Rear Ohlins - Uprate the Spring??

[Grizzly]

I know this has been covered before. I fitted a front Ohlin about 2 years ago then last winter I fitted a rear Ohlin. Although I knew about people uprating the spring I decided to start with with a standard unit - assuming Ohlins must know what their doing??
Solo this set-up is great but as you load up the bike it gets more and more difficult to get settings which work without getting a lot of bottoming out.
I am a 17 stone, swmbo is 9 stone and luggage is system cases + bag, or sometimes it's a large Ortlieb bag when camping - nothing OTT??
I know a lot of people have uprated ( to 180 spring usually I think? ) but what I'm wary of is loosing the good traction and comfort the current solo settings offer - ie. - when you uprate do you end up making the shock a bit more like the original??
Would appreciate feedback from those who've uprated from standard Ohlin to heavier spring etc.
Also feedback from those who fitted the Uprated Ohlin from the start, never having tried the standard Ohlin.
I know Harris etc offer a lot of help in this area, but I feel Ohlins themselves could do with being a bit more open and informative - ie loadings info on their web site. It looks like the standard settings err on the side of lightish solo rider which is a bit optomistic for a bike with a reputation as a comfortable two-up bike that can carry you and your luggage around the globe???

Cheers....................Grizzly

 

[cookie]

i have a 2000 GS with 160Nm spring from first fitting (140 is standard), it also has increased compression damping shims.

now the spring has bedded in, it's pretty good for my 17 odd stone weight one up with the preload wound right off.
two up with a bit of luggage & preload, it's pretty good only bottoming occasionally.

on a recent trip to ireland, two up with camping kit & the kitchen sink, i was seriously considering a need to fit a 180Nm spring. as soon as i got off the ferry in blighty, the need for a heavier spring became rather less pressing.

in truth, eating a few less pies is the way to go for us


note: observations based on a riding style of "not hanging about". faster or slower riders will find their "mileage may vary" as they say

 

[Grizzly]

Hi Cookie,
Yes' I probably forgot to mention that the problems only start with "spirited" riding on bumpy and/or undulating roads when loaded up a bit - if you keep the riding in "touring mode" and stick to better roads then things are very comfortable but, after all, "brisk" riding on undulating, single-track type roads, even loaded-up is where the Gs is, and should be, great fun??

Cheers....................Grizzly

 

[DavidHolmes]

In case you have not seen it already http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50159&highlight=ohlins
At the time I was 106kg, the pillion 78kg.

 

[DavidHolmes]

PS I lied to Harris about my weight. I think 100 kg was their recommended change over limit, (I had put on a lot of weight giving up smoking to fund the bike and still had dreams of losing it again), and we were once described by a RoSPA observer as 'jellies on a blamonge' .....(on a very vigorous rideout with the only other two up bike being a Fazer thou')...but it suited my riding style very well. This is the reason Harris stated for making me try the front before buying, because a lot of what works is down to personal preference. Probably the reason Ohlins are reluctant to be prescriptive.

PPS Even on standard Ohlins spring I am much happier with the bike loaded at its maximum stated permitted weight than I ever was on the standard OE unit.