Skorpion Again, Suspension & Brakes help

[iktank]

Run the bike in this week end so took it over the Welsh Mountains for a run, interesting ride in a scary type of way
The tyres are Metzler MeZ1 racing compound and are 10yrs old so that prob did not help, did not want to push them to much!!!
Decided on BT016 as linked by Bill. My questions
- Front fork oil, 10yrs old, what weight oil would suit my 14.5 stone.
- Would I benefit fron changing the springs
- back end i have increased the preload to 2, suits my weight bit better and definately suits the front better, 3 on preload does not suit the front!!!!
- Brakes are well UMMMMM, difficult to discribe - dont stop me like my speed triple - the have bite but lack feel, and the single disc seems to throw me. It could well the the 10yr old tyres but i am definitly lacking feel and not used to having to use to having to be so carefull with the back break and having to use the back to help me stop. So, what pads are recommented for spirited riding??

Pic of Bike and Tyre below

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DSCF0270a.jpg (611.65 KiB) Viewed 1916 times

[Bill Jurgenson]

HI,

Yes, in my opinion, you wold benifite greatly from progressive springs up front. The prescribed oil differs with each spring supplier. I am partial to Technoflex/Wilbers but had WhitePower springs in my own red Sport.
http://www.wilbers.de/2008/englisch/html/gabelfedern_oel.htm
Oil SAE 20 160mm air cavity
Changing the oil weight doesn't do a whole lot. varying the air cavity does. More air =softer, less air harder.
I run 145mm.
90+ kg is not all that much. Changing the preload only changes the height, not the actual spring rating. It lessens the negative travel. So it must be clear that going too high will adversely affect the front end, both because of the change in geometry and because there is virtually no negative travel left.
If the spring is too soft for you, which I doubt, you need an stronger spring. Get the fork springs first and if the balance is upset terribly, get a different spring for the back. I have never needed to. Better yet, get a better strut. If you order it from Wilbers, you can tell them what you weigh and your main usage and they will supply the spring accordingly. Penske will do that too. I don't think WP is supplying anything for the Skorpion now. A had/have Wilbers struts in all of my Skorpions and progressive srpings up front. The racer has special shorter linear springs front and back .
Brake pads: any quality sintered pad up front is probably a big improvement: EBC, Lucas, Brembo, Ferodo, Carbon Lorraine.
They are the same pads as on the majority of the Ducatis: for the Brembo P30/34. The Grimeca caliper is a poor clone of that.
I use only Carbon Lorraine myself. The pad number in their case is 2247 plus the type of pad you want, in your case SBK5 (or the slightly older 3): SBK5 2247.
Personally, I use C55 2274. These are racing pads.
The Grimeca caliper has it own problems. If you want to really improve, pick up a Brembo P30/34 oro (ebay, used from a Ducati or Aprilia or Mito to name only a few). It fits just like the thing you have.
The single rotor has no effect on handling or feel.

[Jimbo]

I have a Skorpion Sport Cup with HyperPro fork springs and their recomended fork oil and a HyperPro rear shock, sprung for my weight. I have been very satisfied with this setup for what I use my bike for, including an occasional track day.

[iktank]

thank you both for the info, sort my tyres out, then go from there -
Weighed ma self 15stone woops,
so will address the front forks first
will leave the rear shock with preload wound up to number 2, on standard setting settled to much and had too much travel compared to the front

Bill am on the look out for pront caliper as per your recommentation, nice to be able to stop huh.

Thanks both again - gona do some pricing up now (should be spending on my triumph really!!)