Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 998 / 996 / 916 / 748 > progressive springs??

[Bungi]

Are they better, there seem to be conflicting reports, clearly some racers use them and some dont.

I understand some of the reasons why they could be considered an improvement, what do our club members think, what do you chose and why?

im not really intresed in people who have standard springs just coz they cant be bothered to replace them or havent looked into this, but some of you must have an understanding of what works for you and why,

please tell?

Bungi

[Jon]

Bungi, this is in my opinion only. Ohlins have progressive springs, the further the fork travels the more resistance they encounter. Std springs have the same tension throughout there length. You get far more fork travel with std springs than progressive. Because with progressive springs the first part of the spring has less tension, if thats the right word, than the latter part. You will find that you get a smoother ride with out the problem encountered with a soft set up.
I have always liked them they don't rattle my teeth and are stiff enough for a good track set up.

[Robbie]

Not a very clever answer I'm afraid, but. A friend of mine has progressive springs on her 748SPS. She got them as part of a package setting the bike up for her weight. Not only is the bike unfeasibly rapid it's also remarkably comfortable on the road. That's proper bumpy roads BTW.
Robbie

[Murray Mint]

This may help
http://www.hyperpro.com/mainframes_p...ainframes.html


Murray Mint

[skidlids]

Didn't know Ohlins did progressive fork springs, I always use their single rate springs usually the 0.9kg/mm ones for my weight. I have fitted them to several of the CBRs that I have raced both 600s and 900s, I also have them in both of my R6s and in two sets of my Ducati forks, I also fitted them in the GSXR forks in my Harris Magnum 4 and fitted single rate Race Tech springs to my TL1000S.
I prefer the feel of single rate springs especially when grabbing a handful of brake as no matter where you are in the fork travel they feel the same. I consider progressive springs a compromise allowing for different weights, surface types and riding styles. I prefer to set my bike up so that it suits the way I use it.
As for the rear end of a bike again my prefered choice is Ohlins although I have used Fox, WP, Maxton and EMC. In most cases I find that the standard Ohlins spring fitted to a shock is quite adequate, but on a few occassions I have found the need to change it, on bikes like my magnum4 I plotted the rising rate curve generated by the bell crank and then sellected a linear (single rate) spring that allowed me to use the maximum stroke of the damper and give me the desired amount of sag.
Although I am mainly refering to race bikes I do include the Isle of Man TT bikes among these, last year my R6 was ridden to 21st place in the Junior lapping at around the 115mph mark on single rate springs, which I would class as fast road use.
What they would be like for touring I have no idea, I think thats why you can get air shocks.

[Jon]

Kev you are most likely right. and I stand corrected. I don't know where or from who that I heard it. Might even have read it in a very informative weekly rag. I've always believed it since then and when someone wanted to replace their showa springs for Ohlins, that was the reason. I remember last year at the DSC t/d at mallory. We wher comparing the different fork action on Showa and Ohlins. Showa forks always had more travel with the same degree compression, where the Ohlins tended to have less travel and the further the travel the harder it was to compress them

[Felix]

I am not sure you can easily compare the action of fork from different makes on a static bike. The setups will be so different. Also remember that any spring will be harder to compress the further down you go in travel. Whether the spring rate is linear or progressive, the more you compress them, the more force you need. I seriously doubt you'd be able to tell them apart by doing static compressions.

[RickyX]

Bungi,

I have a set of Hyperpro springs in my garage...you can have them for nowt!
I fitted them some years back and found they were "OK" for road riding, but then did a TD at Brands....I HATED THEM! The reason was (as Kev[skidlids] implied also), the feel during braking was inconsistent.
Using linear rate springs, the amount of travel is directly proportional to the load applied i.e. the harder the braking the more travel.
However, with progressive springs, the travel is not directly proportional to load. Therefore, for different corner entry speed/braking force, the amount of travel was not predictable.
I dunno, but when I am braking from 100+ into Paddock Hill, I EXPECT a certain amount of dive..in fact this can be used to one's advantage (or opposite!) to reduce trail and increase steering response.
Now I'm waffling.
If you want them..come n' get 'em!

[Bungi]

thanks for the offer RickyX

not sure if ive been put off the idea of progressive spings on the front, will give it some more thought.

would your springs be the correct ones for my forks (std 996r ohlins)

I had a progressive spring fitted to the rear ohlins on my 996 bip that i used for trackdays, (but never rode it on a std spring) it felt good, no problems with feedback on the odd occaision i had the rear tyre spinning.

was trying to decide if to fit a progressive rear spring on my 996r, with track use in mind, im usually quite happy using it on the road without changing any settings, so not looking for a compromise.

still thinking

[RickyX]

Bungi,
Don't think the springs will fit as they're for Showa forks.