1150 Ohlins shocks Am I Mad ?

generalconfusion

generalconfusion

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Ok I think I just got a bit carried away on Ebay , I have just bought a very clean looking secondhand set of Ohlin shocks for my 1150gs , the owner says he has done 12k miles on them and only removed them because he sold the bike. He says they tranformed his gs , I bought them because at a new cost of nearly £1800 the pair I was never going to own a new set and my 1150 is a keeper so seemed a good idea at 5am this morning. I paid £470 , your thoughts on the shocks and the price please
 
Thanks I feel a bit more sane , have bike ramp in garage , tools and haynes manual , any other advice ?
 
generalconfusion said:
Ok I think I just got a bit carried away on Ebay , I have just bought a very clean looking secondhand set of Ohlin shocks for my 1150gs , the owner says he has done 12k miles on them and only removed them because he sold the bike. He says they tranformed his gs , I bought them because at a new cost of nearly £1800 the pair I was never going to own a new set and my 1150 is a keeper so seemed a good idea at 5am this morning. I paid £470 , your thoughts on the shocks and the price please
Click to expand...

Best thing I did was fit to my 1150 - transform the bike

Cost me £750 brand new in 2005, wow can't believe they are £1800 now in 2013

That's some price rise :(
 
Check the spring-rate, and if signif-wrong for your weight - consider sending off for correct springs, and a service at the same time.

That's a good price you got them for.

Al :thumb2
 
My OE rear shock failed at around 24,000 miles. I got an Ohlins then for not much more than the BMW price. The Ohlins needed a rebuild after 10,00 miles ( preload fuid everywhere!)

The Ohlins seems to perform better although I'm not sure about transforming the bike. Most people fit such replacement shocks when the originals are tired. Therefore they are going from less than perfect OE shocks to brand new replacements which can magify the differences. A bit like fitting new tyres-even if you fit the exact same type the bike feels so much better.

You certainly got a bargain, fitting them should cause no problems despite the Haynes manual ( free copies of the official BMW manual are easily found, can be dowloaded and then you just print out the pages you need)

Enjoy both the riding experience and the quedos of the yellow springs!

John
 
I was checking out those shocks as well glad I didn't bid against you at least you got a bargain. :beerjug:
 
The Grey One said:
My OE rear shock failed at around 24,000 miles. I got an Ohlins then for not much more than the BMW price. The Ohlins needed a rebuild after 10,00 miles ( preload fuid everywhere!)

The Ohlins seems to perform better although I'm not sure about transforming the bike. Most people fit such replacement shocks when the originals are tired. Therefore they are going from less than perfect OE shocks to brand new replacements which can magify the differences. A bit like fitting new tyres-even if you fit the exact same type the bike feels so much better.

You certainly got a bargain, fitting them should cause no problems despite the Haynes manual ( free copies of the official BMW manual are easily found, can be dowloaded and then you just print out the pages you need)

Enjoy both the riding experience and the quedos of the yellow springs!

John
Click to expand...

I put mine on mine, when it was pdi'd as I'd ridden a normal 1150GS with new OEM shocks on my previous bike

New Ohlins (properly set up) v New OEM 1150GS shocks - the difference is night and day

BUT, to get the best out of them you need to make sure they are set up properly and you know how to adjust them properly
 
You did get a bargain. I bought some tagged as 'nearly new' from ebay for £700. When they arrived they were rusty and well used. Phoned the (lying scouser) seller, had an arguement and got a load off. Still transformed the bike despite their condition. Rebuild is only a couple of 100 anyway.

I guarentee you will notice a big difference
 
I'd definitely consider a stiffer rear spring. Bought some of these new back when I had my old 1150GSA as the oem shocks were shocking. The Ohlins rear was just ok 1 up without luggage but needed huge preload when 2-up with full panniers . Plus I was rather swelte back then so they seemed to come aimed at the lighter (not the normal tossa) rider size. Even with the soft springs they were a huge improvement over stock stuff.
 
Thanks for all the positive comments from the shocks I can't wait to fit them

Do any of the ohlins users have any base settings. I have a 31 inch inside leg and weigh about 100 kilos
 
the ohlins website gives base settings for their shocks IIRC. it's in the manual too, but you probably don't have that.
 
JohnnyBoxer said:
I put mine on mine, when it was pdi'd as I'd ridden a normal 1150GS with new OEM shocks on my previous bike

New Ohlins (properly set up) v New OEM 1150GS shocks - the difference is night and day

BUT, to get the best out of them you need to make sure they are set up properly and you know how to adjust them properly
Click to expand...

Can't we leave comments like "night and day" to the likes of NCN journalists. Where I live night is black (no streetlight) and day is (usually) bright. I agree there is a difference, a big improvement even but not the difference between black and white.

My Ohlins was supplied by Harris of Hertford after detailed discussion about weights, riding styles etc and came set up according to their recommendations. I do know, thanks, how to adjust them and have since adopted slightly different settings from those as supplied. SWMBO noticed straight away that the bike felt more comfortable for her as pillion. The difference in quality is obvious and handy here in the mountains. I just think we should be realistic about such things.

John
 
generalconfusion said:
Thanks for all the positive comments from the shocks I can't wait to fit them

Do any of the ohlins users have any base settings.

I have a 31 inch inside leg and weigh about 100 kilos
Click to expand...

If the rear is fitted with the stock 140nM spring, you need to move up to a 160 or 180 nM spring for definite
 
The Grey One said:
Can't we leave comments like "night and day" to the likes of NCN journalists. Where I live night is black (no streetlight) and day is (usually) bright. I agree there is a difference, a big improvement even but not the difference between black and white.

My Ohlins was supplied by Harris of Hertford after detailed discussion about weights, riding styles etc and came set up according to their recommendations. I do know, thanks, how to adjust them and have since adopted slightly different settings from those as supplied. SWMBO noticed straight away that the bike felt more comfortable for her as pillion. The difference in quality is obvious and handy here in the mountains. I just think we should be realistic about such things.

John
Click to expand...

Touchy:confused:

:D

:P
 
JohnnyBoxer said:
Touchy:confused:

:D

:P
Click to expand...

Quiet possibly, But as I said trying to add a note of realism here. We are now talking about a serious amount of money for a pair of these shocks. I'm am sure anyone trying them will be pleased with the result but it will only in reality be a total transformation if the existing shocks are life expired.

John
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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