Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 998 / 996 / 916 / 748 > Dunlop 208gp Issues

[Chris Wood]

I have run on 208's on my RS for 2 seasons and they have been fine, just fitting 209's for this year.

Always been good, but maybe I'm not pushing them hard enough to notice?

[andyb]

Suspension set up!

Ive ran 208s and now 209s.........both of these were bobbling up and lasting only 1-2 trackdays on the rear!

Had my suspension set up and bingo the wear rate has increased significantly, and the bobbling has dissapeared and replaced by wear that just looks right!

[weeksy2]

The R6 cup boys seem to manage on them fairly well

[Henners]

.. what tyres were you using when the R fell over on that roundabout? I seem to remember there was no warning.

[andyb]

Originally Posted by Henners

.. what tyres were you using when the R fell over on that roundabout? I seem to remember there was no warning.

Is there a pattern developing?

Hi,

2 years ago in Germany had terrible problems you are describing, next morning on checking the bike over noticed an oil leak at the rear shock (Ohlins).

Nice man at Ducati dealership next to Nurburgring took a new shock off a shop bike and fitted it for me, tyre wear back to normal and tyre no longer stripping rubber.

Have a quick check at the shock??

[ali]

Almost certainly suspension setup, or maybe tyre pressure. Sounds like you're running out of travel as the bike squats and the tyre is shearing. Andy's right, bobbling is rarely a sign that the tyre is working correctly, more usually that it's sliding around.

Check that you're using all travel available on the rear, if not then back off on preload/compression damping, if you are then add in a little compression damping and check your sags.

If you're not using tyre warmers there's always a chance that the outside of the tyre is getting very hot while the carcass is cool, I get this on the DD bike, but the slides tend to be progressive rather than on/off.

Good luck.

Ali

[Henners]

I had 207RRs on the MV and they were a sod when cold, sliding front and spinning rear, great when hot though. Is there an urban myth around these tyres?

BTW - both Stu and I have front slides on Bridgestone 014s when cold so perhaps it's just a factor of this type of fast road/trackday tyres.

[Jools]

I hate Dunlops, they seem to take forever to get any heat into them. I had an off on 207RR's after 4 laps as well, one moment I was cranked over into a corner with loads of grip, the next the front just let go and I was down. Had only just started to up the pace and wasn't in full attck mode but there were no slides, no warnings, nothing slippery on my line and I was on the gas at the time so I shouldn't have been loading the front too much. One of those times where you just can't work out why you're on yo a55. Follows a similar lowside on Dunlops a year or so previously.

I've got 207RR's on the 888 at the moment, cos that's what it came with. Can't wait to wear them out and get some Diablos which seem to defy all but the most rash attempts to unsettle them and only slide predictably when they do let go.

[Chrisiball]

Thanks for the replys lads. Some good points will definately have a good look at the rear shock, and have the suspension checked by one of the pros that attend the events! Mick Grant was there at the previous day!

WIll also invest in some tyre warmers, but like Jools said its left me wondering why im skating down the track on my arse, both times and especially this time the tyres were definately up to temp id done about 4 steady laps just picking the bike up out of the right hander spins up and bang down she goes! Ive lost all confidence in this tyre will try some supercorsas next time out. This was after about 4 sessions were the bike felt so good and planted, ill post some pics of the damage to see if i get some sympathy!!!