Rules clarification & other investments
 

Hi all,

Because I'm starting to think about how much money I must save to fit new stuff on the bike this winter, here are a few questions I never had the occasion to wonder before...:lol: I tried to read the rules but... anyway I tried.

1 - can I change my front fork?
2 - can I fit a fast throttle?
3 - what is the cheapest (BUT reliable) laptimer I can find? I'll buy an Alfano when I'll be a big boy...
4 - Ohlins are a bit expensive, is there a Ducati OEM shock absorber better than the standard one which I could fit on the 620 Sport if I can find one in the second hand market... Is there some "very good edition" of the SSie which I should look for some parts?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Tonio I use a Rollcentre T200 lap timer and I am very pleased with the accuracy of it, it is always within 0.01 secs of my official transponder times.

http://www.bikehps.com/acatalog/Bike...Timers_25.html

Thanks Skid. For sure it's cheaper than an Alfano... But how do you deal with the beacon? Can you just leave it somewhere aside the track? I didn't know that kind of laptimer exist...

Anyone has used that:
http://www.kartronic.de/

You don't need a beacon as the Rollcentre lap timer picks up a signal from the circuit beacon anyway.

Right, back to your questions...

1 - You can change the internals of the forks, but the actual fork must remain a 620 fitment. In other words, you can't fit forks from a 999R!!
2 - Cheaper to twist the throttle faster. Try masturbating to increase wrist speed.
3 - Rollcentre T100 (secondhand on ebay?) or T200
4 - Nitron Shocks are brilliant, but same money as Ohlins? Maybe.

Skid, can you confirm that the required Rollcentre beacon is not so required? I trust Dom, but we never know with him :lol:

Tonio, Although I have a beacon I never have to use it, this year I have had the lap timer working at Donington, Brands, Snetterton & Pembrey, I have also had it in use before at Silverstone, Thruxton and Mallory.

good, so it looks even more interresting. Cheers Skid.

What is a stanchion? Google can't translate it... Actually I was wondering if I could change that (the top of the forks):

You can only change them for bananas.

...but you better ask someone else, just incase I'm not telling the truth :P

;)

don't say that, I just wanted Skid's confirmation cause he's using a Rollcentre laptimer and I was not sure you were.

What dos that mean changing them for bananas? I'm not hungry mate :D

Are you thinking of changing them for tops that have adjuster on them?

If so, you can't do that.

The forks must remain standard.

All you can do is get the insides changed - springs/oil/shims etc.

That was my idea. I found some very cheap tops with adjusters.


:(:(:(:(:(

[Edité le 25-9-2005 par Tonio600]

Yep Sorry Tonio, Dom is not telling porkys, you are only allowed to play with the fork internals, so any additional preload you may want has to be done with internal spacers.

Hi Tonio,

The best shock to go for if you can't afford an ohlins would be a showa from a 900SS/900SSie. It'd definitely need re-valving/springing for your weight, but it's a good shock. You can always keep an eye on ebay.de, that's where I picked up my NCR shock, and I've seen a few White Power shocks on there for good money.

Cheers,

Ali

Cheers Ali, sounds good. What's the main difference with the one fitted on the 620? Isn't it a showa as well?

I thought it was a Sachs unit?

Hrmm ... I'll check.

Rear suspension - Progressive cantilever linkage with fully adjustable Sachs monoshoshock. Steel swingarm

this one seen on Ebay was fitted on a 900 SSie but it looks exactly the same than mine, so it's not what I'm looking for?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DUCATI-750SS-9...QQcmdZViewItem

Ali, what's a good price for a Showa rear shock absorber? I've found 2, one at £80 and I'm waiting for the other one's price.

Cheers
Tonio.

Hi Tonio,

There should be a few around for £50-70, but remember it will need servicing, re-springing and setting up before you get any benefit from buying it.

I paid £90 for my NCR shock and it's miles better than either the Sachs or the Showa, so my advice would be to hold out for a decent shock off fleabay.

I wouldn't suggest trying to get it sorted for Cadwell. Once you get it it'll need setting up which will take a few track sessions. Not a good idea unless you've got a track day before the race.

Cheers,

Ali

must point out the 900SSie shock is slightly longer than the earlier 900SS (carb) shock.
I have a Hagon shock meant for a 900SSie in my 583cc 600SS, it lits the rear a bit giving a steeper rake angle and therefore a bit quicker steering as well as increased ground clearance. It also puts a bit more weight on the front wheel which is how I like my bikes.

http://www.hagon-shocks.co.uk/HagApps2.htm


HAGON MONOSHOCK CODE N ADJUSTABLE SPRING AND DAMPING £255

One of the 2 I can have has been "refurbished" (in French we say 'reconditionne') but I'm not sure it was in the purpose to be used on track. Will it be ok for me? Your advice are wise, I shouldn't buy one in a hurry. But one of the 2 I've found (still waiting for the price) is sold by a friend of mine in France, so it may be a good bargain...


That's a good news... I find the 620 too high for me, so looking for a rear shock designed for a carbs SS may help me solving my problem...

Cheers mates.

Tonio you can have my standard 600SS carb shock if you want for free, I have no futher use for it. its from a 1996 bike so its getting on a bit. but may give you a idea of how a shock of its length will change your bike

There's a very good chance it will still need to be sprung for your weight (ask the guy you're buying it from how much he weighs and if he had it re-sprung to suit).


The only issue here is the change in head angle which will slow the steering. Again, you'll be best if you can take the time to set the bike up correctly rather than trying to qualify with a bike that won't go round corners. :o

Cheers Skids, my friend will lend me his Showa one for me to try it the 620. If it doesn't happen, I'll be happy to try yours to check how it changes the bike.

Ali, my friend must be same size and weight than me so it should be ok for that. My bike has never been set up so changing anything now can't be worse. I just want to get the more benefits I can from the fact that a fast rider will try it at TA5... It will be my first "I get some data" day :D

Tonio. i've been using a standard rear shock all season - it aint perfect but its not bad. Set sag to approx 5mm and start with standard damper settings.

1st thing to change on the 620 are the front fork springs (the standard ones are horrid dual rate things) to a single rate spring (Neil at Sigma might be able to advise on what weight spring (can't remember what i'm running)). Use 7.5 weight oil and fill to standard air gap. After that you need to play with spring weights / air gap - aim for soft as possible without it bottoming under braking. I've dropped the yokes down the forks by 10mm but you're best starting at standard.

Hi Ian,

actually it's very difficult for me to know what's ok on not on my bike. I just have no idea. Maybe the bike is perfect and the only problem is me. So I try to make my opinion based on what I read and what experienced racers tell me.

Regarding my poor riding skills, I think I know what can help: trackday, laptimer, do what they told you, trackday, laptimer, do what they told you...etc...

Regarding the bike... A mate (who told me he used to race in the axe murderers series... don't really know what it means) at work told me I had to set up my bike with proper suspensions, and that it was the only way to start improving my laptimes. And now you tell me I don't need to change my rear shock absorber... And of course I believe you as well... So I'm lost.

I'm looking forward to TA5, I should be able to have a look at another 620 Sport of the DD series there and I'm allowed to set mine up in the same way...

That will be the Supersport 600's then.

Bloomin poofs :lol:

it may be, he raced a 600CBR.