I am considering a front axle upgrade. Rigid to avoid deflection and hard enough to avoid being deformed as was the stock axle on my 996. It seems to me the deformation may lead to the fork leg not locating itself correctly with 'jouncing' or settling on assy.
I see Yoyodyne makes a Ti axle and TPO claims their 7068 aluminum outperforms titanium. Maybe in some respects. They claim stiffer than stock as well as lighter. Yoyodyne gives the alloy # 6AL-4V I believe. Any thoughts, R
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When smashing monuments, save the pedestals. They always come in handy. Stanislaw Lem
I've never heard of anyone replacing the stock 996 front axle, assuming it's not damaged, or getting distortion assuming they torque the bolts properly and haven't crashed the bike. There's really no reason to go to Ti if everything is straight and clean and you torque the bolts correctly, except to save a little bit of unsprung weight.
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08 Red Ducati 1098S
98 Black Ducati 748/800 (street)
99 Black Ducati 996 (race)
Been using a Yoyodyne unit for years. No issues at all. It looks like new.
I've used a Motowheels unit also without issue. I think Mettec may have made them for MW. Regardless they are very good. Lighter and durable in both cases.
Single parts don't make a bike significantly lighter, but added together many lighter weight parts can make a bike overall significantly lighter. Quality is always important.
__________________ 848RS, M1100S (soon) GP SuperTwins Champion 2007 & 2008
Nothing is more satisfying than passing V4 Honda riders & Trolls!
Thanks all,
Spoke w Yoyodyne and learned that they were out of stock and would not be making any more till next year. in the process moving to a bigger facility. He said their axles are lighter but would not deform as he volunteered they all do. Mine was deformed the first time I saw it. Slight.
I saw it referred to as ovaling on Motowheels. They say as Jeff did, from overtorque. The price is up pretty high on these now and I have mine working so am now inclined to ignore it. Thanks Duc 23, did not see the Motowheels option till U mentioned it.
Jeff, just happened across your bike add and particulars list before i cked back on this post. You seem to have replaced a few items. I think that is the longest list I have ever seen!
I suffered with the bike's poor handling for years, until I decided to put an Ohlins revalve in the forks and change springs front and rear. Wow. Wish it had handled like this when I first bought it. I kept thinking I might be an adjustment away from a breakthrough. It was such a miraculous transformation that i found it hard to believe that valves or springs would explain it. I had also dressed the axle and paid particular attention to assy. and assume that I changed something there. It used to feel as if it had 'sticchion' just shoving on the bars, and that is gone. Would not think shim stack could affect this just sitting still, and decided the axle fitment must explain part of the change. Seems that and not flexing is critical enough to warrant a good part. Noticed that motowheels claims lighter, stronger but not as hard as OE. Since it is working so well now I am inclined ignore it and save my money for a new bike, rather than replace this one, one piece at a time. That is today, tommorow i may change my mind. Thanks again fellow Ducatisti. Now it is off for front brake shopping, Ciao, R
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When smashing monuments, save the pedestals. They always come in handy. Stanislaw Lem
Thanks to you folks, I have now ordered front and rear Ti axles. Bastards.
Wow, I just thought someone would love to give their opinion on that minutia, I hope you really mean bastards plural. hahaha It can't hurt if it makes it more rigid, which it will. Like the fork brace we all knew we needed in yesteryear.
The point I failed to make in earlier post, is that if the stock axle is assembled wrong once, it could have a tendency to go back together the same way again. Wrong poition and then overtorque. I think that happened to mine before I saw it. I had found different fluids in each of the fork legs, makes me know someone was there before. That scenario had not occured to me before this scooter and it's foibles.
So BC999S, what kind did you decide on? make me go out and get that axle I was talkin about. Damn it! http://www.speedzilla.com/forums/ima...ons/icon10.gif
__________________
When smashing monuments, save the pedestals. They always come in handy. Stanislaw Lem
So BC999S, what kind did you decide on? make me go out and get that axle I was talkin about. Damn it!
Like you, I checked with Yoyodyne and got the news, "Not until March". Not having that kind of patience, when I saw Ducati23 mention MotoWheels I went hunting. After looking high and low I found the axles under "Suspension" on their website.
If you decide you want them, make sure you sign up as a member first - you'll save a few bucks.
But I have some bad news for you - I got the last rear axle.
They have one front one, though.
BTW, the guys at MotoWheels are great to deal with and I've never been disappointed with anything I've bought from them.
Thanks BC,
You wouldn't think the marketing geniuses would make it so hard to give away money. Knowing it should be there I kept looking, but it did not come right up when searching for axle, titanium front axle, etc... Had the same experience looking for brake floaters, other than Motowheels. Finally found ~3 sources.
Thanks for the tip on becoming a member to save bucks. My 996 taking a diff rear axle may mean they have on of those. The giant rear spindle on mine might be quite a weight savings I had not considered. Especially good out there on the end of the swing arm. Damn it BC! hahaha, R
__________________
When smashing monuments, save the pedestals. They always come in handy. Stanislaw Lem
My 996 taking a diff rear axle may mean they have on of those. The giant rear spindle on mine might be quite a weight savings I had not considered. Especially good out there on the end of the swing arm. Damn it BC! hahaha, R
Forgot you had a 996. A Ti rear axle should make a significant difference. I'm sure they're really cheap, too.
While you're at it you may as well put on a billet sprocket holder. And sprinkle on a few Ti nuts and bolts for good measure.
I should warn you - I'm really good at spending other people's money.
I've never heard of anyone replacing the stock 996 front axle, assuming it's not damaged, or getting distortion assuming they torque the bolts properly and haven't crashed the bike. There's really no reason to go to Ti if everything is straight and clean and you torque the bolts correctly, except to save a little bit of unsprung weight.
Haha thanks BC I think we´re quite on the same level
We just got a group buy going on my German forum powerwheelie.de . My friend Jonas dug out a list with titanium bolts. I don´t know how long I can resist.
I am afraid I don't remember why I had to put th STM quick change sprockets on it, or the now obsolete cast mags. They were there? Ben, it looks like you already succumbed to the fastner sprinkling. BC is playin' ya. I think he may be the master.
Someone needs to make a cost/weight savings chart, perhaps a cost vs. aesthetics graph as well for us novice unobtanium shoppers and bling flingers. Before I replace any fasteners I would aesthetically challenge my bike w a set of carbon ceramic/ silicon carbide brakes (grinding discs best I can tell), followed by the cf wheels. I clearly need direction.
I don't see those items coming out on the new models.
__________________
When smashing monuments, save the pedestals. They always come in handy. Stanislaw Lem
"Hi. My name is BC and I'm a titanaholic. I want to introduce you to my enabler, Ben710. I've got around $2,000 of Ti nuts and bolts on the bike now. Don't start - it never ends."
Received the axles and, as always with product from Motowheels, am totally satisfied. They're about half the weight of the stock pieces so I figure I've saved about half a pound of unsprung weight on each end.
Only $2000 worth. hmmm you must have missed quite a number of them.
It is a problem for many myself included. Once you start it is hard to resist changing every possible fastener. Then questions arise: Of course the suspension bolts and engine mounts need to be Ti. So do the brake punger and pivot, clutch spring bolts and those heavy nuts holding the guages on, or the fuel pump plate on, or the... Why didn't I think of that stuff sooner?
__________________ 848RS, M1100S (soon) GP SuperTwins Champion 2007 & 2008
Nothing is more satisfying than passing V4 Honda riders & Trolls!
Who makes the best front axle?
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