Ducati 996

mean gene

mean gene

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I have had this bike for a while and just never happy with it's low speed handling. So get checking suspension settings and am curious, if I slide the tube out using the machined lines as reference, it will change the rake. Most illustrations show the tree in this location. In my eyes it will make it more stable at low speed. I know some of our members have had these bikes, am I correct? Any suggestions?


Ducati 996
 
I can see how mine is set up later when I'm in the garage. How many lines are you showing currently?
 
You’re talking about poking the stanchion up through the top yoke, correct?

So actually you’re moving the yokes down the forks, you’re pivoting the bike such that the fork angle is steeper, reducing the rake angle, and reducing the trail. Raising the rear hide height has the same effect.

That should result in less straight line stability and quicker steering, more flickability.
 
I had a '96 996S and put Ohlins on the front. I did not like the Showa forks at all. Showa's were unsettled on anything other than a perfect surface. The Ohlins I could ride leaned over and stay planted with full confidence on just about any surface without gravel on it.

7 lines showing on the Ohlins. Zero effect on high speed or straight-line stability. More than 7 was getting too quick for me though. My 996S saw 170+mph a few times, and 130 mph many times with 7 lines showing. The 996 was not designed to ride slow at all. Mine was not happy under 40 mph.

Not one of the bikes I owned with clip-ons and rear sets were much fun to ride slow though. Sitting upright makes going slow a lot easier. Enter the Norton and a few dual sport bikes.

This is the 996S before I sold it. I got too slow to ride it like I thought it needed to be ridden.
Ducati 996
 
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Nice bikes them 996’s. Been looking at 748s / 916s / 996s myself recently. Anyone selling one near me, let me know…
 
I'm thinking if I pushing the tubes down into the trees further. I'll be making the angle less steep allowing it to handle better at slower speeds>?>?
 
mean gene said:
I'm thinking if I pushing the tubes down into the trees further. I'll be making the angle less steep allowing it to handle better at slower speeds>?>?
Click to expand...
You will, but personally I don’t think it will achieve what you want.

It’s easy to do though, so try it n see ?
 
mean gene said:
I'm thinking if I pushing the tubes down into the trees further. I'll be making the angle less steep allowing it to handle better at slower speeds>?>?
Click to expand...
It won't be as twitchy quick steering if you move the forks down in the clamps, if that is what you are trying to eliminate. You could take 3mm or so of preload off the rear, as mentioned. To me the Showa forks had poor damping which resulted in a less compliant front end that feels stiff over small surface irregularities also stiff in general. Never felt good to me after many attempts to correct it. Took me about 3 rides to dial in the Ohlins.

Not saying the Showa's can't be good if one knows how to valve them, I just wanted Ohlins everywhere on that bike. Plus I didn't know how to valve them and didn't want to put the forks in suspension tuner jail for who knows how long. I believe there is documentation out there now on how to improve the valving on those forks that wasn't around in 1996.
 
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