Final Geometry Numbers!!!

Well, now that I've spent countless hours designing tools, making jigs, taking readings, crunching numbers and then finally making adjustments.....

I ready to share the results with anyone who, by now, isn't completely bored or confused (or both).



FRONT RIDE HEIGHT (measured from top of upper triple clamp to center of axle) = 714MM

REAR RIDE HEIGHT (measured from a rest I made directly over the axle mounted to one of the threaded studs under the muffler* this is not going to be useful to anyone else unless they use the same measuring spot) but, I can use it for accurate, repeatable measurments.
= 466MM

RAKE-23.5 degrees
FORK OFFSET- 27MM
TRAIL-99MM
SWINGARM ANGLE-10.5 degrees
SWINGARM LENGTH-500MM with axle in center position
-507MM axle back to stop. Stop can be removed for more adjustment.
WHEELBASE-1435MM (center) 1442 (back)
TIRES-PIRELLI DRAGON SUPER CORSA PRO (worn)
REAR CIRC.= 1020MM FRT. CIRC.=892MM
HEIGHT TO AXLE CENTER- R=320MM F=305MM

RANDOM NOTES:
Fork lines above triple clamp= 1
Spring rate- F= 1.05Kg R=.90Kg
Rear Ohlins Spring #01092-29/90 L374 = 170MM free length
Rear spring preload= 12MM
Front spring preload= 9.75 turns from firm

REALLY RANDOM STUFF:
One turn of ride height rod = 8MM in rear ride height or 1 degree of swingarm angle.
Example: Rod length Ride height Swingarm angle
285mm (stock) 470mm 11.1
1/2 turn shorter 466mm 10.5
1 turn shorter 462mm 10.1
Rear Free Sag= 5.5MM
Front Free Sag is now 21MM but will change when I adjust rider sag, which is suspension settings, that I'll get to before I use the bike.

Parts needed to convert to the 05 and later "boxed" swingarm:
Swingarm, lower shock/rod mount nut with extended end plug, rear brake line. The new swingarm will work with the stock (54mm) sized mid pipe, but anything larger in dia will probably not clear!

Checking the Swingarm angle.

I used a digital protractor along with the laser level and a large T square. The T square lays along the swingarm from the center of the pivot to the center of the rear axle. The bike is supported by the frame so that there is no weight on the suspension. I sat the lower arm of the protractor on the top edge of the T square, then raised the other arm until it was parallel with the level laser line. The picture below shows a downward angle of 10.5 degrees on the swingarm.

Here you can barely make out the red "level" laser line running through the centerline of the swingarm pivot. I had to first find how the bike sits naturally (if the front sat higher than the back, etc), and I did this by measuring the height of both axles from the ground and adjusting accordingly.

The laser worked well on the rear...

I decided to set it up to see if I could actually check the rake and trail numbers. Above you can see the laser set up to check the vertical line through the center of the axle to the ground. You can barely see the red line in the picture. I've got a T square set up to check the "plumb" of the line.
Close up of the vertical line.
I previously set the laser to follow along the centerline of the forks then moved it back to the centerline of the steering head, I confirmed the position by measuring back 27mm (the offset of the clamps) at the axle point. Then I marked the point where it hit the ground (actually a board under the tire to make up for the height of the stand) this is where the rake angle is.
To get the trail number I measured the distance between the two points marked on the board. And to my surprise I got 99mm, which is exactly what was quoted in the geometry figures I have, and what I calculated it would be working with the 27mm clamps.
So, overall, I'm happy I took the time to play around with the laser...Hey, it's no Computrack system, but it was nice to see how the geometry works when making changes. AND I like playing around with this stuff....Yeah, I know, I got way too much time on my hands!!!

A little experiment......

I decided to come up with a way to check the swingarm angle using a laser level that I had, but never used. I set the laser on a tripod, leveled it, then set the laser at the center of the swingarm pivot hole. Since I don't have the swingarm yet, because I'm waiting for a used 05 boxed arm, I set up a piece of plywood to follow the line back from the pivot point. I found it interesting that the swingarm pivot is in direct line with the crankshaft center. Follow the red line in the pic above.


The laser level worked surprisingly well.

While I had the front end apart I made some adjustments to the fairing stay so that the dash sat higher and angled back more, leaving more room for the throttle cables to run underneath.
It's easy to get front ride height measurements with the wheel off and the suspension fully suspended.

I ran a tie across the axle hole to locate the center and measured up to the top of the top triple clamp. For now I'm using some ride height figures that are suppose to work well with the clamps set at the steep (23.5 degree) setting. I set the forks to one line showing or 714mm to the axle center.

GETTING IT BACK TOGETHER......

The DucShop 27mm off set clamps are mounted up. I originally set the forks at three lines showing above the clamps because this is where they were with the stock clamps.



I ran a wire tie through the holes in the stem nut to mount the Starlane GPS unit. It plugs into the wiring harness and brings up lap times on the dash.

GEOMETRY.....

Now that I'm finished with the engine work, it's time to work on getting the "R" to handle like my sweet flicking 748! Since the cast swingarm of the 03 model is scratched (other side in this pic) from a previous get off, and I'll be looking to increase the wheelbase (more on that later, or see my older 27mm triple clamp post), I decided to find a nice 05 "boxed" swingarm to replace it.
While I had it off the bike, I took an accurate center to center reading to determine it's length. It's 483mm to the point where I had my chain adjusted (about the middle of the adjustment point) and 489mm all the way to the back of the adjustment range. I've been told that the 05 arm is about 513mm to the back, so I'll be able to get in the 500mm range with that arm, which is what I need. Stay tuned.
Above is an example of shoddy craftsmanship on a $30K (originally) motorcycle. All the tape on the wiring is cheap friction type that comes apart much too easily when trying to clean the harnesses. Plus, the wires are not completely taped, just wrapped with gaps!!! My other Ducatis were much better in this regard. I'll be fixing this problem with proper tape and technique, for sure!