Hi all, Ive decided to remove the rear spring and send it away for a custom spring designed for my weight plus pillion and luggage. I decided to do this after having my bikes suspension properly set up. The rear spring was on max preload and I couldn't adjust it any further....and thats without the added weight of luggage and a pillion. I know Im a big lad but why is the spring so bloody soft for this type of bike?? Having made some enquiries it seems that Ducati don't supply an uprated spring unless its an Ohlins set up, which mine isn't, so the only other option was a custom spring made. Looked on the forum and someone else here (can't remember who it was) used TW Suspension Tech in Preston. Phoned them and spoke with the owner. Very impressed with the help and advice and he sent me a load of measurements to take before I removed the shock last night and sent it off to him today. Bit of a moron when it comes to working on the bike so a mate came over to lend a hand and it came out easier than I thought. Cant wait to get it back and try it out!!
I think that might have been me. I got one made and fitted it my self, been a totally better bike since toured the whole of Europe and Ireland twice 2 up with full luggage on the new spring. http://ducatiforum.co.uk/threads/rear-shock-upgrade.20300/#post-339170
Ah yeah could've been.... thanks for the nod to TW.... he's a top bloke and sounds like he knows what he's doing. Lots of good reviews on him! Like the red coloured spring you went for. Was gonna stick to yellow but not so sure now. What strength was the spring you went for?
I went for a 3 stage spring 120 / 150 / 180 and 195mm in lengh. I had a second one made a bit stronger but it was just to hard for riding on my own so took it back off.
How big a lad are you?! I'm 120kg and mine hardly moves if I up the preload even to rider and passenger
This is a picture of a picture of us pulling into the last MCN weekend last year fully loaded with clothes computers n booz, I think she (the bike) is sat quite well.
At the time I was 19 stone, I'm 18 now but havent noticed much diffrence in ride hight, although I have droped the pre load from 6 to 2 not much I know but with a staged spring you dont need as much adjustment as a progresive spring
Righto..... I've left Teut to come up with a design he thinks is right for me. Hes talking about a linear slightly progressive spring for my riding style and requirements...... it's all a bit confusing to me!
I'm 19st and having just had my suspension set up properly couldn't get the rear set correctly. The preload was on the hardest setting too. Mine is the base model so maybe the DVT S models have a stiffer spring?
I'm on Sachs sky hook and I have to say it's a good job the spring change worked, I couldnt ride the bike for more than an hour with out getting off in agony with pain in my coccyx I had my seat re shaped let air out of my tyres took it back to the dealer to check the sky hook program, all I could put it down to was that the "sky Hook" was winding the compresion damping right up to try and keep the bike level, as soon as I fitted the new spring it was like riding an arm chair in comparison. wish I'd of had the standard shock from the get go. it didnt seem right changing parts on a 4 week old brand new bike.
Has been said before, but worth mentioning again. The SH is designed too work in a specific area, and probably expects the preload to be at c35% of travel (i.e. about the right sag). If not, and you up the preload, it over compensates with the comp/reb and means it actually gives a harsh ride. Same as if too soft. Modern bikes eh BTW I need to do mine but cant afford it to be taller.
I'm sure Teut will be able to sort you out bud he knows all the tricks of the trade, once I sent him the ride hights with each diffrent load on he sent me back a sugested spring rate and even got it made before I paid a penny. And it was spot on.
Hi. Not wanting tomhimjack the thread....but...i have SH, weigh 85kg and 99% solo rider who likes to make progress. I find the suspension too hard, set around medium and preload 12 ish, it was much harder with preload at 20. It is ok too, but too much rebound when over a bump etc, any suggestions?
Yes been meaning to update you.... You were right, Teut is a top bloke and certainly knows his stuff! He sent me a whole load of measurements to take before sending him my shock and then worked out the spring I would need for the type of rider I am. It was all witch craft to me but I trusted he knew what he was talking about. He recommended a linear rather progressive spring and less than 2 weeks later my new uprated spring was delivered. He took out and refitted the spring in the shock. I was now able to set the suspension up properly and have got loads of adjustment left in the rear pre-load adjuster to take account for pillion and luggage which I didn't have before. Ive covered about 500 miles on the new spring and suspension set up and Im beaming! I would never have believed how much the better the bike handles. Whether its a bit in my head I don't know but Ive got so much more confidence throwing it into corners and where the centre stand used to hit the tarmac in fast downhill corners, it doesn't anymore. All in inc postage cost me £140 which I thought was bloody good value. Best thing Ive done to my bike and if you're thinking about doing it, do it, you won't regret it! If I lived closer I would definitely have got Teut to set my suspension up as well. TW suspension services is his company. Think its Preston way?
Which is exactly why spending money on suspension over trinkets and power upgrades should always be number 1
Hi bradders. I changed it from 20 ro 12 recently, a good improvement, its going over a sudden bump where i want to lessen the rebounding but not sure how ro achieve it?
