jarelj

During the install of my Ohlins NIX30 fork cartridges today, we made an interesting discovery: The fork travel on the Marzocchi forks has a 33mm gap of unused fork tube at the bottom. I was using a zip-tie on my fork leg to assess how much travel I was using under hard braking, and just assumed that the amount of travel possible was within about 5mm of the fork lower. As it turns out, it's 33mm and I was completely bottoming out my forks under hard braking! This does explain some rear end wiggles I was getting on the brakes, I should have put a little more preload in to add support but I thought I was not using nearly enough travel so didn't want to do it. Should be able to brake much better now with the new setup!

Here's an image of the amount of gap at the bottom of the forks, the zip-tie in the picture is at complete bottom of the fork travel:

Phil

the same happened to me on the track, thanks for the info!!! very valuable!

BowHunter

Just got the Pani and first test on Brno a month ago - I was also very surprised on the large distance with the fork in bottom - strange design...

But - Jarel - you where right - the forks a pretty good standard as you mentioned in another post.

Please share you expirence with the cartridge kit.

jarelj

Yes, I still think they're the best OEM forks I've ever experienced on the track, nicely controlled and good adjustability. But Ohlins racing cartridges are still cool! I had the NIX30's on my 1198S last year, and they were awesome. I'll feed back after our next track day at the end of the month.

Steve B

+1 on the thanks for sharing. Interesting! I'll have to look at mine again this weekend; I have a zip tie on and had measured my used travel from full extension (wheel off the ground) and looked to only be getting about 100mm or so of travel under hard enough braking to induce stoppies. Definitely seemed to have a lot of room left, so the 33mm number is good to know. Haven't seen the internals of the Marzocchi carts but wonder if some of the travel diff I'm looking for is from topout springs.

BTW, does anyone know the OEM springrate on the base model RAC50L's?

jarelj

Here's the internal cartridge out of the Marzocchi fork:



It's sealed, so unfortunately you can't tell much about how it works, and there is no information available from Ducati or Marzocchi about how to take it apart safely, so I'm not going to try! That black portion at the bottom is sort of a rubber bladder type of thing, really odd!

fireman1251

Busted 3 sets of bladders on mine. Completely new forks now, will see how this goes.

jyli19

Jarel

Now that you've taken the Marzocchi apart. Is it possible to replace springs on that fork without taking out the entire cartridge? Wonder if it's a drop in spring that i can replace my self.

Thanks

jarelj

Sure, the springs sit on top just like normal, so you could swap them out from the top side by taking the fork cap off and then removing the spring retainer just like an Ohlins fork.

jyli19

cool, going to order me a pair .95 and see how that works before dropping $$ on ohlins, by the way, any special tool for the fork cap

.95 for 135lb rider, think i should go .90?

thanks for your help, appreciate it

zvez

So do the pressuirized forks still run with oil in them, ie do you change the oil on the shocks periodically or the pressure bladder eliminate that? I don't understand the reason for pressurized forks?

jarelj

There's pressurized oil inside I presume, but also a small amount of oil in the external cavity as well, but not much, just to keep the seals lubed up.

jarelj

Yes, there's a special tool for the fork cap, it came in our Panigale tool kit from Ducati. You could try .90, might be too light for really hard braking though, depends on your riding style/skill level.

zvez

Thanks Jarel

jarelj

Oh, and if anyone needs the fork cap removal tool, it's a standard Ducati part number so can be ordered from our OEM Parts page here:
Ducati Omaha - Ducati OEM Parts Ordering System - Parts Fiche

Using Part# 887133091

It's the same tool used for the Hypermotard 1100 Evo Marzocchi forks.

TricoloreSF

Same issue here so I had GP Tuning Suspension make custom 25mm kits for me since ohlins wasn't ready at the time. Huge improvement over stock.

Zoenala

I've measured my fork travel after the last track day and also saw the 33mm travel left...what to do now? increase preload or compression? Current setting: compression 10 clicks out and preload 7 out from no preload. Front Sag 40mm.

jarelj

I'd run the sag back to 35 mm first, if that's not enough then add a couple clicks of compression.

Zoenala

Thanks I'll give it a go...

jyli19

Anyone know where i can order some springs for the stock Marzocchi? Got the new pitbull front stand pin, ordering the fork cap tool, just need some springs. Can't seem to find them online.