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Suspension upgrades for Scrambler in UK

12354 Views 27 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  Westyfield
Hi All,

Got my Scrambler about a month ago after a 12 year break from motorcycling. I love the Scrambler but do find the ride hard/uncomfortable.

I weight 10.5 stone and have let the tires down a bit, tried each of the preload settings for the rear but no joy.

I have started to discuss upgrading the front cartridges and rear shock with Andreani/Ohlins. I would welcome any advice from people who have either upgraded their suspension on this bike already or plan to.

i live not far from Reigate in Surrey and have been talking to very helpful people at Pro Twins and P&H. I have also discussed options from Maxtons but as they are in Manchester I have decided to discount them. Are there other suspension specialists I should be talking to?

I would greatful of any comments, I am aware this topic may have been covered before but I am hopeful of some info local to me.

I have enjoyed reading others posts and wish people happy and safe riding.

Chris
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Hi Chris I am same weight as you and have an M Shock on the rear. Could not be happier with it. Yet to do anything on the front
Hi TC3,

thank you for the reply.

I had not heard of these before but just looked at the website. Looks like a great product.

Would I be right to say that the spring is chosen to match your weight and type of riding?

One dealer I spoke to about Ohlins said they all come with a standard spring and if you need a different one then you need to buy another. This seemed a bit odd to me when they asked question about weight and type of riding up front.

Glad to hear your shock works well. I shall now keep m shock on mind.
Hi TC3,

thank you for the reply.

I had not heard of these before but just looked at the website. Looks like a great product.

Would I be right to say that the spring is chosen to match your weight and type of riding?

One dealer I spoke to about Ohlins said they all come with a standard spring and if you need a different one then you need to buy another. This seemed a bit odd to me when they asked question about weight and type of riding up front.

Glad to hear your shock works well. I shall now keep m shock on mind.
When you order you answer a few questions and yes the spring they use is based on the weight you give. The spring comes in red as you know or black at no extra cost which is what I got for my red bike. I think the shock is good value as comes with dampening control.
For value / performance I've been really happy with the M-Shock and Maxton front cartridge we fitted to my wife's Scrambler. The combination has really transformed the bike to what it should have been straight out of the box. The cost of the M-Shock and Maxton Cartridge combined is not far off what you'd pay for the Andreani Front Cartridge Kit fitted, so good value in my book.
I have the Nitron R1 shock on the rear, and the Andreani Cartridges on the front, Suit me fine :)
For value / performance I've been really happy with the M-Shock and Maxton front cartridge we fitted to my wife's Scrambler. The combination has really transformed the bike to what it should have been straight out of the box. The cost of the M-Shock and Maxton Cartridge combined is not far off what you'd pay for the Andreani Front Cartridge Kit fitted, so good value in my book.
Hi Joe, sorry to bother you again but into my winter wish list, when you ordered the Maxton GP20 kit for the RH fork leg were you given options? Just noticed on their website that there are 3 options (obviously must increase in price) see below
OPTION 1 - has rebound damping adjustment only.
OPTION 2 has rebound damping and compression damping adjustment
OPTION 3 has rebound damping, compression damping and preload adjustment

Just wondered what your set up was
Hi Joe, sorry to bother you again but into my winter wish list, when you ordered the Maxton GP20 kit for the RH fork leg were you given options? Just noticed on their website that there are 3 options (obviously must increase in price) see below
OPTION 1 - has rebound damping adjustment only.
OPTION 2 has rebound damping and compression damping adjustment
OPTION 3 has rebound damping, compression damping and preload adjustment

Just wondered what your set up was
The only option I was offered for the Scrambler was rebound damping. I don't believe the other options are vailable for the Scrambler. But, I've no complaints, the front is fine now, and I've certainly seen no negative comments yet on the Maxton conversion from anyone that's had it done. I firmly believe that the front requires more than just a spring swap / oil change, as the standard internal damping is so poor, and the Maxton is the most cost effective conversion I found on offer.

I've not ridden a bike with the Andreani / Ohlins kit, but I'm sure it's very good. But, for the price the of the Maxton set up is a good match to the performance of the Scrambler.
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I had front and rear by Maxton outstanding kit, Feels better than the ohlins did on my multistrada!
It's a dooable day trip with an early start or stay over in travel lodge nearby and join us for a ride in North Wales after having them fitted :3some:
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The only option I was offered for the Scrambler was rebound damping. I don't believe the other options are vailable for the Scrambler. But, I've no complaints, the front is fine now, and I've certainly seen no negative comments yet on the Maxton conversion from anyone that's had it done. I firmly believe that the front requires more than just a spring swap / oil change, as the standard internal damping is so poor, and the Maxton is the most cost effective conversion I found on offer.

I've not ridden a bike with the Andreani / Ohlins kit, but I'm sure it's very good. But, for the price the of the Maxton set up is a good match to the performance of the Scrambler.
Thanks for the input Joe, the Maxton front & the M shock rear will be what I get over the winter. For me, cost/value does come into the equation seeing though I've already spent best part of a grand so far (Termi, tail tidy, rack, luggage etc) but the suspension is the Scramblers weak point by far
Hi Chris, I have Nitron rear shock and Andreani fork kit. My Nitron shock was shortened slightly to lower the bike (I'm short and relatively light) and it transformed the ride. I've only just had the forks done and need them adjusted a bit and/or my suspension set up properly, as I'm not yet seeing the full benefit but hopefully it's just a case of tweaking.

