Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > Supersports: SS / SuperSport / Supersport 950 > lowering forks in yokes, what will be gained .

[twpd]

What you really mean is that the forks are pushed up through the yokes by 12mm.

What is gained? Well perhaps it's better to say what effect does it have?

Generally as a rule of thumb every 1" of movement up through the yokes translates into approx' a 1 degree in reduction in rake i.e you steepen the rake. This has the effect of reducing trail. What this means is that the bike will steer quicker. Go too far and you introduce instability on bumpy roads and particularly on bumpy roads under hard acceleration where the bike can break into a tankslapper.

Another side effect is reduced suspension travel on bikes with conventional right-way-up (RWU) forks. This is not an issue on Ducatis as they have upside down forks.

Yet another side effect is potentially reduced ground clearance - particularly at the fairing chin piece which may touch down under hard braking.

As with everything - it's a compromise. The best way to quicken steering (if that is what you are looking for) is to raise the rear ride height instead. You can do this with something like an Ohlins shock.