M900 Swingarm Options

It worked - thankls Gazza

Will call Moto Rapido on Tuesday ....

Originally Posted by DrD

The online Ducati fiche (with photos) at Stein Dinse useful: http://www.stein-dinse.biz/eliste/index.php

thanks for that - have been using Stein-Dinse for a few weeks now - superb reference !

...have contacted Capo, hoping he can advised on a dimension I need from the S*R frame.
Once I have this, I can fabricate a jig to re-position the rocker arm pivot bosses on my M900 frame.

have determined tonight that the existing M900 rocker pivot location is substantially further aft than the S*R location, so the whole cross-tube will need to be re-located... or a new one fabbed and welded in

Hope to be taking some photos soon for those of you interested.

[Blah blah]

You can have a look at my S2r swing arm if you want, I'm only up the road (and it'd be a good excuse for a quick blat around the countryside)

Project is progressing ....S4R swingarm arrived today & swapped out this evening without any problems.

Checking frame dimensions from the M900 manual and a drawing passed to me of S4R frame, looks as if I'll have to move the rocket pivot up 5.2mm and forward 68mm.

I need to double/triple check, then I can fabricate a jig to relocate pivot mounts

Does anybody have an S*R workshop manual ?? There will be frame dimensions in there and I could really do with a copy of that page...

Will post another thread also, as somebody must have one

Thanks

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by sparkyman

Sie Ohlins shock is 325mm centres, whilst the S*R Showa is 300mm centres (I believe - can anybody confirm the Showa centres for me ?)

According to the Road & Track info I downloaded, shock centers are 305mm for the S2 or S4 (with or without the R), and 600/750/900 up to '01 are 330mm.

I got it here http://www.bikesetup.be/files/news_d...ist%20site.xls

Thanks spuggy

I can confirm the standard Ohlins unit (M900Sie) is 330mm centres, but had understood S*R was 300mm ?

So 305mm is correct - either way I still need my Ohlins shortened and I can't get any response from Kais-Ohlins. After intially saying "No problem mate..." they've now buttoned up tight ? No replies to email, no replies to telephone calls....have left my number so many times reception ought to know it off by heart by now...

Anybody know of a dependable Ohlins specialist ?

[Mr Gazza]

Get a reasonable S#R shock to try it all out, then upgrade later.

Originally Posted by spuggy

According to the Road & Track info I downloaded, shock centers are 305mm for the S2 or S4 (with or without the R), and 600/750/900 up to '01 are 330mm.

I got it here http://www.bikesetup.be/files/news_d...ist%20site.xls

Spuggy - what does the "P/C" column (highlighted in Yellow) mean ???

Originally Posted by Mr Gazza

Get a reasonable S#R shock to try it all out, then upgrade later.

Hi Gazza - issue with S4R Shock is the Piggyback fouls the frame, which is why I want to stay with my remote Ohlins unit. I believe Ducati actually crimped the frame to clear the piggyback - lord knows why they didn't just use a different shock ?

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by sparkyman

Thanks spuggy

I can confirm the standard Ohlins unit (M900Sie) is 330mm centres, but had understood S*R was 300mm ?

Dunno mate - I just d/loaded that from the interwebs - they're always correct, innit?

Originally Posted by sparkyman

So 305mm is correct

Maybe...

I honestly don't know any more than is in that file.

Originally Posted by sparkyman

- either way I still need my Ohlins shortened

I'm looking for an early-style adjustable rear shock to complement the adjustable forks I bought. Early-fitment Ohlins seem to be comparatively thin on the ground - but 2002-up later-style ones are easy to find on Evil Bay...

Personally, I think you should obtain a S*R shock like Mr Gazza keeps saying, and sell your old-style. Yeh, I'll declare a bias - I for one would be interested.

But I still think that's what I'd do in your position.

Apart from anything else, as I understand it, I would have a question mark as to whether converting one Ohlins shock to a different model is as simple a question as just shortening it? In other words, given a rising rate suspension with different rocker geometry, are there other differences - valving changes, difference in spring length and/or rate/progression needed - between the two models? (both shock and wheel travel are given as the same in the Haynes comic, for whatever that's worth)...

If there's more work/parts than simply changing the length, then you're probably on a hiding to nothing.

For example, I found a very nice looking shock, apparently virtually unused and allegedly to fit a Ducati - on Ebay - and it's the right length (330mm) according to the photo (although not the blurb in the description). But if the guy thinks it's 300mm long eye-to-eye (yeh, no, dude, it really isn't) and fits a Ducati Sport (not according to R&T, if it's 330mm - which the photo with the tape measure seems to clearly demonstrate it is), then what the heck is actually inside it and what spring is it fitted with? It might not be from a Ducati at all - in which case, that's just a can o' wriggly things...

And more to the point, why faff about buying an unknown quantity, getting it shipped off to be checked, likely re-valved/re-sprung - when I could buy a nice known quantity like a Nitron NTR Sport - built to spec for load/application for the same - or even less - money all-in? And know what I have from the get-go?

Sometimes, putting your hand in your pocket and pulling out the wallet is the correct response; cheaper in the long run and/or better results. The trick is apparently to recognize those times - I haven't quite got the hang of that myself yet

[Albie]

Originally Posted by sparkyman

Hi Gazza - issue with S4R Shock is the Piggyback fouls the frame, which is why I want to stay with my remote Ohlins unit. I believe Ducati actually crimped the frame to clear the piggyback - lord knows why they didn't just use a different shock ?

Yes they did by a few mm. I had to cut and weld in a piece to clear it. A much better shock than a stock s4 though.

Photo of where I'm at, as of this evening ...

M900Sie Rocker Pivot mount/tube removed and remaining welds filed back/primed temporarily

Now working on jig for positioning of new rocker mounts, which I'll have to have made as the M900 items are too small....

Spuggy...have looked at New, but when Kais-Ohlins advised my unit could be shortened, I was keen to find out the various methods available (which they siad existed) and how much each method would cost ....

Shame I can't now get ANY response from them - don't know why they said it could be done, only to leave me hanging (Maybe they realised they were wrong?)

At this stage of the build, shock is not critical to progress, so I'll keep on investigating the shortening route until I'm told it can't be done (Question is now with Ohlins HQ). If it can be done, and the cost is close to that of an alternative unit, then I'll sell it and buy the alternative....

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by sparkyman

Spuggy - what does the "P/C" column (highlighted in Yellow) mean ???

Heck, I've got no idea - I wondered about "preload/compression" - but that doesn't work for the "front forks" tab, as they give 115 there and the forks have 120mm travel total...