Bimota Forum

[Gavin944888]

Hello..........I have an issue with the suspension on my DB9. The quality of the Extreme Tech 4 rear unit is questionable. I have had 1 unit replaced under warranty (June 14)

Then I had to have that 'new' unit rebuilt in Belgie by the Extreme franchise BM suspension, in order to stop the DB9 Bucking Bronco imitation.

BM Suspension are the old 'Techno Flex' and have over the years built 5 or 6 units for me, so I know that their work is good, but even with them re jigging the Extreme tech it is no where near good enough.

As the new DB9 comes with Ohlins, I thought they must have have solved the problem. Albeit, a lower spec OHLINS not a all singing and dancing multi adjusting unit

However after placing an OHLINS order in Italy, it was withdrawn, order cancelled, monies refunded, as they could no longer get the DB8/9 Ohlins units , although they still list the DB7.

Is the fitting and chassis the same across the range?

Have any other DB 7/8/9 or 11 offered up anything else? I know that some high spec DB's come with OHLINS...do they work well? Or are changes still needed?

Did you get your Extreme Tech to work properly? I m not talking about track riding....the DB9 is more street based and smelling the roses rather than sniffing the race fuel and adrenalin.

I have heard good things about the Italian Matris suspension manufacturer and Cristian from SBK Mugello is happy to supply a rear shock and front set of cartridges which will in their opinion will 'transform' the DB9

I have contacted and placed a rear shock order with the new UK importer but they are waiting for the factory to answer and I think that it will still leave the front to deal with.

So .....what do you other DB guys out there use? There is no way I am going to Italy and Austria this year on the current set up......I'd rather take the Elefant

many thanks
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On an Island in the River Thames!

Cagiva Elefant 888/955 & adventure sidecar
Cagiva Elefant 999r engined
Cagiva BIMOTA Motard Concept
BIMOTA DB9 (with DB11 rear-end)
BIMOTA DB7-11 VLX MULE (build coming to an end)
BIMOTA DB11 VLX Supercharger

[Gavin944888]

Ooppps...I meant to say, that the EXTREME DB9 shock measures approx. 310mm eye to eye and - sitting in a 'Honda style pro-link system" all contained with-in the swinging arm assembly - they are fitted with a 100n/m spring and hi-lo this and that multi adjustment.
_________________
On an Island in the River Thames!

Cagiva Elefant 888/955 & adventure sidecar
Cagiva Elefant 999r engined
Cagiva BIMOTA Motard Concept
BIMOTA DB9 (with DB11 rear-end)
BIMOTA DB7-11 VLX MULE (build coming to an end)
BIMOTA DB11 VLX Supercharger

[glened]

I am not sure that I qualify under the DB7/8/9 and 11 rules, but here goes. I have a DB10 with Marzocchi front forks and extreme tech rear. The front and rear are over sprung other than both units work fine, with the caveat that the front is on its 4th set of seals on 8000 miles. However if I have any problems with either of them (other than seals) I will go and Maxton suspension. They transformed my Honda SP1 and made the bike a delight to ride. Good luck with your problems.

[CNC]

I had replaced mine rear extremetech in January under warranty directly from Rimini. The seal between housing and preload adjuster ring broke down.

But, I must ask a stupid question first - do you have the right setting of slow and quick compression and rebound? It is quite essential to get it right... When setting is right, it works good on road and track...
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Bimota DB7, Bimota DB5 Mille, Ducati 916, Ducati M900, Benelli Tornado Tre

[Gavin944888]

Hello...CNC, I also had mine changed under warranty, but strangely enough it was worse after the change!

I then spent a day with FTR Suspension (Essex) who could not set the correct sag and get the shock it operate in its chosen stroke range. Or indeed in any real life (street biased) range, they felt so guilty... they did not charge!

The shock went to Belgium to be revalved and re shimmed and then back to FTR for another set up..but it seems to be built with a very short piston stroke operating area.
I have just collected the shock from FTR who again have not charged as they can not get it to do what is needed on their shock dyno thingy.

