Re: Lowering your Ducati (DucatiDave)
I would guess that the "Don't do it" answer is driven more by liability than anything else.
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I would guess that the "Don't do it" answer is driven more by liability than anything else.
Lowering your Ducati
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For all of you who have searched extensively on the web about the possability of lowering your Ducati, YES, it IS possible AND, contrary to the nay-sayers
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, does NOT alter your handling stability all that much (unless yer friggin knee-dragging at the track). That's right, leave your lowered-suspension FEAR and PARANOIA behind...I'm 5'4'' and was barely touching boot-extended toes on a flat surface to keep my DUC 748 upright . No way is this enjoyable.
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So here is how you lower your Ducati 748 916 998 whatever:
1. Take out 1 retaining nut (top nut) on your seat height adjuster tiebar, make sure the other nut is fully screwed in. This gives you about 1 1/4 inch drop in seat height.
2. Lower your shock compression rings enough to a. clear the rocker arm above while no load on the seat and b. to stiffen-up the rear as to avoid bottoming out the tire when hitting speed bumps, deer, pedestrians, etc... I adjusted mine down about an inch.
After this mod...I notice the Duc doesnt "nose-dive" as much through turns and actually feels much more predictable. That's all fine with me, cause I don't treat the street like a track.
The official Ducati response to this mod is "don't do it, you'll screw up the handling" Although I say that's bologn "e", your on your own if you do this. Nonetheless, I hope this idea helps you other short riders out there.
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1. Take out 1 retaining nut (top nut) on your seat height adjuster tiebar, make sure the other nut is fully screwed in. This gives you about 1 1/4 inch drop in seat height.
2. Lower your shock compression rings enough to a. clear the rocker arm above while no load on the seat and b. to stiffen-up the rear as to avoid bottoming out the tire when hitting speed bumps, deer, pedestrians, etc... I adjusted mine down about an inch.
After this mod...I notice the Duc doesnt "nose-dive" as much through turns and actually feels much more predictable. That's all fine with me, cause I don't treat the street like a track.
The official Ducati response to this mod is "don't do it, you'll screw up the handling" Although I say that's bologn "e", your on your own if you do this. Nonetheless, I hope this idea helps you other short riders out there.
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Re: Lowering your Ducati (section8superbike)
lol
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lol
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Re: Lowering your Ducati (DucatiDave)
For the vertically challenged individuals[pc for midgets] may I suggest:
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Far less dangerous and all, perhaps
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For the vertically challenged individuals[pc for midgets] may I suggest:
Far less dangerous and all, perhaps
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Re: Lowering your Ducati (Shoie)
I have heard of folks removing the jam nuts from the ends of the ride height adjuster. Removing both nuts effectively shortens the adjuster another 1/2" or so.
I thought of doing this, but wouldn't the adjuster and end link threads get buggered up by not having that positive jamming stress that the jam nuts provide?
I think having a shorter adjusting rod made so that you can still use the jam nuts is a better alternative.
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DucDave: Did you have to shorten the side stand?
I have heard of folks removing the jam nuts from the ends of the ride height adjuster. Removing both nuts effectively shortens the adjuster another 1/2" or so.
I thought of doing this, but wouldn't the adjuster and end link threads get buggered up by not having that positive jamming stress that the jam nuts provide?
I think having a shorter adjusting rod made so that you can still use the jam nuts is a better alternative.
DucDave: Did you have to shorten the side stand?
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Re: Lowering your Ducati (paulo57509)
I was afraid to go that route due to the handling concerns, so I ended up airing my tires down to about 4psi. It lowered the bike roughly 2 inches, and I can say from experience that the handling has not changed noticeably. I don't treat the street like the track either, so ymmv.
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I was afraid to go that route due to the handling concerns, so I ended up airing my tires down to about 4psi. It lowered the bike roughly 2 inches, and I can say from experience that the handling has not changed noticeably. I don't treat the street like the track either, so ymmv.
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Re: Lowering your Ducati (BLZ2DWL)
It sounds to me with the back end dropped a ton like in the "instructions" and no mention of the forks the thing will look like a chopper. I don't doubt for a second it's plenty stable in a straight line, but to say this won't affect the handling...
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It sounds to me with the back end dropped a ton like in the "instructions" and no mention of the forks the thing will look like a chopper. I don't doubt for a second it's plenty stable in a straight line, but to say this won't affect the handling...
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Re: Lowering your Ducati (Norm)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Norm »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I guarentee that bike will handle like shit, unless you ride it like a cruiser. The guys at Orange County Choppers also say their bikes handle great.</TD></TR></TABLE>
My advice... Don't listen to full-of-crap people like "Norm" above, who is the classic example of a nay-sayer.
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If you need your Ducati lowered, try what I said and see for yourself. Ya can't argue with the facts there Norm. On the street, the bike leans just as low and, if anything, more predictably...which, if anything, translates into a safer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable ride.
Any Ducati "expert" idiot who says it can't be done without ruining the street handling doesn't know shit about Ducati performance.
