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Ducati Skyhook Sachs Shock help

sjuels

sjuels

OldMan
Joined
Aug 1, 2014
Location
East Bay
Moto(s)
BMW R1150R
Name
Soren
I have a '13 Multistrada with the Skyhook suspension, and I have rebuilt the front forks; it was easy to get a rebuild kit for those, and despite the electronics, it was an easy rebuild.
But I am failing to find a rebuild kit for the rear shock, not any information on how to rebuild them.

I wanted to ask the collective BARF braintrust for advise; who to contact? If a rebuild kit for Öhlins shocks might work? Or in general, where to get more information?

/Soren
 
IN for responses.
 
sjuels said:
I have a '13 Multistrada with the Skyhook suspension, and I have rebuilt the front forks; it was easy to get a rebuild kit for those, and despite the electronics, it was an easy rebuild.
But I am failing to find a rebuild kit for the rear shock, not any information on how to rebuild them.

I wanted to ask the collective BARF braintrust for advise; who to contact? If a rebuild kit for Öhlins shocks might work? Or in general, where to get more information?

/Soren
Click to expand...

Toss that POS, Sachs doesn't make a shock worth shit.
 
afm199 said:
Toss that POS, Sachs doesn't make a shock worth shit.
Click to expand...

I would have agreed with you two years ago, but I have been impressed lately - although, if this goes to hell, I might put conventional Öhlins on it.

/Soren
 
afm199 said:
Toss that POS, Sachs doesn't make a shock worth shit.
Click to expand...

Good luck with that :laughing The electronic Skyhook Sachs is integrated into the bike's systems and I never found anyone who could rebuild the rear shock. My forks were a nightmare; the long travel places excessive wear on the insides of the aluminum upper tubes, and I went through 3 sets of seals from about 30k miles on. Great bike, poor choice of suspension components. Why they dropped Ohlins for Sachs I'll never know.
 
Shock is not rebuildable according to conversation I had with folks at Desmoto.

Removing skyhook from a high miles multi sounds like a cool project. Gotta be possible.

Start with used rebuildable prior year parts from ebay?
 
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imortlfool said:
Shock is not rebuildable according to conversation I had with folks at Desmoto.

Removing skyhook from a high miles multi sounds like a cool project. Gotta be possible.

Start with used rebuildable prior year parts from ebay?
Click to expand...

someone might have solved it already. pretty much every automobile manufacturer that has made active suspension has also created an aftermarket to delete it with standard dumb parts, but the market is much bigger so the finances of manufacturing work better. ducatisti might have pockets deep enough to make it viable in the motorcycle world?
 
imortlfool said:
Shock is not rebuildable according to conversation I had with folks at Desmoto.

Removing skyhook from a high miles multi sounds like a cool project. Gotta be possible.

Start with used rebuildable prior year parts from ebay?
Click to expand...

Racetech in Corona Ca. does these shocks for about $300. Full rebuild.

https://www.racetech.com/

Mine is a 2015 and yours should be similar. The biggest hassle is getting it out with the preload pressure can in one piece. Most folks just partially remove the rear subframe in order to squeeze it through. Not looking forward to that.

The shock works fine when fresh. The oil and bushing degrade after a couple years and need a freshening. I found all this out prying info out of my local Duc dealers. "We just send it to Racetech" Well ok then, I can do that. 7-10 day turnaround FYI
 
Aaand I just noticed my shock body is leaking. Just a little weep out the metal to metal junction picking up dust. F-word. I already knew and planned the downtime, but the process won't be pretty. Will post pic tomorrow. Here's another thread about the Sachs phenomenon.

https://advrider.com/f/threads/rebuild-the-unrebuildable-sachs-zf-shock-gasgas-other.1170705/

Wilbers offers a shock for MTS as well. You would forgo the electronic preload. I run "touring" 99% of the time. Switch to sport when mrs throws a leg over on busy saturday morning breakfast runs downtown.

https://www.wilbers-shop.de/en/Motorcycle/Ducati/Multistrada-1200-A2-A3/?cur=3&year=2015

I have considered going with a single mode shock, but Duc people poo poo the notion. The electronics are defeated easily enough. Since Racetech agreed to take the whole bike and turn around the rear rebuild in one week, I can suffer the Rav4 and the trip to the hell that is Riverside Co. this time. Next time the MTS will be Ohlins.
 

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I plan on doing this when I get my valve job done. Soon
Will share with the shop that seems to avoid most shit and just want to exchange parts.
 
Sjuels, any updates on the electronic sachs rebuild? I just picked up a used ‘13 and noticed a leak just the other day.

Nakedape, do you mind sharing your experience with Racetech? I’m considering going that route if nothing else, since I’m in SoCal.

Honestly, I’d love to just go with conventional suspension front and rear and not deal with these headaches... and considering Ducati had a base model without the DSS, I’d think it would be possible to just flash that particular firmware (?) onto my bike and not worry about the DSS warnings and such, but it’s unlikely I’ll find any Ducati dealerships willing to assist in that.
 
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89fj said:
:Popcorn
Click to expand...

Sorry, work got in the way.
I talked to Racetech - whom I've had great experiences with, and they will get me a package of everything I need to rebuild them - sounds like more work than a pair of Ôhlins I'm about to tear the whole bike down for this, before a Baja trip at the end of the month.
More later...

I would still prefer a set of old school Öhlins over the electronic Sachs.

/Soren
 
Maxdb said:
Sjuels, any updates on the electronic sachs rebuild? I just picked up a used ‘13 and noticed a leak just the other day.

Nakedape, do you mind sharing your experience with Racetech? I’m considering going that route if nothing else, since I’m in SoCal.

Honestly, I’d love to just go with conventional suspension front and rear and not deal with these headaches... and considering Ducati had a base model without the DSS, I’d think it would be possible to just flash that particular firmware (?) onto my bike and not worry about the DSS warnings and such, but it’s unlikely I’ll find any Ducati dealerships willing to assist in that.
Click to expand...

I was at the limit of sprung weight fully geared up and decided to change that instead of the spring. The best way with race tech is to remove the whole assembly yourself and send it in. They have a build page. I’m going to sell the ‘15 and move to the 1260 with OEM exhaust soon.

The front forks were WAY out of spec at 17K so do that and see how it rides. DSS actually works really well if you encounter a variety of conditions or take passengers occasionally.

Race tech also said they accept a drive in and leave it for a week deal. Corona Ca. is a place I hope to never visit again but if you’re close that might be worth it.
 
Sjuels & nakeape, thanks for sharing! I sent my rear shock over to racetech for the rebuild and had them powder coat the spring while they were at it. Shipped the shock over for Monday and then picked it up Friday. The rebuild itself cost less than $300. I‘m certain had I gone to a dealership with the leaking rear shock, I would’ve come out a lot worse (I was told over the phone by an unnamed dealership that the shock is non-rebuildable and would likely have to be replaced).
 
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