantly acts the same depending on riding style? Does that make sense? Or does it still realise that when you're in sport you want it a bit stiffer and touring a bit softer? Im normally pretty good with technology but Ive read that much on it from various sources im not sure exactly whats right and whats wrong. IS IT GOOD AND SHALL I BUY IT
OK here's a quick answer from my tablet, I'm not typing from a full keyboard. With the front suspension (Ohlins Mechatronic, standard or skyhook) you manually set the spring pre-load using a large spanner. Set both legs the same and make note of the number of turns closed from fully open. It helps to mark the nut n leg with a pencil or marker pen. This sets the tension on the spring for the weight of the bike, rider and other carried loads. Too soft and the bike will sit too low (may bottom out) too high and it will skip. There are a number of threads and many good books on the correct settings. I'm 110Kg of shortarse that has the springs up- rated and set to two cw turns. The rear suspension has the spring pre-load set either manually or by the electronics. Regardless of skyhook or mechatronic this only adjusts when you change it, normally by selecting one or two riders luggage etc. Sky hook and Ohlins Mechatronic adjusts the rebound and damping (Front and rear) on the fly depending on the ECU riding modes (sports, touring etc). On the Mechatronic system once the settings are set to the lowest this is taken as you require the semiactive mode. Since the Ohlins only reads the speed, rider mode and throttle position and is separate to the engine ECU it does not matter that Chris has transformed your machine. I've both a modified ECU and the Ohlins. The tune from Chris at cjs is the best £425 you'll ever spend on this ducati. The Mechatronic is ok, but may be I'm not that close to the edge to notice a huge benefit. I suggest that if you've only got £600 to spend get you bike ECU remapped and spend the rest on getting the pre-load - damping set right by a specialist. For me it took new springs back n front before I was happy.
So, I'm pretty happy with the ride as is to be honest, the previous owner whilst smaller than me updated the rear shock for a stiffer one and also had the bike set up by an ohlins tech who lived in the next village. I still get a slight squat on hard acceleration and sometimes a vague front end feeling if I'm coming in to a bend fast but she still whips round it, I generally commit and ride the bike like a supermoto so it's pretty aggressive. So does the SCU have the ability to adjust the front suspension on the fly or is it only the rear?
Back n front rebound and compression adjusted on the fly to different maps depending on rider mode, speed, throttle and speed. She's a big bike to ride supermoto style..we use a husky NOX for that. On A n B roads at double digit speeds the nox is considerably faster.
Well I mean in the sense that I hoon it around Besides, I'm a big bloke so she's not so big to me So if I'm relatively happy with the suspension at the moment (bar the forks knocking) then will the SCU just improve on that in terms of overall ride and planted feeling I just couldn't get my head around how much it alters things after setting every setting I currently have to the same number , in other words how does it differentiate between 2 up in touring to riding solo in sport if all the settings are wound back to 1-1? Given that you set the baseline the same in each mode wouldn't therefore the ride be exactly the same apart from throttle response?
Where are you based? We can have a ride out n swap. As already mentioned the preloadback n front is set elsewhere. The new SCU adjusts only the rear preload based on the macro settings for rider, rider plus one etc. I think the SCU only moves around 10% +\- for the damping back n front depending on speed, throttle position etc. I assume (not tested) that it moves the damping to stiffer as a base if you select a higher load e..g . rider n pillion would be initially stiffer than rider only. I love the touring mode as this gives a firm ride without shaking out your teeth. On mine Enduro mode is set up for bad weather and unless its wet I never use urban even in town.
Yep, I'm at Heathrow, but how about you ride down towards the Benson meet? Either join us for the ride or I'll continue up your way afterwards and we could meet somewhere in the afternoon. It's not like the bikes aren't built for crossing the country. If you google my forum name .com you'll be able to get my mobile to chat.
Great thread - wish I'd read it last week when my bike was still at Pro Twins - could've got them to adjust the suspension too. Anyway, they installed the trick Ohlins SCU. I haven't checked to see if they configured it but i had it in sport mode for the first time on Sunday and although firm I felt that the road holding was exceptional - the suspension seemed able to press the wheels into the road regardless of what the road or I did. I'm guessing it is active because the suspension is a dream now but I'll check.
Just spoken to Pro Twins and they have configured the SCU to enable it. Bloody amazing bit of kit, it's like having someone running ahead of you and adjusting the suspension according to the surface they encounter just before you get to it.
Hi Guys, How the long term reliability of the scu addons? and what is it with the DES error that some of the riders encountered after putting on the new scu. Cheers
If anyone has an error I've a brand new rebuilt/tested one for sale. It was thought to be a display only one, so after I undid a screw and redecorated me /office with oil I sent it for rebuild and text. All invoices supplied.
I'm nearly 4 years in with the Ohlins SCU and the only issue I've had is sometimes if I change between modes on the fly, I get the DES error message. The function of the suspension feels unimpaired and the error message goes when you switch off and restart. I have at the back of my mind, a forum member had a small plastic cog fail in the pre load mechanism but other than that not heard anything bad. Andy
Twas me..... and was repaired... can't remember if I had to pay or Ohlins or Ducati warranty chipped in... have to have a re-read of my posts. I purchased another one on Ebay, so I had a spare, but never needed it. I think they are a good upgrade and well worth it.
I’ve had the SCU fitted for about 4 years and only got the error message once this year, a quick bike off/on and never seen it since..?
I've been running mine since about a year after they came out, both on my last bike and this one. I waited a little while just to see how many problems were reported So far I've had no problems.
