Ducati Sporting Club UK > DesmoDue Race Series > DesmoDue - General Questions and Chat > What's the cheapest way of making my standard Marzo forks harder?

[Tonio600]

interesting answer my friend
But I could do with a bit more information (what kind of shim/washer, what oil thickness, etc)...

Otherwise I could just ride the bloody thing, but eventually I've got enough handicap with myself no to have a proper handling bike

[AK]

you can put oil in them Tonio, what are you running now?

find out, then go for a thicker oil.

If you had std oil such as 7.5, then you could put 10 weight oil in.

otherwise, just put an extra 5cc's (centiletres) per leg to start with & see how they are. If necessary add another 5cc's per leg.

[AK]

Giz, Tonio cant swap the springs on his marzocs, at least i dont think he can...

waiting for correction now

[Zimbo16]

You can swap the springs Alan, although springs aren't listed for it. I have a set of Ohlins monorate .85kg springs in front of me now to suit Marzochis, correct diameter etc, just a little shorter than the standard spring so the spacer tube needs increasing in length to compensate. If you think you can use them Tonio then let me know, I won't be using them now and they'll be going cheap! I boughtthem for Dessie but never fitted them.

[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by AK

Giz, Tonio cant swap the springs on his marzocs, at least i dont think he can...

waiting for correction now

Is that a DD rule AK?? going down the more oil/thicker route don't always work, it affects the rebound and on long bumpy sections you might start to get packing down because it takes the oil too long to flow back. I noticed both your bikes were running with about 25 -30 mm unused travel on the fork at Oulton, I didn't get any hard braking photos at the end of the straight to check to see how other bikes were set-up and didn't know whether the fork would actually go to the bottom , it may be the 25mm mark was actually full travel.

[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by Gizmo

Is that a DD rule AK??

too late already answered, doh, must type faster

[AK]

no not a dd rule Giz, but as scooter says its if they are the older ones you cant get the springs.

Tonio, I know I did ask you about the discs on Monday, please do get them double checked mate, as that is what would concern me 1st also check headstock too

[Scooter916]

Whilst not perfect I Ran hagon Progressive springs in my 583 some slate them but they worked well and were good enough for the fastest lap at caddy, Cost about £30 and are listed on hagons site for the early ss marzocchi forks.
glyn

[AK]

Tonio, good advice from Scooter

[Felix]

Setting the sag right is definitely the first thing, start with 20-25 mm. Then knowing how much travel you actually use is critical. It may be that you have too much oil in them and the last bit of travel is "hyraulicking", i.e. the air gap is all used up too soon.