The fact that BIMOTA have changed the standard DB9 shock to an OHLINS as they leave the factory leads me to think the EXTREME might have been just that..a bit too Extreme!
It really does try to throw you out of the seat. Days of adjusting just seem to move the problem around...I can get really good/tight handling then it feels like the bike will snap in two at the first pot hole

OR I can get the bike to be compliant on the road but run wide on corners it feels as if the back does not get back to the top position quick enough.
Changing preload moves the spring and the amount of patience you have...nothing else

The DB9 is far more upright than the DB8...but regardless I am all over the place, with this shock and pretty soon I am going to make a decision to junk it.

The Matris units, front cartridges and rear shock seem to be getting the real life vote of confidence, but who knows? ....(perhaps a sidecar may solve the problem!)



regards

Gavin
_________________
On an Island in the River Thames!

Cagiva Elefant 888/955 & adventure sidecar
Cagiva Elefant 999r engined
Cagiva BIMOTA Motard Concept
BIMOTA DB9 (with DB11 rear-end)
BIMOTA DB7-11 VLX MULE (build coming to an end)
BIMOTA DB11 VLX Supercharger

[CNC]

Ok... in that case that is obesely something wrong with it. I think DB7/8 and DB9 are not so different that it would change suspensions that much that it would be bad.

I went classic way to adjust it... first preload... Out of original recommendation of 15,5 mm, I went to 18, because I have a few kg more than average rider. That give me ideal 38mm of sag. Out of that you should leave high speed compression to 14 and high speed rebound to 13. Both slow speed compression and rebound should be fully open. Extreme tech is a little more sensitive to settings than other suspension, but generally I found it good regardless of both positive and negative comments from different people..

Be aware that this is setting for newer kind of Extreme tech (both screws on the back silver). With older red/blue screws is a little different story.

I hope it helps somehow...
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Bimota DB7, Bimota DB5 Mille, Ducati 916, Ducati M900, Benelli Tornado Tre

[SB8Ksanta]

hi i can be of some assistance here to you. I have an Oro Nero DB7 whose OE was marzochhi forks and Extreme Tech rear shock. Yes Bimota could have specc'd this better with Ohlins. I have had a Matris cartridge kit installed to the forks and am about to get the internal shim stack altered by a UK suspension firm as the R + C damping settings are both on max soft and simply not quite compliant enough for road use. The Matris kit would appear to be for track/competition use. I never had a problem with the Extreme Tech shock though would agree that it was extremely sensitive to every click............and it has/had a high and low setting for the R and C damping. I would suggest that your original problems were a set up matter which these so called suspension experts could not get a grip of. I now run an Ohlins TTX36 with spring to suit and an eye to eye measure of 314 mm. the ohlins is 1.25 kgs heavier than the extreme tech shock. rebound 7 out from hard and comp 6 out and i have a compliant and supple ride. let me know how you get on.

[sb8rs]

Hi Gavin

Only one word for you

Nitron

Made a custom shock for my Mantra and it is superb quality.
Do yourself a favour and give them a call..

From the "Island".

[Gavin944888]

SB8k Santa......many thanks.

Your db7 TTX shock , when you mention the 314mm eye to eye ..this is exactly the same as the db9, so....potentially the same shock application?
The guys at FTR could set the sag easy enough but then the shock was not in range OR they could set the range but the sag was no where to be seen.

As they are Ohlins Service Centre I kind of guess they are qualified and they identified a similar issue with the Honda cbr 1000rr..
That problem related to the leverage of the linkages being wrong rather than the shock

So, I have contacted Bimota UK to.enquire about an Ohlins and if the factory list one. However your info regarding the TTX is extremely helpful.

SB8rs".....although the island is flat it is real life bumpy...

For my sins I never gave. NITRON any thought....I did think of UK companies.
I contacted K Tech....they did not even answer the email and Maxton Suspension also took his approach......customer service...priceless!

At the moment the best response is from Matris .....next day answers and details of actual DB 9 conversions.

We will wait until Bimota UK are back from the TT to hear any updates prior to actually taking the plunge

However many thanks so far
_________________
On an Island in the River Thames!

