Hi all, Just tought i would share my very recent experience with regards to professional suspension set up. Firstly i have to say that my bike is a 2007 blade with only 4500 miles so not much in the way of wear and tear. I'd come back to bikes after 10yr break (have owned three previous blades) and thought the blade would be a safe bet in its handling but it reality it was scary! I found that at nearly 17st and 6ft2" that the front end just bottomed out under braking and the bike was skitish and would tramline on any kind of uneven surface, overbanding etc. So took the bike to MCT in suffolk (on a recomendation from a police riding instructor) and explained to them its mostly dry sunday morning blasts i enjoy. They said that my particular model infact had to short a front fork spring so no amount of adjusting will help that! added with the fact that im not a small bloke made the front end so bad in would upset the rear. So they duly went and fitted longer/stiffer fork springs, made some new spacers and replaced the fork oil. On the rear they just played with the settings saying that for my kind of use i didnt need to spend any money on any bolt on goodies! I had been prepared to spend what ever it took to get the bike right but 1.5hrs and £200 plus the vat later and it was finished. Now id already spent money on acropovic slip on,Pazzo's,Hel lines,Hugger,Tint screen etc all the usuall stuff we throw at our bikes! BUT this is the best money ive spent to date by a long way!!! The bike is transformed beyond my expectations and now behave's as i think a blade should. It feels planted,stable and nothing seems to unsettle it. So for anyone considering suspension set up, id say get it done by a pro and reap the rewards!! Chris.
Great stuff mate.... Even with the upgrade thats fantastic value for money. Said it hundreds of times, decent rubber and a set up are the first things you should do to a bike!!
had mine done there a few months ago,they said pretty much the same to me i:e the springs are to short on my model (05) new oil front and back then set up and by the sounds of it got the same result as you! did you go left out the estate then right at the round about(lovely roads)
Ditto, just got my 954 not too long ago and given it is 10 years old (even though its very low miles), i got a used Ohlins shock and had it fitted and set up by KAIS. Also had the Honda fork recall done and at the same time got them to replace the fork oil, after KAIS had set it up the bike felt totally different.... worth every penny and as said, forget the bling and get the unseen stuff done first.
I've been mulling this over too recently for my 954 for the same reasons. There's a place near me called Peak Performance where for 50 odd quid will set up your suspension based on your weight, riding style, etc and show you how to do it for future reference.
Does anyone know somewhere reputable a bit closer to Stoke who does this service. At the moment i'm looking at Exeter (Kais) or Suffolk (MCT), both will probably need an overnight stay if i took my bike down to them for set up.
So they are Kpone, Manchester, just spoke to them and they will set it up for me, £50, not bad at all.
Other than art of course (didn't know you did set ups mate) Try mike - he is bloody awesome MD Racing : Ducati Service, tuning, servicing, racing, parts, engine rebuilds, mechanic in Surrey Ducati specialist but does all suspension, worked on bsb and wsb bikes, knows his stuff
Yep they are in Atherton.... Wigan actually !!! Only a few miles from where i live so really easy to get too, they also gave the bike a service whilst fitting and servicing the shock, top guys and they so know their stuff.
