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1390 Super Duke R Evo Suspension Tuning (Canyon Riding)

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#21 ·
RideFL said:
The manual states 35% for 85kg (187.3lbs) so I set it a 40%. I am about 195+/- with all gear on.
Click to expand...
mmm, yes saw that too in the manual, but even at 10% Manual or Low Auto, it felt very hard. I'm about same weight as you.
I guess our roads are very different in evenness / bumpiness.

I'm intersted to try go harder, just hope not to be thrown off it.
 
#22 ·
v01d said:
mmm, yes saw that too in the manual, but even at 10% Manual or Low Auto, it felt very hard. I'm about same weight as you.
I guess our roads are very different in evenness / bumpiness.

I'm intersted to try go harder, just hope not to be thrown off it.
Click to expand...
Preload is not what makes it feel hard or soft. Well, unless you set the preload so low that you're constantly bottoming out the suspension. That would make it feel hard.

Damping is what makes it feel hard or soft.
 
#23 ·
StuartV said:
Preload is not what makes it feel hard or soft. Well, unless you set the preload so low that you're constantly bottoming out the suspension. That would make it feel hard.

Damping is what makes it feel hard or soft.
Click to expand...
That’s true and yet, the riding effect I have much stiffer ride .

deff not bottoming out on anything , I have those rings on the forks I know how much travel max I get - still loads left
 
#24 ·
StuartV said:
Preload is not what makes it feel hard or soft. Well, unless you set the preload so low that you're constantly bottoming out the suspension. That would make it feel hard.

Damping is what makes it feel hard or soft.
Click to expand...
I would say this is partly true: restricting too much the movement makes the working range too tight, and what I've experienced on rear it starts skipping/jumping under acceleration.
Un-loading/ reducing preload makes it squat more but I felt much better rear grip and no skipping or hopping.
But now, that was totally different bike ....

And no, I'm not bottoming out anywhere - front or rear - on the duke, using Standard or 0 % preload. I can see front by that rubber gauge ring you can set: still plenty.
I have no doubt same for the rear.

So overall, while I would agree setting preload just right should be well just right, i do not experience it same. Every time I move preload to 10% or set auto mode to Low or Standard, it feels much hard(er), and less ridable, that's the key, not comfort. On these roads anyhow: bumpy, mountain passes, nothing smooth.

If I go to a smooth or good quality surface with wider sweepers and carry more speed, then I can set it all 'harder' : more preload, more sport damping. Feels much less 'hard' everywhere if roads are smooth.

Still testing that danamic or Auto damping ...
 
#25 ·
StuartV said:
Preload is not what makes it feel hard or soft. Well, unless you set the preload so low that you're constantly bottoming out the suspension. That would make it feel hard.

Damping is what makes it feel hard or soft.
Click to expand...
Yes and no? Too much preload and you can get your rear hoping / skipping , when accelerating and that is also ‘hard ‘ to me .

agree what you said but I cannot get that dialed in…

just yesterday , usual mountain roads, started with 30% manual preload … as per my weight manual says. Ride … and it’s like , hard cheap mattress with stiff springs , bouncy almost everywhere, front feels like as if knocking , I felt as if knocking in headstem or forks legs don’t know . ( just … hated it )

hated it … went down 20% .. same , to 10% Better … Back to 0 % ! Rideable .. Playing with damping and that kind of does what you expect.

Last setting tried Auto preload - Standard . I don’t know how that Auto works , but it Felt - yes it’s all as Personal feel , as there is little description on how / what it should do - better than Auto -Low mode .

So I’m going to ride a bit more see if may be this preload mode works - for -me
 
#29 ·
Hi, I have the 1309 evo. I haven't had much chance to play around with the settings yet. Not sure if the 1290 evo was the same but apparently there is nothing inside of our left fork set up, as in the front suspension relies totally on the right fork internals. I have heard that if you use an underfork type paddock stand and remove the front wheel the bike will fall over as the left fork just collapses. I got this info from MCN (UK). I'm sure WP know what they are doing but it seems like a cheap *** way of doing it. Any of my Ducati's with elec.susp. had both forks wired up. Given that and the fact that you have to buy a HCU (€100) so you can use the heated grips you brought forward from your Gen 2 and 3 it would appear KTMs' financial problems must be bad.
My initial feeling is the forks are a little wooden compared to my standard 1290 R but maybe I need to play around with the settings and see how it goes, a tinge of regret that I didn't stick with the standard R, hope I'm wrong about that🤞
 
#30 ·
Flipper said:
Hi, I have the 1309 evo. I haven't had much chance to play around with the settings yet. Not sure if the 1290 evo was the same but apparently there is nothing inside of our left fork set up, as in the front suspension relies totally on the right fork internals. I have heard that if you use an underfork type paddock stand and remove the front wheel the bike will fall over as the left fork just collapses. I got this info from MCN (UK). I'm sure WP know what they are doing but it seems like a cheap *** way of doing it. Any of my Ducati's with elec.susp. had both forks wired up. Given that and the fact that you have to buy a HCU (€100) so you can use the heated grips you brought forward from your Gen 2 and 3 it would appear KTMs' financial problems must be bad.
My initial feeling is the forks are a little wooden compared to my standard 1290 R but maybe I need to play around with the settings and see how it goes, a tinge of regret that I didn't stick with the standard R, hope I'm wrong about that🤞
Click to expand...
I’m pretty sure on my 2023 both fork legs have ‘stuff’ in them .

also my Duke is constantly in the under yoke front paddock stand when not used , and I had no issue with this so far …

it’s actually recommended way to keep them parked ( for longer periods ), from the manual
 
Discussion starter · #31 ·
Image

Clearly MCN has provided some faulty information. This is a snip directly from the KTM 1390 SDREvo service manual. Sure looks like there are components inside that would keep the left side fork from collapsing as stated.
I have been running in AUTO with pre-load set at 40% and it has been pretty good so far. Now that I know how those settings work I will go back and start working with the PRO settings
 
#32 ·
That's interesting. I haven't had the chance to check it out myself but I would have thought it would surely be highlighted in the user manual to warn against this happening.
I originally came across it in their (MCN) long term review on youtube.
Is that definitely the left fork ? mine is silver chrome, that looks black.
 
Discussion starter · #33 ·
Flipper said:
That's interesting. I haven't had the chance to check it out myself but I would have thought it would surely be highlighted in the user manual to warn against this happening.
I originally came across it in their (MCN) long term review on youtube.
Is that definitely the left fork ? mine is silver chrome, that looks black.
Click to expand...
Yes sir, defiantly the left fork...
Image
 
#34 ·
Just had a quick look in the owners manual. No mention of it there, they show an "under fork" type stand in the illustration. I use an Abba skylift so haven't not come across this issue but will report back in due time.
 
#39 ·
v01d said:
mmm, yes saw that too in the manual, but even at 10% Manual or Low Auto, it felt very hard. I'm about same weight as you.
I guess our roads are very different in evenness / bumpiness.

I'm intersted to try go harder, just hope not to be thrown off it.
Click to expand...
I found that turning off anti dive for most of my street riding is more comfortable.
Or "soft" as I interpret it.
 
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