Ride height tools

[Harv748]

OK guys and gals...after a discussion on this board a short while ago, some of you will be aware I decided to see if it was viable to produce a few ride height tools to sell to DSC members and such like.

The reason for this was...as an engineer by profession, and with a few friends and contacts in the field of metal work...I couldn't justify to myself the £60-70+ price tag that these things cost from current suppliers.

To cut a long story short...It is very possible, and both a good friend of mine and I will be producing a few for sale in the not too distant future.

Price has not been fixed yet, but it will be in the region of £30-35 (ie halve price) and they will be a quality product, as good as anything you can buy in the shops at the moment.

They will come complete with instructions for use, as well as some useful info for setting up your bike.

For those of you who are unsure what they are for or if you need one, the ride height is one of the most important settings to get right in the setting up and handling of your 748/9**. Whenever the chain is adjusted or the sprockets are changed, the ride height will also be changed due to the design of the rear hub. This is unavoidable.

Setting the correct ride height will allow for better turn in (no more 'my bike feels heavy and won't turn'), will hold its intended line better, and will give better straight line stability (when combined with a longer wheel base (ie longer chain)). When set correctly it WILL transform the way you bike handles FACT.

I'm away for a week from tomorrow, but on my return we will be planning to finish a few of these, at which point I will be able to supply piccies etc for you to assess.

The point of this thread is to let people know (whom showed some interest before) and to see generally if there is much interest out there for these?

So...watdoooyafink????

[Edited on 23-2-2005 by Harv748]

[Walenut]

The price seems right Harv, don't forget to think about P&P. Look fowards to the Photo's. How will they locate?

Steve

[Harv748]

They will locate the same as the current models available...in two of the frame 'holes' near the foot pegs.

They will be in effect the same as many of those available on the market today...just not with the silly price tag!

[chris99]

Sounds like a top plan from a top man;)

Do i get a discount for sucking up??:lol::lol:

[Harv748]

uhmmmm...depends what you suckin' upto...:puzzled:

I'll get my coat:roll:

[Mr_S]

Count me in for at least one :)

[Edited on 23-2-2005 by Mr_S]

[TP]

Me too.

[smilo006]

That sounds like an offer not to be refused. Would be interested too. Presumably finished in chrome, anodised black, polished aluminium or Ducati red for that bling paddock look!:lol:

[chris99]

MMMMMMMMM BLING!!!!:bouncy:

[Harv748]

Funny you say that, but I have a PhD in composite engineering, and have worked in the field for a few years and can get it suprisingly cheap...so carbon was mentioned!!!

Also my mate has worked on machining items for the atomic/R&D field...so he wanted everything in stainless or some other more fancy bling!

This was after a few beverages though!

[Edited on 23-2-2005 by Harv748]

[chris99]

You cant make it out of carbon!!!


I would never want to take it off again:lol:

[Desmo996r]

Even tho this is my first post, I'd be interested in one of these.....
errr hello too :D

[TP]

Hello - get the drinks in!

I'll have a tall latte - something to warm my hands, my bloody house is cold!

Welcome to the board mate, next you'll be joining the club, coming on track days. you may as well organise the overdraft now :D

[Harv748]

errr 'ello back;)

[RickyX]

Harv,

Sounds good.

As an aerospace structures engineer I would like mine in Ti6Al4V Titanium please - CFRP no good unless monolithic balanced lay-up, autoclave cured (with suitable tracked process test piece):lol::lol:

Thanks,

R X

[spinoli1]

Good call Harv,

I have been thinking about making one up, but I couldn't convice myself that I could get accurate location on the frame mounts.

I would respectfully join the queu once yours are available (bleached mahogany please).

Any plans to produce a bottle-gauge or skill-meter, so that I can measure and improve my track performance? A set of graduated excuse calipers would be good too.

Spinoli

[Walenut]

Harv as a fireman I'd like mine in something I can't break:D

[moto748]

Any plans to produce a bottle-gauge or skill-meter, so that I can measure and improve my track performance? A set of graduated excuse calipers would be good too...


That'll have to wait until after production of the bling-ometer.

