996 Setup according to Performance Bikes
 

I just came across this old Performance Bikes feature on setting up a 996. I have no idea how old it is, nor if it is any good :puzzled:

What do people think?

Page 1 is attached .....

but for some reason I can't post page 2 .... I'll keep trying

No, I just keep getting "The page cannot be displayed" - any suggestions? It is a 539Kb JPEG

In the meantime here's page 3 (the last page)

Well that one worked ... I wonder what's wrong with Page 2. I'll try one more time ...

No, still won't work :puzzled:

Let's try it in 2 halves - here's page 2a ....

hope this works ...

and finally page 2b .....

Phew!:)

Awful, for a start it is using the steep head angle.................

BTW - I do love my SPS but those faint stains you can see on the pages were not made by me ;)

yep I saw that and didn't even bother with the rest

:puzzled:

whats wrong with the steeper head angle?

Think the steeper head angle is better used with the longer swingarm and different shock linkages. If you do change the head angle, it will slap a bit, even with the steering damper. It will also feel like it is tucking in on slow corners on a neutral throttle :o

it shorterns the trail to much

yeah forget those settings go back to standard and adjust to suit you.

I assume the standard settings are detailed in the manual - unfortunately I haven't got one (its on order). I do have a Haynes however, does anyone know if the standard settings listed in there are correct?

The Owner's Manual lists the stock suspension settings. You can download it here:

http://www.ducati.com/bikes/manuals.jhtml

For what it's worth i set up my R6 and ZX7R per the PB guides with wonderful results on road and track. I'd personally gice it a go and see how you get on if you fancy fettling one afternoon.

I'd have a ride on standard settings first though as a bench mark - you can always return it to standard again.

Things like wear&tear, rider weight, tyres etc will all make a difference to some extent. And a good set of tyres which you are confident with are worth a thousand times more than a fancy suspension set up IMHO.

Good luck and let us know how you get on mate!

I tried the PB settings and didn't really like them - Wilf at Moto Rapido gave me a base setup that worked far better.

Bring it over here mate when it's dry and we can have a play.

I did also et mine to standard settings taken from the Haynes book then adjusted to suit me from there. :cool:

I have my bike set up with the steep head angle. I would say that I like it. But then my bike is set up with a high arse end but standard height front forks. I dont mind my bike getting a bit flappy when the going gets tough. It sure steers quick at warp drive.

When I sit on my mates 916 it feels like a chopper compared to mine but hey, each to their own.

I think that I will try the slower standard head angle again though as mine tends to feel a bit tucky when cornering on really slow bends. I quite fancey having my steering lock back as well.
Roll on the spring eh?

DC.

When I bought my 996SPS it handled like a complete pig. The whole thing felt very vague, the back would wallow through corners if there were any bumps at all, and the front would tuck-in on slow corners.

On investigation I found that it was set-up as follows:

Front Showa:
Spring pre-load: 20mm (as standard)
Rebound damping: 12 clicks anti-clockwise (2 softer than standard)
Compression damping: 10 clicks anti-clockwise (2 harder than standard)

Rear Ohlins:
Spring pre-load: 151mm (as standard)
Rebound damping: 14 clicks anti-clockwise (as standard)
Compression damping: 17 clicks anti-clockwise (3 softer than standard)

Ride height tie-rod: (261mm as standard)

I took it back to standard and it was so much better! So far I have left it there. I need to ride the bike a lot more before I begin to think about changing it, but I'd welcome any suggestions for improvements from any suspension experts out there. I weigh 14.5 stone without my leathers. I ride solely on the road - a typical mixture of motorways, A's and bumpy B's. I guess I would describe my riding ability as average.