I was asked in both cases for my weight/what I use the bike for etc. The Andreani kit has been supplied with a lighter spring than they normally use, and has adjustable preload/rebound and compression. The Nitron has adjustable preload and a combined damping adjuster - you get recommended settings for your weight etc. but may need to adjust these for personal preference.

FTR Suspension who deal with Andreani are based in Braintree, Essex, and Nitron is in Witney, Oxfordshire
Nitron back end basic Maxton front end massive improvement I'm really pleased no more tennis elbow
I have 4500km on my Scrambler and still have the original suspension and was also considering changing it out but the suspension has just got better and its now more than adequate. So I am saving myself near on 1000 Euros and not changing it.
Nitron back end basic Maxton front end massive improvement I'm really pleased no more tennis elbow
Now that is wierd, I thought my tennis elbow was from something I did at work or just because I am getting old. Maybe it is being aggravated by the cheap suspension as it has come on since March?
Thank you for the replies to my questions.

I have purchased a Nitron R1 rear shock and shall fit it when it arrives. The comments here clearly indicate there will be an improvement so I am looking forward to it.

I will let you know how I get on.
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Now that is wierd, I thought my tennis elbow was from something I did at work or just because I am getting old. Maybe it is being aggravated by the cheap suspension as it has come on since March?
I had never had tennis elbow, but in May started to get a pain in my right elbow, I went to docs he said tennis elbow and to look at what had changed in my life, the answer is the Scrambler. To start with I put a foam cover over the throttle grip and it relieved it a bit, when I took it off back it came. After messing about changing handlebars etc trying to find a cheap fix I bit the bullet and changed the front and rear suspension et voila no more tennis elbow. My doctor is a biker and his best guess was that the bars are wider than my other bikes, the suspension is harsh making me grip the throttle harder all this adding up to a mix of Golfers and Tennis elbow................the human body is bloody weird [wacky]
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I had never had tennis elbow, but in May started to get a pain in my right elbow, I went to docs he said tennis elbow and to look at what had changed in my life, the answer is the Scrambler. To start with I put a foam cover over the throttle grip and it relieved it a bit, when I took it off back it came. After messing about changing handlebars etc trying to find a cheap fix I bit the bullet and changed the front and rear suspension et voila no more tennis elbow. My doctor is a biker and his best guess was that the bars are wider than my other bikes, the suspension is harsh making me grip the throttle harder all this adding up to a mix of Golfers and Tennis elbow................the human body is bloody weird [wacky]
Wow.. i have had my classic for about 3 months and virtually the day after getting it i have had this exact pain. I struggle daily with it and my whole arm can be in so much pain it is unbearable. I suspected it was the bike, you have confirmed it.. elbow with radiating pain down to fingers and sometimes up to shoulder. And the same I have never had it. Even changing the bars to FT bars didn't help.
Looks like a awesome excuse to get the suspension looked at... mind you i am more inclined to think it is the throttle that causes it i.e it is only my right elbow and the pain is more intense when at slow speeds where i have to really put effort in to control that snappy throttle response... anyway it is kinda good to know i am not alone. Maybe we should start a new thread.

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Wow.. i have had my classic for about 3 months and virtually the day after getting it i have had this exact pain. I struggle daily with it and my whole arm can be in so much pain it is unbearable. I suspected it was the bike, you have confirmed it.. elbow with radiating pain down to fingers and sometimes up to shoulder. And the same I have never had it. Even changing the bars to FT bars didn't help.
Looks like a awesome excuse to get the suspension looked at... mind you i am more inclined to think it is the throttle that causes it i.e it is only my right elbow and the pain is more intense when at slow speeds where i have to really put effort in to control that snappy throttle response... anyway it is kinda good to know i am not alone. Maybe we should start a new thread.

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Good excuse to fit rexxer and tame the throttle
I have 4500km on my Scrambler and still have the original suspension and was also considering changing it out but the suspension has just got better and its now more than adequate. So I am saving myself near on 1000 Euros and not changing it.
Almost 6000 km here and I am replacing front and rear as soon as the season allows me to drive to the dealership. Driving it on norwegian backroads is comparable to sitting on an anvil while holding on to a jackhammer. At 110 kg + gear the rear suspension feels both hard and squishy at the same time, going fast on an uneven surface the spring bounces back and forth 2-3 times before settling.
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Now that is wierd, I thought my tennis elbow was from something I did at work or just because I am getting old. Maybe it is being aggravated by the cheap suspension as it has come on since March?


Tennis elbow/golfers elbow is caused by over gripping, grabbing or grappling. In your case it could be a little of both. I don't ride a ducati myself, however I know from riding bikes, that the suspension can be too high. This can be fixed.


However another problem is being hunched over and not using the strength in your back when your riding. I ride a suzuki sportsbike, sometimes when I do crazy shit, my neck and shoulders can freeze up a bit, and that can cause compression down to the arm. That means your elbow take the brunt of the load. Check out repetitivestraininjury.us/elbowmenderpro if your still having elbow problems
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