Featuring a scale going up to eleven, obviously...

[keith_mann1959]

There are some guys in the factory here building satellites with some very interesting materials.
Seriously, i will gladly pay that price for a DSC produced item

[adam]

put me on the list. i thankyou.

[doogalman]

I would buy one as well.
r.hastings3@ntlworld.com

Thanks
Doogalman

[aka.eric]

Please add me to the list.

[Harv748]

Ok fellas...as I say I'm away for a week...but when I come back...I'll be getting a couple finished asap and putting pictures up for you to appraise:smug:

Anyone else interested...no commitment at all...just getting ideas on numbers at this stage?

[Dibble]

yes please ... but can mine be sugar coated ????

:roll:

[Mark]

look, ride height is not what u are thinking, and no, doughnuts (sugar coated) only increase tummy height.....

[Harv748]

frosted Ok?

[Dibble]

ok Harv, i can compromise .... :sing:

[DAVE HARRIS]

I would be interested

dave

[DC]

:D

Yep, very interested indeed.

Look forward to seeing the finished product.

DC.:burn:

[Pete A]

Sounds good Harv, especially for the price, I've already had quote for lazer cut version in ally. worked out too pricey unless making several.
So I'm definitely interested.
Regards, Pete

[chris.p]

Can I have it yellow passivated please:D:D



Chris.:burn:

[mattlyness]

I'll take one please.

[Totto]

Originally posted by mattlyness
I'll take one please.

Mine not good enough for you :frog::frog:

[mattlyness]

It is if you'll take £35 for it!!:bouncy:

[BDG]

Can i have one made out of chocolate and i'll give it to CK as a pressie:D

[JR]

Just the job - count me in.

[the old man]

count me in too.

can vouch for benefit as Sigma transformed my 996 by setting ride height correctly

[Jonathan Novice]

Hi,
Count me in as well please.
Many thanks,
Jonathan

[deej]

harv

would you recommend it on your old 748 now its carrying me and not you, tis a loveerrlly bike thoo


can you also expalin to a mechanical dunce what it actually is,what and how it does it and where it goes,im always looking to improve my knowledge of bikes and also improve my riding at the same time soa ll ahelp appreciated


by the way whats the base settings for the rear ohlins so i can find what the preferred setting for my extra bulk

cheers

dave :D:D:D:D

[Mr_S]

Deej,

In a perfect world you'd reset the ride height every time you adjust the chain (because the eccentric thingummy bob mucks it up).

But, most of us would probably set it every couple of adjustments, after sprocket changes and maybe a few other things too.

Why do it? It sets the static geometry correctly (before you do sag etc) so basically it sits right with no rider on it and weight is correctly distributed.

Have a look here at how some of us do it now

http://www.section8superbike.com/tech.htm

For the manual's how to (This is for the early 748/916 so the actual distance to measure may be a little different)

http://www.chathamclose.com/pics/ride%20height.pdf

Bottom of the page is in English.

[Edited on 3-3-2005 by Mr_S]

[Harv748]

Dave

Basically...the ride height is paramount in getting the bike to handle as desired.

Mr S has summed it up in his above details...and when I had the 748, I borrowed a ride height tool of a friend to set it to a value recommended by many. Providing you haven't tinkered with the ride height directly or adjusted the chain then it should be the same as when it left me, which is a good setting.

Having your own will mean that when you do make adjustments in the future, you are taking a reading from a known universal datum for setting the ride height on the 748/9** models.

Getting this, and the other static measurments (ie front/rear sag) correct is a must before commencing with other settings available.

As for the ohlins rear, I don't have any data to hand for the standard settings, but from memory, the ohlins site does contain a bit of stuff on there for settings etc. May be worth a look. And, again if memory serves me correct, the shock you have was off an SP(S) and has the 7.6 kg/mm spring fitted (i think although it is easy to check as its written on the side) which should be about OK for you. Getting it, and all of the other settings set up along with the rear shock is the key, all working in unison, but doing their individual tasks...and I do not claim to be an expert in the field at all!!!

