Solving Superduke Suspension: Steering Dampers, Cartridges, and the S1000RR Shock Hack

Getting the suspension dialed on a Superduke is a journey. After years of racing and testing parts on the grid, I’ve run through almost every setup imaginable. Here’s what actually works — and one hack that nobody talks about.

The Front End: Dampers and Cartridges

The stock WP steering damper is the first thing most riders want to replace, and for good reason. If you’re stuck with one, a suspension specialist may be able to improve it with heavier oil or revised internal valving — but it’s a band-aid. I run the Hyper Pro damper, which is exceptionally well made and offers real, usable adjustment across a wide range.

Inside the forks, I have run GP cartridges in the past.   They worked well on my Gen2, but moving to the Gen3 we could never work. out the appropriate length.   We tried several times with no success so eventually I went with Ohlins cartridges built for the BMW S1000RR.   Took a few mods but generally they are the right dimension and my forks work like butter.  If you want a more affordable front-end transformation, Andreani makes a cartridge kit with a friendly price tag. Matris does too, but they are higher end, like Ohlins.   Matris even offers a pressurised cartridge option like Ohlins does, which is pretty trik.  Either way, upgrading the cartridges (and appropriate spring rate for you) is a high-impact change you can make to the front end.

The Rear Shock: A Hack Worth Knowing

The rear shock is where things get genuinely interesting. I’ve ran a MUPO shock (excellent separate high and low-speed damping adjusters, but they went out of business during the pandemic).  I tested the WP Apex Pro, which gave me blown seals and valving issues.  Ultimately we got the Apex Pro working well, but it was a bit of a journey.   They are valved mildly out of the box.   Might be ok for street but for track it needed work.  Matris is a name that keep coming up for me but I have never tried their shock or cartridges.  I reached out but never heard back.  I know their damper is well designed and built, so maybe their suspension parts are too.   I cannot say personally, yet.

Today I run an Ohlins on my Gen3 — but here’s the thing: Ohlins doesn’t make a direct bolt-on shock for the Gen3 Superduke. What I discovered is that the new BMW S1000RR uses the exact same shock lengths and spring rates as our bike. The Ohlins BM568, built for the BMW, bolts straight up and the valving is spot on. I’ve run competitive pro times at Laguna Seca on this exact setup.

The catch: the BM568’s fluid reservoir will contact the voltage regulator mounted under the Superduke’s tail section. To run it, I had to physically relocate the voltage regulator under the seat. Not a huge job, but it’s not plug-and-play.

The Cleaner Solution

If you want Ohlins performance without the electrical relocation, Andreani builds a custom shock for the Gen3 SDR using genuine Ohlins internals. They intentionally position the reservoir lower on the shock body so it clears the factory electronics completely. No modifications required.

Pair either shock with a Superduked Superlink to dial in your ride height and correct the factory progression, and you’ll have one of the most capable rear-end setups in the paddock.