Motorcycle Performance Glasgow AGAIN

Scottch

Scottch

Ninja Poopy Psycho
I can't speak highly enough of Stewart at Motorcycle Performance Glasgow :thumbs:

After a few discussions, I made the decision to get the suspension on my 1098 set up for me.

After pulling a few strings, Stewart was able to pull all the parts together and arranged to carry out the modifications yesterday (Saturday).

This was no mean feat as he already had a booking for a 1098R from Newcastle to get similar work done and, as it turned out, each bike required some 5+ hours of attention to completely strip the forks, rebuild, setup and carry out the attention needed to the rear shock.

So, he pulled a rabbit out the hat and didn't stop until the job was completed - sometime between 8 and 9 on Saturday night just so the bike was ready for me to take out today.

And what a difference!!

I knew Stewart had already made a significant improvement to my other Duc', but he's outdone himself this time.

The guy is a @@@@ing genius and a bargain as well.

You may feel your showa/ohlins is the best kit out there, but this gear really does benefit from being optimised for you.

I went a little further based on feedback from Stewart and Martin (Ducati Glasgow) and I'm really pleased with the results.

MPG's website is HERE
 
Reality Check

Have to agree, Stewart is a genius when it comes to all things shocking, and he's good with suspension too :eek: :D Even a quarter turn with an allen key made a difference to my D16RR... BUT, I would have preferred if he didn't sort Scott's 1098.... I was behind him on Sunday... now, he pulls out to overtake, as do I, throttle's up, as do I, lifts the front, as do I, BUT with the power to weight ratio on his back tyre he lifts a portion of the fcuking road which hits me on the visor and lands on my (highly polished) tank... and we're not talking stones or chips here, we're talking LARGE PORTIONS of the road :D :D :D

WHAT a run though, didn't realise my 1098 could go that far over - those private roads we found were awesome.
 
I said long ago, when I bought my 749R, that Ducati should include in the price of the bike both a suspension set up and a closed track day.

SEAT offer a day with the BTCC guys for every FR and Cupra buyer, and they always come back raving.

Even if DG were to include £100 in each sale towards getting the bike set up at a suitable agent. I could not see many people complaining.

2p
 
:eek: :eek: :eek: I totally agree. Time and again you see the bike reviews in magazines criticising the factory standard set up. Trouble is how many dealers have suspension specialists handy or even as employees??
 
Ducati's are set up for 8 stone italians... as pizza and peroni lovers, the UK market needs a different set up :D :D

The D16RR is actually a liability on some roads and no kit yet exists for modification.... so, to get the bike "stable", you need to hammer it into 3 figure speeds. You see, your honour, the faster I go the safer the bike is. :D :D
 
PaulV said:
:eek: :eek: :eek: I totally agree. Time and again you see the bike reviews in magazines criticising the factory standard set up. Trouble is how many dealers have suspension specialists handy or even as employees??
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You see, this is the problem. Who is to say the reviews are right either? I can tell you, some journos haven't got a clue what they're on about!

Each bike that comes out the factory has to deal with heights from the titchy to the huge, weights from featherweight to sumo and furthermore has to cope with all of that plus a varying size pillion and / or luggage, screens etc! :eek:

This is the same for every manufacturer. Every bike is set up as a middle of the road setting and will undoubtedly benefit from a suitably trained technician adjusting the variables to suit each individual rider.

This is not easy as there is another variable - the specific rider preferences, they are all different depending on feel. You would be as well asking, how long is a bit of string? There is always a trade off between comfort and performance, which would you like more of?

I personally wouldn't try to include this with a bike sale either. Many customers have no interest in trackdays or suspension set up.
Frankly £100 wouldn't cover those combined either and many would rather just save the money. And as Paul says, if there is no suspension tech around (which is more often the case) you're a bit screwed!!
Lastly, unless all dealers offered the same facitlity, we could seem overpiced by comparison as not all would see the value.

I think better to leave it to the customer to explore the possibility themselves. We offer the service, they can purchase this service if they feel the need to, or not, as they see fit. We can and do advise as to the benefit.

Mart:)
 
I tend to go by the journo's I think are speaking through a fair amount of experience to be fair Martin. If I read a guy of 5'10 and about 13 stone thinks the bike could be better set up for a Mr Average then I have to agree. I think those stats are fairly average......

All to often you do read about basic set up out of the box been fine on a whole load of manufacturers bikes, sadly this is not the case for Duc's. It is not from personal experience I offfer this opinion as I have never bought a new machine...... yet.
 
PaulV said:
It is not from personal experience I offfer this opinion as I have never bought a new machine......
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Precisely, take nobody elses opinion but your own. Don't believe everything that your read? That would be your first mistake. Just coz he's a similar height and weight to you means absolutely nothing, trust me.

