whick forks are SBK ?????

[jerry]

i am bidding for several forks on Ebay but I really need to be sure which models have the decent Showa SBK forks with full rebound rods and not the crummy S4 type forks ....is it safe to assume that 996.998,999 749 have the SBK type fork?????

[Capo]

748, 996 and 998 have the correct offset and will fit enabling a simple bolt on of your existing brake components. 749 and 999 have a 15mm offset and would require 5mm spacers on the discs to work.

[gary tompkins]

I've got a set of 996 forks on the monster. Apart from shimming and machining of top/bottom yokes it was a straight swap.

Fork springs are too hard at 1.0kg/mm for aircooled 900, but might be ok for a heavier watercooled S4

[jerry]

seems some 748 and 996 had 40mm brake calipers and I think mine are 65mm I have to ask esch seller ....nothing is easy ?????

[JerryXt]

the early models had 45mm. It's pretty easy to tell from a pic which is 45 and which is 65mm, but best contact and check.

[jerry]

also 748r ,996r models have the offset apparently but making up 5mm spacers may not be a big hassle methinks ???/

But do the spacers go under the rotors on the 6 x 8mm rotor bolts ? or on the 2 caliper mounts 10mm allen bolts ????

[gary tompkins]

seems some 748 and 996 had 40mm brake calipers and I think mine are 65mm I have to ask esch seller ....nothing is easy ?????

Nope.. mine are 996 legs and have 65mm caliper mounts

Early legs (748 & 916) use 40mm calipers

[JerryXt]

also 748r ,996r models have the offset apparently but making up 5mm spacers may not be a big hassle methinks ???/

But do the spacers go under the rotors on the 6 x 8mm rotor bolts ? or on the 2 caliper mounts 10mm allen bolts ????

spacers go on the wheel, but remember that you'll need wider yokes and a longer spindle. Best keep clear.

TBH, I've been down the front end route on the monnie and I've been told by my tame suspension guru that the S4Rs has the best suspension of any Ducati out of the box. I'd maybe look for some S4Rs forks.

[jerry]

just measured my S4 forks and they are 50mm top yoke 54mm bottom yoke 65mm caliper spacing and 72.5cm long

am looking at a pair of ohlins off an apprillia that are 51mm top yoke 56mm bottom yoke 65mm caliper spacing and 73.5mm long so i reckon they will be a good option , a minimal amount of machining on the yokes 0.5mm off at top and only 1mm at bottom yoke , 10mm longer is no problem as i have risers already.... the axle is 25mm so should not be an issue only the mudguard/fender is different but thats sortable either with second hand apprillia or a fibreglass replacement

i reckon £400 for a set of decent ohlins vis a vis messing with showas /revalves etc is a better option as the base fork will be much superior to start and i have wasted 3 years and £250 on the standard crap already

any opinions would be appreciated before i take the leap???

[Funkatronic]

interested to see how you get on jerry

i was just quoted 400 quid + springs (if needed), oil and fittings costs by MD Racing to get new cartridges put the in the stock S4 forks
so all in about 650-700

for that money some 2nd hand s4rs ohlins or sbk forks from another bike might be a better idea
Rob wanna sell me yours? pretty please :-

maybe just some new oil will be enough to get mine less rubbish again

[jerry]

Funkatronic
thr S4 standard showas are so compromised that its really not worth wasting money on tghem , i have done so much to mine and they are still crap , most showas are decent design but the S4 ,St4 and St2 forks are really crap not a standard Showa type at all , i have tried revalves , springs , oils etc etc .

[Funkatronic]

thanks jerry

im not the greatest rider in the world so spending that kind of money is not that sensible, but some decent sbk fork from another bike for 250-300 all inc might be worthwhile

id just like my 800 forks to be at least as good as those on my 1000 which are ok tbh (and the same as the s4 i believe), i think my 800(s4) forks are just well used

[gary tompkins]

just measured my S4 forks and they are 50mm top yoke 54mm bottom yoke 65mm caliper spacing and 72.5cm long

am looking at a pair of ohlins off an apprillia that are 51mm top yoke 56mm bottom yoke 65mm caliper spacing and 73.5mm long so i reckon they will be a good option , a minimal amount of machining on the yokes 0.5mm off at top and only 1mm at bottom yoke , 10mm longer is no problem as i have risers already.... the axle is 25mm so should not be an issue only the mudguard/fender is different but thats sortable either with second hand apprillia or a fibreglass replacement

i reckon £400 for a set of decent ohlins vis a vis messing with showas /revalves etc is a better option as the base fork will be much superior to start and i have wasted 3 years and £250 on the standard crap already

any opinions would be appreciated before i take the leap???

Interesting option to consider for a cheap Ohlins front end

I'm looking to swap the Buell to USD forks and twin discs in the near future, and I'll keep this in mind