Exactly sometimes you even get away without needing to close the throttle. Pikes Peak full ohlins is much more "speed" orientated, very different experience, I wouldn't even suggest one over the other, but having had both Id be happy with either. My only suggestion is that unless you ride quickly most of the time go with skyhook, for a more forgiving comfortable ride. ps "at the flick of a switch" definition is "quickly & easily"
Have a regular 1260s with Skyhook. Works great. Had Öhlins been a reasonable option (in other words taking into account not having the SkyHook system rather than adding the cost of Öhlins to the price of a 1260s) I might have been tempted but. even if they had offered that, Ducati and reasonable can't be uttered in the same sentence... Not sure if the SkyHook can be effectively serviced in the same way as Öhlins, I'm probably into this bike for the long term and that might become a real prospect at some stage. Failure outside of warranty could be very costly indeed too. The convenience of button press adjustment for luggage/no luggage with the SkyHook system as well as the on-the-fly self adjustment is great. Comfortable when it needs to be and firmer when the riding gets more aggressive. Scalpel like precise it isn't though, I guess that the Pikes Peak gives you some of that. Used my girlfriend at the time as something of an excuse to get the Mutley over my MV Turismo (had SkyHook too and handling was razor sharp by comparison though it was significantly lighter). Did one tour together, she's now departed and I'm a solo rider again. No regrets on the bike purchase front though.
OK, I’ve had a look but can’t see any threads on playing with the preload on the forks. Can you point me in the right direction?
In short, wind all the way out then wind in (clockwise) for each turn (could be half turn, hence suggesting a search, been a few years since I did it!) is equal to about 15kgs. So eg if you in kit weigh about 75kg you have 5 turns (or half turns) in. Personally, this worked great but I felt was a bit firm for me so backed of half a turn (or quarter depending - you get my drift) and it worked great.
Skyhook is currently unserviceable. My ear gave up in the high 40,000s, very expensive new. Got a used for 150. Easy swap.
Just a point to consider, adding more preload does not make anything firmer. It simply raises the bike within the suspension travel. Too much preload may cause the fork to top out in some conditions, too little may cause the fork to bottom out on hard bumps. The spring rate remains the same once you are on the bike.
Agreed, "firmer" was the wrong word. I really need to measure sag properly but mine feels so much better than with preload wound right off.
Preload adjustments you're basically looking for two things. You want both front and rear to sit with 1/3rd of the suspension travel taken up when sitting on the bike with feet off the ground. You also want both ends to compress evenly when you drop down into the seat.
same rules for the most part. First set the automatic mode to what suits you, eg. single rider no luggage. Then determine if front and rear settles at the same time when dropping your weight on the seat. Then see if the rear is aprox. 1/3rd compressed when full weight on the bike. Do this by finding total rear suspension travel. Fix a marker pen to the seat or subframe (somehow) directly above the center of the rear wheel. With both wheels on the ground lift the rear till suspension tops out and let the marker mark a stick. (helps to have two people). then sit with all your weight on the seat and mark the stick again. Compare how far the bike "sagged" to total suspension travel. If it sags to half the total travel then try a mode that accounts for more weight. If it barely sags then you're just very light and you can find a lighter spring, or just go with it.
Not sure it is tho. Be AIS of the way SH works, and all the adjustments, it’s not like measure in one mode (say touring) and it’s the same for all. I was never convinced that softest in urban was same as it sport, seemed they had different parameters as to where the setting started and finished.
Well not really, specialist will just say "Nothing I can do mate, leave it on single rider no luggage, or install a different spring", for a lot more than £40
Perhaps they’ve right!! Is skyhook simply Jack of all trades, master of none? Possible I enjoyed mine- a lot - but I wouldn’t want it again.