Cagiva Elefant 888/955 & adventure sidecar
Cagiva Elefant 999r engined
Cagiva BIMOTA Motard Concept
BIMOTA DB9 (with DB11 rear-end)
BIMOTA DB7-11 VLX MULE (build coming to an end)
BIMOTA DB11 VLX Supercharger

[SB8Ksanta]

hi back from the pub now so i will try to avoid "pub talk"!. avoid Nitron with respect to the well intended advice from SB8RS. they are mid range, mid price and not worth it.....and yes I have owned a Nitron on another bike and would not buy again. buy the following direct from italy and spend the money and you will not be disappointed....set it to my specs in my first post and you will be Mr Smiley! Get a custom spring job from a UK ohlins dealer when you receive it.

http://www.andreanigroup.com/it-it/shop/prodotti/ammohlins-ttx36-bimota-db7-ag-935.aspx?articoloId=43238&idC=61765&LN=it-IT

you probably wont get much joy from K Tech. Phone them and forget the email. They are neither an ohlins dealer nor are tooled up for marzochhi. alternatively and even better is to buy a Wilbers 643 shock from revs Racing in west mids who will spring it to your weight and you can specify the colour of spring from a choice of two. Wilbers is an excellent hi-spec shock with little UK market presence and with a UK service agent! much better than any of the Nitron specs and their gross turqouise springs! let me know how you get on

[ct981]

Hi

re Nitron

I have also used them and found the shock flawless, excellent quality.
do agree about the spring colour though, so they changed it to a colour of my choice.
An advantage I also found with Nitron was there hands on approach I took my bike to there factory where the built it to my weight and style of riding.
To me perfect out of the box.

To be fair you get what you pay for unless your Rossi and co and need to shave a tenth of a second of your fav road circuit.
a correctly set up premium shock from any of the premium brands is all you need.

[Gavin944888]

SB8k Santa......the link takes you the same Italian company I placed the order with for the Ohlins TTX db9 only for them to cancel the order and refund....this is a big circle of events.
FTR are the UK importers of the andreanigroup products as in the link/advert. FTR contacted andreanigroup to source the Ohlins TTX and fork internals as advertised but also drew a blank .
Question...is.your bottom fixing on the TTX a fork or an eye ...the photo shows a fork ?
Thanks so far for your input.

CT981......thanks for your comments but I have more in common with Rossi ice cream rather than the greatest of all time.

Thanks so far and apparently on Tuesday I should get a response from Bimota UK once the land back in Blighty after the TT
_________________
On an Island in the River Thames!

Cagiva Elefant 888/955 & adventure sidecar
Cagiva Elefant 999r engined
Cagiva BIMOTA Motard Concept
BIMOTA DB9 (with DB11 rear-end)
BIMOTA DB7-11 VLX MULE (build coming to an end)
BIMOTA DB11 VLX Supercharger

[SB8Ksanta]

hi i am very far away from by bike re bottom shock mount type, however, i am very sure that it is a round eye rather than an inverted U type mount. you wish to consider bypassing ohlins altogether and buy this


http://www.ebay.de/itm/Wilbers-Stosdampfer-Federbein-633-DB-9-Brivido-DB-09-Bj-12-1735-/321771717078?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item4aeb16c1d6

wilbers UK are the very helpful and experienced - John at Revs racing. you could order this same shock type from him (and pay more for UK prices!) you want a 633 - 1113 i think. this is a high spec shock built to order - i have owned about 3 of these on various bikes and have been very impressed - four way adjustability.

let me know how you get on!

[SB8Ksanta]

i have just found the ohlins reference code for a db7 shock adbsober it is an AG935, try Omnia Racing.

[Gavin944888]

SB8K Santa".....many thanks for the information,but the nice folk at Bimota UK has sourced an Ohlins via the factory and got the one as fitted to all new DB9s. Ben called this morning to say it was on its way and we should have it by Monday or so.
The bike is booked into FTR on the 1st of July as I am off up a Col in France with the 999r elefant on Wednesday...at the International Elefant treffen.

So thanks for the input and shock options.

Regards

Gavin
_________________
On an Island in the River Thames!

Cagiva Elefant 888/955 & adventure sidecar
Cagiva Elefant 999r engined
Cagiva BIMOTA Motard Concept
BIMOTA DB9 (with DB11 rear-end)
BIMOTA DB7-11 VLX MULE (build coming to an end)
BIMOTA DB11 VLX Supercharger