As an example, you would take a journos opionion on setting up a Ducati when he never ever rides them?
What if he rides a twin once every three years and a Ducati even less than that? You would suggest that setting is better than standard would you? Hmmm, I wouldn't? Not without question.

You would need to know exactly what the journo skill level and experience is before you take their word for it.
I have been on track launches in this country and abroad with journos and editor of loads of the big mags. Some are excellent riders and well worth listening to - others (who shall remain nameless) are not, not at all. We as the reader arre however just expected to accept their opinion as fact.

My advice is, don't. Fiddling with a bike set up unless you know what you're on about is very dangerous. Even the best riders in the world use specialists in this field.

I would suggest the factory know a little bit about setting up a bike. More than some journos!
 
It is all about the experience though. Like spec'ing up a performance car.

With things on offer with the 'r' badged bikes it would make sense to enhance that experience. Its only my opinion. As someone has said, take nothing but your own.

Ian

PS- when I bought a new watch recently the guy adjusted the strap for me. It was still in factory set-up mode!:D
 
PaulV said:
I tend to go by the journo's I think are speaking through a fair amount of experience to be fair Martin. If I read a guy of 5'10 and about 13 stone thinks the bike could be better set up for a Mr Average then I have to agree. I think those stats are fairly average......

All to often you do read about basic set up out of the box been fine on a whole load of manufacturers bikes, sadly this is not the case for Duc's. It is not from personal experience I offfer this opinion as I have never bought a new machine...... yet.
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id aggree with martin here, i bet you 50 % of riders couldnt tell the difference if u changed theyre settings anyway.

i dont see honda, suzuki, apprilia, ktm, etc offering any where near the service we get from ducati.

Mart has done so much work behind the scenes to bring stuart on board as it is, but sadly that still dosnt seem enough. :comp2: :p
 
weeian said:
Mart has done so much work behind the scenes to bring stuart on board as it is, but sadly that still dosnt seem enough. :comp2: :p
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Ian, don't get me wrong, I fully appreciate the efforts made to get MPG on board, a great bit of business, now between Martin and Stew they are offering a more complete service.

I am not bashing DG either, it is the stock factory set up that too many "experts" all seem to agree can be improved.

It is not in me to agree with press reports just because they have been written. I digest the info, process it and form my own opinion after giving all the info due consideration. I disagree about mythical reliability issues, excessive servicing etc..... but suspension does seem to be a problem.
 
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Just to get BACK on topic :rolleyes:

Thanks Stewart!!

Now, can the rest of you fannies @@@@ off and hijack another thread?
 
PaulV said:
Ian, don't get me wrong, I fully appreciate the efforts made to get MPG on board, a great bit of business, now between Martin and Stew they are offering a more complete service.

I am not bashing DG either, it is the stock factory set up that too many "experts" all seem to agree can be improved.

It is not in me to agree with press reports just because they have been written. I digest the info, process it and form my own opinion after giving all the info due consideration. I disagree about mythical reliability issues, excessive servicing etc..... but suspension does seem to be a problem.
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its a Black Art m8
 
Just to make it clear for those with choclate windows, the topic was the GREAT service received from Motorcycle Performance Glasgow
 
I think Martin is right, it's only a small percentage of owners that would have a requirement for suspension set up, or indeed trackdays for that matter. Yes other manufacturers may offer track / sports days, but let's not kid ourself it's free, it's added to the vehicle costs. We're all grown ups (well most are :rolleyes: ) and we can make our own decisions as to what we do and don't want as far as extras / options / additions go for our bikes.

As pointed out, it's not every dealer that has Stewart Miller on the doorstep with such experience, previous suspension technicians thought that becuase they could spell Ohlins, it made them an approved technician... with Stewart at least you know you have a guy that has done this at the highest level.



2p
 
Steve748 said:
Buy a new Ducati and get the suspension set up as well is another good reason to buy from DG!
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Tea and cakes is reason enough :D Which ironically means the suspension needs adjustment. Method in the madness :D
 
I reckon we should all get massive discounts from DG for giving them such praise all of the time. Has nobody got anything bad to say about them???:D


(apart from me coz a certain person there, who shall remain nameless, refusing to marry me that is...:o )

I haven't even bought a bike from them. I bought a T-shirt at the '06 BSB though. :p
 
ProjectImola004 said:
I reckon we should all get massive discounts from DG for giving them such praise all of the time. Has nobody got anything bad to say about them???:D


(apart from me coz a certain person there, who shall remain nameless, refusing to marry me that is...:o )

I haven't even bought a bike from them. I bought a T-shirt at the '06 BSB though. :p
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And all this talk of discounts and not buying a bike is precisely the reason why 'the person who shall remain nameless' won't marry you Edwina, ya far too high maintenance ;)
 
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