Another Blown Öhlins.....

[MikeO]

Riding out with Bilks on Saturday, I noticed the rear of the Adv pogo-ing about a bit. Seems that Öhlins finest has blown a seal (or something). My dealer's swapping over the rear shock for my original Showa tomorrow morning - then sending the Öhlins back to Harris to get it fixed.

Bugger.

Not sure if this pic shows the oil leak too clearly.

I know Andy Malton had one blow up on him, has anyone else had this problem......?

Mike

 

[DrAlf]

Mike.

Andy is off blasting around the Alps at the moment (lucky git!). I know for a fact that he has had at least one brand new Ohlins go bang (and possibly two). Another local GS rider has also had the same problem. Not very good for the “best” aftermarket shocks in the world is it? Maybe WP is the way to go now.

Good to see you at the Horizons Unlimited meet the other weekend.

ATB

DrAlf

 

[MikeO]

Hi doc,

I'm wondering if the problem is one of going mass-market. BMW bikes used to be renowned for their build quality, then they expanded and increased production and quality took a hit (look at all the reports of bubbling fork braces, rusting spokes etc etc).

Maybe Öhlins are falling into the same trap now that they are being promoted hard and production is stepped up.....

Mike

 

[cookie]

downmarket?

Ohlins now owned by yamaha.

 

[AdamZ]

downmarket?

Ohlins now owned by yamaha.

Anybody got exerience of WP shocks as an alternate to Ohlins?

 

[judge]

Anybody got exerience of WP shocks as an alternate to Ohlins?

Bakerman and Gerry Huxtable are two I know of, so at least you could potentially get one straight answer

 

[Chris G]

I thought that johnny boxer blew his rear shock on the way round snowdonia last month too

 

[cookie]

got a white power on my airhead with no probs.

 

[judge]

got a white power on my airhead with no probs.

Got White Power fork springs in my Airhead but we don't count Cookie

 

[(RIP) Gerry Huxtable]

WP

Got WP with remote compression damper, no problems to date.

Fitted Feb 03 by Wayne at Vic Lamb Developments, UK Importers.

They are in the new Motorworks Catalogue - £462




Gerry

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Riding out with Bilks on Saturday, I noticed the rear of the Adv pogo-ing about a bit. Seems that Öhlins finest has blown a seal (or something). My dealer's swapping over the rear shock for my original Showa tomorrow morning - then sending the Öhlins back to Harris to get it fixed.

Bugger.

Not sure if this pic shows the oil leak too clearly.

I know Andy Malton had one blow up on him, has anyone else had this problem......?

Mike

I thought that JohnnyBoxer blew his rear shock on the way round snowdonia last month too

That's right Rockhopper it did.

Mike - mine went and I've swapped back to the Showa for now (but...... boy is the ride quality poorer)
I'm taking my rear Ohlins to Kais in Manchester,this Friday (on the recommendation of Harris Performance,because it's nearer and Harris are busy with Donnington GP this week,together with various other European/Irish racing committments with their race teams and not being available to service and set up).

I'm happy with KAIS,looking at their racing pedigree and being authorised by Ohlins in Sweden as a service centre,together with doing most of the suspension work for the late DJ on his
Gixer Thou.
If it's good enough for him,it'll more than exceed my expectations.
They offer a full set up service and their prices seem more reasonable,being based in the North - rather than near to London as Harris are.

However my rear Ohlins has covered more than 30,000 miles - so it's ready for a rebuild and has to date performed faultlessly.

How many miles on your shock, Mike?????

 

[MikeO]

Johnny,

got the shock fitted not long before my prang in Dec, so it's only done about 8k miles. I don't anticipate any snags with getting it fixed under warranty (particularly as Harris set up the suspension themselves a month or so ago).


Mike

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

8000 miles isn't much,but if it sat around while your bike was repaired,then it could have picked up some dirt on the damper,particularly if the bike was dirty when laid up (because of your accident in Dec,when roads were slimy and salty)
Most accident repairs I 've seen are laid as brought in (ie not pristine) until they are repaired.
Mine has given great service for 30k miles and it's pretty cheap for a rebuild/service @ £75

 

[cookie]

Got White Power fork springs in my Airhead but we don't count Cookie

eh?

 

[cookie]

eh?

oh, i see now. discrimination is what it is.

 

[Zwerver]

Anybody got exerience of WP shocks as an alternate to Ohlins?

Yep, had a WP rear shock on my first 1100GS for most of it's lifetime (got stolen @ 105.000km), and on my second 1100GS for 70.000. When I bough my new 1150GS I had this shock serviced and changed for this bike, on which it worked without problems for 48:000 km, until this bike also got stolen. I had a heavier (+50kg) spring because I do most trips with pillion and camping gear, and in all the years never had any problem with these WP shocks.
Before the 11xx GS's I've had two 100 gs's, a 100gs and a 100GSPD, both with a WP rear shock, and also on these bikes I never had any damage or repairs (to the shocks)...

So IMHO the WP-shocks are good, and I'm now saving up to get
one for my new GSA...

 

[MikeO]

8000 miles isn't much,but if it sat around while your bike was repaired,then it could have picked up some dirt on the damper,particularly if the bike was dirty when laid up (because of your accident in Dec,when roads were slimy and salty)
Most accident repairs I 've seen are laid as brought in (ie not pristine) until they are repaired.
Mine has given great service for 30k miles and it's pretty cheap for a rebuild/service @ £75

Fair comment Johnny, except that Harris had the shock whilst the bike was off the road (to put a +1 HD spring on it) and it was immaculate when it was re-fitted. The bike's done 7k since then, so I'm a bit surprised at the failure.

Anyway, I had the old (brand new) Showa put back on this morning (feels much better - but then it is new and I was previously riding without damping) and the Öhlins is on its way to Harris for repair or replacement.....

Mike