Can anyone school me on brake and suspension parts? - Page 2

**Mr.R** · 12 Dec 07, 05:51 PM

Hi,
Lots of sound advice here, looking at it from both sides of the coin......
I'd go along the lines of 'Leave it as standard'...
I doubt you'll find the limits of the standard brake system.
But if you do a decent set of pads would probably sort out any shortfall.
A good mate of mine (a well respected race bike tuner and exracer) said recently that if an average rider fitted radial brakes to his bike and then improved his track day lap times by 1 sec' he'd pay for that guys brakes!
Meaning that unless your name's Troy, James or Nori etc your never likley to find the difference.
I think his money is fairly safe.
I've been riding (and for a short time racing) bikes every day for almost 35 years now, the four pot Goldline Brembo's, cast iron full floaters and adjustable ratio m/cylinder fitted to my special are very similar to your standard set up on the 955sp(a), they work very well and exceed anything I've needed so far!
I doubt I will ever claim my free set of radial brakes............

Steve

**nogaromill999** · 12 Dec 07, 05:57 PM

I take your point Steve, and agree with the principle of your point, but it isnt about NEED is it? If it were you'd be riding a Honda CG125.........and not a classic 4 valve Ducati.......

**Martinp** · 12 Dec 07, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogaromill999

Its all a matter of budget really. How about these from Wilbers in Germany? Read the German magazine PS and you'll see Wilbers knocking spots off Ohlins and WP products left, right and centre.....here's a pic

Are they not Marzocchi RAC's still a tasty fork mind.

**nogaromill999** · 12 Dec 07, 06:50 PM

They are Marzocchi tubes, but Wilbers internals and sliders.......

**Martinp** · 12 Dec 07, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogaromill999

They are Marzocchi tubes, but Wilbers internals and sliders.......

Gotcha load and clear over and out!

**Mr.R** · 12 Dec 07, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogaromill999

I take your point Steve, and agree with the principle of your point, but it isnt about NEED is it? If it were you'd be riding a Honda CG125.........and not a classic 4 valve Ducati.......

Yes Dave,
As I said "I've looked at it from both sides of the coin"....
I'm no stranger to the 'Bling' factor myself.
A lot of the kit out there is absolutly Fan....Blo*dy...Tastic!!!!!
I'd probably sell one of my offspring for a set of those forks you posted, but I've been riding for a long time now and know that putting the 'Best Kit' on my bikes won't make me a better rider.......
My point was Hugh should make the best of what he's got, before he looks for more.
Also his 955sp(a) is a 'True' classic Desmoquatro and really doesn't need ******* about with IMHO.
He has modern Dukes to bling up to his hearts content.......
Looking for performance gains before you've found the limits of your ability is a recipe for disaster.
Sugar coating now being thrown away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They're are very few 2nd chances, there's no after life and no reincarnation.
Don't try to run before you can walk, no matter how big your budget is.
There's no substitute for getting lots of miles under your belt......
CHOOSE LIFE!

Steve

P.S. I ride an MZ on a daily basis Dave, I'd never lower myself to a CG125 it would never cover the miles I do.

**nogaromill999** · 12 Dec 07, 07:17 PM

He he , point taken, personally, if I were lucky enough to own an original 955SP, it would stay bog std........

**Rob998** · 12 Dec 07, 07:55 PM

Me too, but hasn't this one already been ****ed about with?

**Mr.R** · 12 Dec 07, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob998

Me too, but hasn't this one already been ****ed about with?

All bikes of that age have been 'Dicked about with', but Hugh is about to take it to another level!
And it doesn't need doing................
It's one thing 'Blinging' up your bike but latest model brakes on a true classic ????????
Ohlins forks that would never have graced such a classic?????
The guy needs therapy, he should be shot! In my humble opinion!
Anymore of this and I'll come down off of the fence!

Steve

**rockjock620** · 13 Dec 07, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob998

Rockjock, I totally agree with what you're saying, but if you haven't had the opportunity to follow what 955SP has been upto, he has just bought a very special bike, a genuine 955SP (hence his forum name), and I think he's trying to put it back to original spec or as close to as he can plus a bit of updating. I'm not sure how much it's been changed from spec, but it sounds like an extensive (and expensive) job.

I don't think he's trying to upgrade himself into being a better rider. Just trying to make the best bike he can whilst retaing some of the original flavour of the machine. He's been bitten good and hard by the Ducati bug, and he's fortunate enough to be able to afford some very nice machinery and be able to bling them to his taste. I'm sure in the fulness of time he'll get around to getting extra training etc.

Aye, point taken. In which case, if it is a true classic, it should be rebuilt as was. It'll still be good enough I reckon. As someone above said there are modern dukes to get faster, lighter, blingier, noisier.