Ohlins

[MIKE R]

My 1150 has covered 18k, and although the origninal shocks still seem to be OK, I am considering investing in a pair of Ohlins. If you have them, please tell me, are they worth the expense?

Mike R

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Quite simply.........
YES

 

[ferguscawley]

I'll second that !

 

[Steve]

Thirded!

 

[Detox]

Took me a week of fiddling to "dial" them in.

Definitely.

 

[Swooper]

They really are the dogs

 

[agis]

They really are the dogs

how many different ones have you tried?

 

[GEOFFREY DEACON]

The Dogs is ok but, can you proud owners describe HOW they improve the handling, I too am considdering a pair??.
BTW, IF you could only have one,??, which would be the Best to have?.
sorry to pinch you thread agis.

 

[DavidHolmes]

11 months and 26k and I felt my rear shock was kaput. On no said the dealer, its fine.
6 weeks later at the service, they announced the rear shock was kaput. Funny that the warranty had just expired....
I bought an Ohlins:
It was cheaper than the BMW unit. It is rebuildable, the BMW unit isnt. After 33k it hasnt needed rebuilding. Harris (the importers) gave options of springs (depending on your weight, riding style, pillion carrying etc). Both (Ohlins and BMW) units are only adjustable for pre load and rebound damping. The BMW manual says when carrying pillion adjust the damping. I had always increased it. Harris told me I needed to reduce it. Adjustment is useless without the knowledge to do so correctly.
Having fitted the rear, I spent several hours riding around with the original BMW front shock (that Harris had pronounced fine). I then had the front Ohlins fitted. The difference is much less than the rear. It is adjustable for preload, unlike the BMW unit, but on advice, I have left it in the same position no matter how much pillion luggage etc, so the adjustability is not really an advantage. (Serious off roaders will appreciate apparently).

The major difference on the road I have found can only be described as 'smoothness'. At the recent 1200 launch I attended several 1150 riders suggested that the 1200 was 'harsh'. The dealer put this down to the lighter weight (surely BMW have sprung/damped it accordingly?). I suspect that it was because of the number of Ohlins units on the 1150s I saw.

If the handling is improved it is because the bike is less unsettled by ruts/holes in the road etc when cornering, and because (on the M25 at least) speeds are more sustainable because the bike is less disturbed by the undulations/ripples in the road.

 

[Wreford Miles]

Front and Rear Ohlins now fitted and on my cross country ride from StAlbans to Bracknell there was a big difference mainly in a plush ride feeling.

(Also knocked 4 mins of my best although that could be due to half term, dry roads or jsut having spent a week belting up and down the Amalfi drive!)

The settings have not been touched and are as they came out the box, the back feels a little to soft.

I'll be playing with the settings later but whats'the general advise?

The book talks about setting the sag with and without rider... have others followed this to the letter?

Regards

Wreford

 

[judge]

Wreford you could ferk about with the manual and the settings or you could pop up the road to Hertford and let Harris do it for you, ride in ride out and about £25. Highy reccommended.

Harris Performance Products Limited
7 The Mead Business Centre
Mead Lane
Hertford
Hertfordshire
SG13 7BJ
UK

Opening times:
09:00 - 17:30 GMT Monday to Friday

Tel: 01992 532501 (sales & customer service)
01992 532500 (all other enquiries)
Fax: 01992 587052

 

[ferguscawley]

Front and Rear Ohlins now fitted and on my cross country ride from StAlbans to Bracknell there was a big difference mainly in a plush ride feeling.

(Also knocked 4 mins of my best although that could be due to half term, dry roads or jsut having spent a week belting up and down the Amalfi drive!)

The settings have not been touched and are as they came out the box, the back feels a little to soft.

I'll be playing with the settings later but whats'the general advise?

The book talks about setting the sag with and without rider... have others followed this to the letter?

Regards

Wreford

This is set-up for streetbike (not GS)

 

[ferguscawley]

and this is the 'word of mouth' set up for a GS......

 

[ferguscawley]

And here is a set-up guide........