Ohlins Dilemer

[Bikergary]

well after a year of having my rear Ohlins serviced and doing about 8,000 miles they decided to blow a seal.
So now I have a dilemer. should I get them re-built yet again Which no foubt will cost about £150 if the last service had anything to go by, or do I look at getting something else.
Luckily I do have the original (which I changed for the Ohlins as they couldn't take the weight of me a pasanager and full luggage, well they had done 45,000 miles) so I can still ride, but I don't want to having to keep sending them for a service every year.
I keep reading that these performace shocks do need rebuilding frequently but the original ones go on for years,

So should I get it serviced again and save up to have this done every year or should I buy an original and enjoy the many years of usage before they go off????

 

[Tsiklonaut]

It is so confusing...

You pay shite loads of £££ for the "quality" suspension, and it just fails after 8000miles while you haven't ridden it Trans-Africa etc?!

Me thinks the Öhilns will be out of my future wish-list for the 1100...

Swop it to Wilbers or WP maybe?

 

[Fenlander Strasse]

WP impresses me mightily. I’ve got it on my KTM and it’s the best suspension I’ve experienced. I’ve had Ohlins shocks on a couple of 8V Ducatis along with Ohlins forks on an 888SP and they were ok for track days, but WP stuff is bloody good. I’ve not heard of anyone complaining of seal failures either.

 

[IainMac]

recent reading on ducati forums has indicated Ohlins see seals as wear and tear items and wont warrenty them. Ducati's with ohlins are covered by ducati warrenty , which makes u wonder about the use of performance sussies for longer term use. That said my old 1150GSA blew the stock rear in under 6kmiles (warrenty replacement) and the front while classed as servicable by bmw had minimal damping capabilities so was effectively a pogo stick.
I swapped to Ohlins front and rear which were marvellous solo but the rear was undersprung for two up with luggage (stock ohlins spring) which if I'd known I would have had a stiffer spring b4 I fitted. I never got more than 6k miles on the ohlins as other bmw bits pissed me off enuf to get rid.
You could try WP but I think they have a similar attitude to seals as Ohlins and forks on KTMS regularly weep if not bled of air regularly (bleed screw fitted on top for this and often neglected) Also I think they have 10kmile? service period so your ohlins mileage isnt far off ..
Joy.

 

[Wreford Miles]

My Ohlins have done 12,000 and apart from re preload I've not had to touch them from the day I set them up.

they've put up with no cleaning
a trip to the ring

severla fully loaded pillion and camping gear trips

and a couple off road trips which included several full compession slow and at speed

Is it a case3 of use it or lose it

 

[Duncan Richmond]

Done about 12k on my Ohlins on my old oilhead, mainly In Syria (very dusty and poor roads) and including a trip back to the UK from Syria 2up + luggage. No problems so far - didn't realise they had such short service intervals, I think I will wait until it starts leaking before I send it for service as the bike is semi - retired now

 

[Bikergary]

Sounds to me that having fancy re-buildable shocks (either ones really) will need re-building on a yearly basis
has anyone actually gone back to the original ones? should this be a seriouse consideration?

 

[Tsiklonaut]

According to the e-mail i got from the Wilbers they give 20-30,000 miles of service intervals or 2-3 years. Gives also 5 years of warranty.

Service cost is around 100$ (60£).

Sounds a fair bit seriously more reasonable compared to Öhlins or what?

I'm using my stock shock as long as it lasts, but once the time comes, then it'll probably be Wilbers or WP then.

Off topic, but does WP offer different (stronger) springs for their shocks for R1100GS like Wilbers and Öhlins does?

 

[Rob Farmer]

Sounds to me that having fancy re-buildable shocks (either ones really) will need re-building on a yearly basis
has anyone actually gone back to the original ones? should this be a seriouse consideration?

I've got a Maxton shock on the back of mine. Lovely build quality and excellent ride; much better than a standard shock. The companies based in Warrington and are superb to deal with. A full rebuild is £50. The shocks aren't cheap £480 + Vat but they are custom built for your weight and usage. Mines been on for nearly two years now without any problems. I'll probably get it rebuilt for the first time this winter. And you get the nice warm glow that comes with buying British and dealing with a quality company

http://www.maxtonsuspension.co.uk/

 

[ianboydsnr]

have heard these are much better than Hagon
http://www.stealthproducts.co.uk/products/shocks.php



not sure if they have any to fit a Gs though

friend swears by them, has had one on for 8 years, but not had one myself, so only taking his word

and they are rebuildable

 

[K-nut]

If the shock starts to leak only 8000 miles after servicing, the piston rod must be scratched and should have been replaced at the service. Go back to the dealer and complain. You will probably have to pay for the piston rod, but you should not have to pay for the labour, as the rod should have been replaced at the first service. My experience with Öhlins is exellent.
200 000km with only one rebuild.
K.