Ohlins durability not very good?

[(RIP) willstatt]

Just got back from my week in spain/france on the 1150. Got back to see seal has gone on the front Ohlin. They've been on for 5 years and about 13,000 miles. Doesn't seem much to me, and the oem shock was still leak free having done 27,000 miles in 5 years. What you reckon? Acceptable or a bit crap?

I'm taking it back to Ken at Ktech to see what he thinks.

Will

 

[MikeP]

Mine have just recently come back after their second service.

I knew that there was something wrong for quite a while as the bike was understeering badly. When the service was done, it was discovered that the front unit had lost all the oil.

I'm a regular bike cleaner and I had not spotted any leaks. There was some corrosion on the shaft but it was right at the base and well beyond the compression-range of the spring.

Whatever caused the seal failure on mine also buggered the shaft. It had worn the surface so that the seal didn't seal.

All in all, I'd still rather have Ohlins: their performance is far better than stock, then add-in the cost of a replacement unit when the stock item dies compared to repair/service costs.


On this topic, I wonder how many telelever-equipped bikes are being ridden around with useless front shocks? Unless it happens catastrophically, a gradual failure is masked by the steering/suspension design. For quite a while I just thought that it was me or a worn front TKC that made it a struggle to turn where I wanted.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Interesting, you noticed no oil film on the front Mike

Mine have been on for 6 years and 24000 miles and appear ok

 

[MikeP]

Interesting, you noticed no oil film on the front Mike

Mine have been on for 6 years and 24000 miles and appear ok

The only thing that I can think of is either the loss was very gradual so as to be unseen (and that fits with the progressive worsening of the handling) or it happened when the bike was caked with mud and it masked a sudden loss (I'd hope that I'd have noticed a sudden loss of front-end damping).

 

[patzx12]

I have had bad Ohlins steering dampers, new with no damping effect.

 

[Dr Feelgood]

13K in 5 years....could be brittle orings from periodical lack of use

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

13K in 5 years....could be brittle orings from periodical lack of use

I agree with the above.

Additionally, I've had Ohlins stuff before and it has always required servicing, and even after it has just been serviced.

Frankly, I wouldn't both with them again unless they supplied a Swedish geezer to service their kit upon demand: It's a bit like owning an Italian sports bike (guess where the the Ohlins was). It should come with two Italian mechanics; one to translate the manual and the other to service the bike every three days.

I understand it's not worth the comment for the OP but, Tsiklonaut's HyperPro stuff seems to be the way to go.

 

[The Grey One]

Sudden failure

Hi , just seen this thread. A couple of weeks ago my Ohlins rear failed suddenly. I was adjusting the pre load, there was a pop and oil everywhere. If I did not have a hugger fitted it would have been all over the rear tyre! I dread to think what might have happened had the unit failed on the road. Luckily I had kept the original shock and brought it with me out here so I spent a pleasant hour refitting it.

I understand things wear out and everything has a lifespan but such a failure with a seal blowing out suggests poor design or substandard components. Not what you expect when you pay Ohlins prices.

I called my supplier who said the unit could be rebuilt for 165 pounds (sorry no pound sign on a German keyboard!) or I could have a new one for 840!!!!
Maybe I will just go along to the Ohlins stand at the NEC and make my point there.

John

 

[sockpuppet]

2 years 12000 miles no complaints from me on the Ohlins, only time will tell.

 

[Micky]

Ohlins just fine for the race track or posers sitting outside cafe's looking at each others nice yellow springs

If you're actually going to ride your 'bike all year, and do some real mileage, then you want Wilbers

 

[Monty]

The preload adjuster failed on my Ohlins during a recent European jolly on the 1200. About 12k miles, not really impressed. Got it looked at and the main o ring seems to have pinched on something and failed. I have the old o ring here and it is not looking healthy.

Still love the handling with Ohlins, but I may go with another brand next time.

Matt

Sent from my HTC Vision using Tapatalk

 

[Micky]

I had Ohlins on my old 1150GS and GS-A and they were fantastic, no doubt about it

But they wouldn't stand up to the ravages of 24/7 all year motorcycling, and to be honest were never the same after being rebuilt by specialist Ohlin dealers

OK ... cards on the table, Sue and myself were given Wilbers suspension units, front fork springs and oil for our Long Way Home trip, for our F650GS's.
They were superb and on completion of the trip they went back to Wilbers for test and evaluation and eventually return to us. Nothing amiss, nothing worn, no problems but while stripped down new seals and oil were fitted. The returned units were every bit as good as the original items

Again, for our next trip a Wilbers rear unit, front fork springs and oil were supplied to me for my F800GS and on completion returned for test and evaluation. Nothing required, good as new ... thank you very much Wilbers