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This aint the space shuttle we're without a talking about. Tolerances can be played-with.
Oh, and don't get nervous. It looks exactly the same as before. No, it doesnt look like a chopper. You can't even tell it's 1, 1.5 inches lower unless you pull up to another Duc 748....and who gives a shit anyway?
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Like I said in the topic post, if you need your Duc lowered, get a buddy to help you do this mod and see if it works for you. List your e-mails, and I'll send you some nice detailed pics.
Gee, I wish I was a Ducati expert rider like Norm, so I could tell the difference in handling and then obsess about it all day and night.
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<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Norm »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I guarentee that bike will handle like shit, unless you ride it like a cruiser. The guys at Orange County Choppers also say their bikes handle great.</TD></TR></TABLE>
My advice... Don't listen to full-of-crap people like "Norm" above, who is the classic example of a nay-sayer.
Any Ducati "expert" idiot who says it can't be done without ruining the street handling doesn't know shit about Ducati performance.
Oh, and don't get nervous. It looks exactly the same as before. No, it doesnt look like a chopper. You can't even tell it's 1, 1.5 inches lower unless you pull up to another Duc 748....and who gives a shit anyway?
Gee, I wish I was a Ducati expert rider like Norm, so I could tell the difference in handling and then obsess about it all day and night.
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Re: Lowering your Ducati (Chuckles)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chuckles »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well I have ridden a 996 with the rear end lowered as far as possible, and it handled terrible!
Why don't you at least lower the front the same amount to get the geometry back close to what it should be?</TD></TR></TABLE>
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Oh great, now you'll be a full of shit dumb ass too. Look out Chuckles it's coming your way.
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<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chuckles »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well I have ridden a 996 with the rear end lowered as far as possible, and it handled terrible!
Why don't you at least lower the front the same amount to get the geometry back close to what it should be?</TD></TR></TABLE>
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Re: Lowering your Ducati (Monstaman)
I pondered lowering the front, but decided against it after taking a test-spin after the lowering the rear. There's really no need because, "I'm tellin ya," there is minimal difference in handling...and that minimal difference is an improvement in turning predictability and stability.
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The stock 748 suspension setup is saggy to begin with, so stiffining up the preload a bit to compensate for a shorter tie-bar works out well. Now... if I lowered the ass 5 more inches (which I could) then, yes, there would be a lazy-ass turn phenomenon going on. As it stands, that aint the case. 1 inch lower at the seat aint a big deal...except that I now can balance the bike better and actually enjoy riding it.
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I highly recommend short riders to try this out....and then post how good it feels.
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Caution ...for all you Edouard Henriquez types...you may lose 0.005 seconds off your track time with this mod.
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I pondered lowering the front, but decided against it after taking a test-spin after the lowering the rear. There's really no need because, "I'm tellin ya," there is minimal difference in handling...and that minimal difference is an improvement in turning predictability and stability.
The stock 748 suspension setup is saggy to begin with, so stiffining up the preload a bit to compensate for a shorter tie-bar works out well. Now... if I lowered the ass 5 more inches (which I could) then, yes, there would be a lazy-ass turn phenomenon going on. As it stands, that aint the case. 1 inch lower at the seat aint a big deal...except that I now can balance the bike better and actually enjoy riding it.
I highly recommend short riders to try this out....and then post how good it feels.
Caution ...for all you Edouard Henriquez types...you may lose 0.005 seconds off your track time with this mod.
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Re: Lowering your Ducati (DucatiDave)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DucatiDave »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Now... if I lowered the ass 5 more inches (which I could) then, yes, there would be a lazy-ass turn phenomenon going on. </TD></TR></TABLE>
But not at 4 1/2 inches.
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<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DucatiDave »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Now... if I lowered the ass 5 more inches (which I could) then, yes, there would be a lazy-ass turn phenomenon going on. </TD></TR></TABLE>
But not at 4 1/2 inches.
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Re: Lowering your Ducati (DucatiDave)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DucatiDave »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...and yes, Phil, ...I am nasty</TD></TR></TABLE>
This site is a very helpful place with a lot of caring nice people.........the internet is an easy place to act like a tough guy, you won't impress anyone here being shitty towards them.
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<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DucatiDave »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...and yes, Phil, ...I am nasty</TD></TR></TABLE>
This site is a very helpful place with a lot of caring nice people.........the internet is an easy place to act like a tough guy, you won't impress anyone here being shitty towards them.
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Re: Lowering your Ducati (Phil 998)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Phil 998 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
This site is a very helpful place with a lot of caring nice people.........the internet is an easy place to act like a tough guy, you won't impress anyone here being shitty towards them.
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
Agree 100%, be nice to the people on this forum and you will get the information and help you want when you NEED it.
Shun them now and you will pay later, keep it seemly!
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Phil 998 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
This site is a very helpful place with a lot of caring nice people.........the internet is an easy place to act like a tough guy, you won't impress anyone here being shitty towards them.
Agree 100%, be nice to the people on this forum and you will get the information and help you want when you NEED it.
Shun them now and you will pay later, keep it seemly!
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