One of the best investments you can make is to sort your suspension out...i.e. take it to a pro:)

[Harv748]

Oh yeah...and as the interested parties may have guessed, I'm now back off my Jolly (yes I had a great time in Vegas thankyou...thankyou dealer...that'll be a nut flush for me :cool: )...I will be looking to finish one of the tools off asap over the next week or so...and will put up piccies as soon as poss.

[Edited on 4-3-2005 by Harv748]

[bradders]

could do with one of those too please

[jenks]

Hi guys. I've been following this thread with interest as I have just had my forks and suspension rebuilt by Maxton and thought I should set up the "ride height" correctly at the same time

The Haynes manual says that the setting for the ride height adjuster is 261mm and states that Ducati recommend it should never be greater than 261mm !!!!! so that's what I have set it to.

The section8superbike site gives a dimension of 604mm from the top of the sprocket carrier nut to the centre of the top exhaust mount bolt.
The measurment on mine is about 560mm. Can this be right? and should I wind out the adjustment to obtain that 604mm reading????
Bike is a 98 748BIP by the way
Any suggestions gratefully received.

[Mr_S]

I think it's different subframes, their bike (short alloy mono subframe) and the bip subframe result in slight differences. Also, it may be that later models or even R's have a slightly longer Ride Height Adjuster (although I doubt it.)

This is why a proper tools desirable, as it's correct regardless of subframe etc.

Also, remember that Section8 are a race team and may want a much more aggressive geometry over that recommended by Ducati. Also, be careful not to wind the ride height adjuster out too far, or it'll be weak as theirs insufficient threads in the rod to hold it together.

If you've set the RHA to 261mm, leave it there for now and see how it feels, then order one of Harv's RH Tools so you can get a proper check on it.

[Webcore]

me too for one please

[adam]

Harv, any idea when you will have some ready for sending out?

[jenks]

Thanks Mr_S

I did wonder whether it might be something like that.............The funny thing is, that when the ride height adjuster linkage is set to 261mm, it is almost fully closed so I was wondering whether the Ducati recommendation not to exceed that figure is more a matter of potential liability and "you do it at your own risk" than the fact that you shouldn't exceed the figure.

[Harv748]

Jenks...Mr S has summed it up really.

To give you an idea, my 748 Bip was set up to 575 mm from the top of the wheel nut to the top mounting bolt.

The problem with this measurement method is that it is not really reproducable from one bike to another...the only way of doing this is with a RH Tool, which fits directly into the frame and gives a consistant datum for reading to be taken. Its also useful as all the figures you will see banded about by various teams/sources etc, will be quoting off the RH tool datum, and not from this bolt or that nut.

UPDATE: Due to the great response in this, I have made a few enquiries within my various contacts, and have a good lead on being able to produce a large batch of these, at approx the same cost as mentioned before, laser cut to the desired dimensions....just waiting for a firm quotation (which I will chase tommorrow) before comitting and placing an order.

I hope to have a definate answer within the next few days, with a view to having these ready for sale in the next 2-3 weeks.

Watch this space...as soon as I know you'll know.

[Harv748]

OK guys and gals...

I'm about to get this off the ground by confirming an order to be laser cut tomorrow.

The delay has been due to a couple of companies playing silly buggers when it comes to returning calls/providing quotes etc., and manufacturing companies in this country moan about going out of business!

Anyway...found a good reliable company who will be producing the templates in the next 7-10 days.

The nylon bushes are being produced by a direct contact of mine, and should be ready for assembly when the templates arrive.

The good news is that due to the interest in these from you guys, I have managed to get a good deal on producing the template via laser cutting.

This means the final price mentioned at the very beginning of this thread...about £35...still applies, with a quality finish:smug:

I appreciate nobody has committed in anyway at this stage...and once I have them here complete, a picture or three will be posted.

Nearly there!!!:o

[adam]

well done Harv, you will be rewarded in heaven.

[rcgbob44]

I`ll go the Rickyx route! or an ally one anodised TI

[cmoss]

Hi Harv, Put me on the list. Will need this soon as changing sprockets/chain.
Cheers.

[Harv748]

For those interested...order placed today:D