Ohlins Fodder for the Shock Discussion

[Ves]

Your all welcome... glad you found it educational... I certainly did...

VES, the "cheap bastid" may have to go now.

Nah... I still cheap... just ask my wife...

[Rockster1150]

Ves, here is a serious question as I will be doing this suspension change over very soon in the land DownUnder.

You state that both wheels now touch the ground on the centrestand.
You also state that the front is now quite hard.
The front Rockster shock is longer than the 1150R front shock.

What do you think if one would put the Rockster Ohlin on the rear and the 1150R Ohlin up the front.
Would one wheel remain off the ground whilst on the centrestand?
Would one have a better (higher) ride height at the rear in pairing to the 1150R shock on the front?

Just a thought, only you will know after all your efforts. Thanks in advance for any advice.
-Sonny.

[sweatmark]

Ok Ves - Your Ohlins Fodder inspired my Spring cleaning (much to Mrs. Sweatmark's delight)... proceeds from first round of eBay sales are at 91% of new shocks' cost for Rockster! Second round of auctions will surely put me over the top.

Thanks.

[Ves]

Ves, here is a serious question as I will be doing this suspension change over very soon in the land DownUnder.

You state that both wheels now touch the ground on the centrestand.

I do have the short paralever arm on my bike, that takes away about 3/4" ground clearance in the back. I would guess with the standard paralever arm you should have some clearance. Guess you'll be the Ginnie pig on that one...

You also state that the front is now quite hard.

When I say the front is stiffer, I mean the Ohlins Rockster front Shock is stiffer than the Ohlins R1150R front shock. I would say that the stiffness of the Ohlins is about the same as stock... but the Ohlins is more compliant... smoother ride.

The front Rockster shock is longer than the 1150R front shock.

Actually, if you look at all the pictures, the Rockster Ohlins is in the middle. It's longer than the stock Rockster shock, but shorter than the R1150R Ohlins. But it seems to me they are the same shock body. It's just that the Ohlins for the Rockster comes with the height adjuster screwed all the way in (at it's shortest dimension). So, you can make it even longer, but you can not make it as short as the Rockster stock shock.

What do you think if one would put the Rockster Ohlin on the rear and the 1150R Ohlin up the front.
Would one wheel remain off the ground whilst on the centrestand?

You would get the most clearance if you put the Rockster Onlins on front, and the R1150R Ohlins in back. That way you have the shorter front and the shorter rear shock. But again, although I can't be sure, I think if you just get the Ohlins for the Rockster on both ends, and if you have a standard paralever arm, you should be good.

Would one have a better (higher) ride height at the rear in pairing to the 1150R shock on the front?

Standard Rockster front is shortest, Rockster Ohlins front is medium, than the 1150 Ohlins front is longest.
Standard Rockster rear is same length as Rockster Ohlins rear and both are longer than the 1150 Ohlins rear.

I guess you can mix and match any way you want. But if you put the 1150 Ohlins front on it, you will definitely need a new front brake line, and you will most likely have no ground clearance when on the center stand.

Just a thought, only you will know after all your efforts. Thanks in advance for any advice.
-Sonny.

[Ves]

Ok Ves - Your Ohlins Fodder inspired my Spring cleaning (much to Mrs. Sweatmark's delight)... proceeds from first round of eBay sales are at 91% of new shocks' cost for Rockster! Second round of auctions will surely put me over the top.

Thanks.

Dang... that's pretty good... all I have in my garage is junk nobody wants...

[Rockster1150]

Thanks Ves, that was a lot of talk about the long and the short of it all. After your description and the fact I do have the STD arm fitted, I will go with what the company has designed and what your bike wears. Cheers.

Keep us informed of any new findings and any improvement in tyre wear you may find, and I will repost once mine are fitted.

Incidently I can import my own from the states for just short of $AU1800, but have found a supplier here who will supply and fit for $AU2000, and options like a remote front preload asjuster at a little more, but probably not really required.

[Ves]

... but have found a supplier here who will supply and fit for $AU2000, and options like a remote front preload asjuster at a little more, but probably not really required.

If the front remote preload adjuster came on the shock it would be great. I can definitley see that adjusting the front preload is going to be a pain because it's tucked in under the steering head. But, I'm not going to pay extra money for it. When you add weight to the bike it's usually at the rear, so I figure I wont be adjusting the front preload very often.

[Ves]

Well, took my oldest daughter for a 5 hour ride to Starved Rock State Park... which from here involves some city, some blasting on I-80, some really bad bridge expansion joints, some pretty bumpy back roads. She's 5'11 and proportioned... so I'd guess she's in the 175 range... and me at 215... Cranked the preload and rebound on the rear shock most of the way up. The ride difference is definitely noticeable. She said the bike seems more steady during stops and definitely smoother over bumps... Only the big bumps are bothersome, but even they are not as harsh as they use to be.

Also took the wife around for a bit... took her on some bumpy S's in one of the forest preserves near our house. She agrees, noticeably smoother and less harsh. Also took the youngest son... midget... for a ride... He barely weighs anything and it was obvious the rear was too stiff for us. After riding around with him on the high preload and rebound settings I stopped for gas and adjusted the suspension down. It's amazing just what a difference the adjustments made... ride went from obviously over sprung and damped to luxuriously compliant. Impressive.

[Rockster1150]

Paid and on their way. Looking forward to the fitment. Apparently I got the last set. There is one left either front or rear I can't remember. Don't fret as I am sure as demand grows production should re-begin. Will advise once I got them. For Sydneysiders I am seeing James at Zenodampers, Taren Point.

[Ves]

Sweatmark asked how the Ohlins were after the 1000+ mile ride around Spring Green WI. Figured I'd answer here just to keep it all together... The suspension was outstanding. A lot of those county roads in WI have some character to them... as in cracks and patches... on my stock suspension stuff like that would get really annoying really fast... The Ohlins just soaked that stuff up... But in the tight stuff and S's the bike was very stable... Fact is I can just fly along and enjoy the ride... I know the bumps are there but they are not bothersome... Stuff I use to stear around I don't even give a second thought to any more.

[Rockster1150]

My new Ohlins are fitted! ZenoDampers, Taren Point, Sydney.
Those gold springs look great and have definately transformed the ride. Fitting them to the 1150R was apparently no drama at all. The rear preload adjuster fits perfectly due to the recess on the mount, lucky. Ves, in regards to the height of the original front shock it has some type of washer on the OEM one at the top. This was removed upon fitting the Ohlin.
Yeh there are some expected scratchers from such an installation, and two paint chips that do dissappoint me, but these I will manage to hide. (Typically at the front, top of the tank)
The 1150 has over 65k km on the clock wearing the original springiethingies. The new Ohlins supplied and fitted, just $AU2000. To import them myself would have cost almost this before I even touched a spanner. Awesome value considering new OEM would probably cost over a grand anyhow minus the benefits the european gold units come with.
Initial ride impressions are good, I am sitting higher than I was, steering is different, better and something feels surer, like the front and rear are so much more one unit. The ride is smooth and handling certain. I cannot really explain it correctly yet, but it definately feels like a different motorcycle. So more testing and playing is to be done, cornering, touring, two up etc. Then to take up the invite to return to the shop for any final adjustments that may be required. In the meantime, the most important thing is I should be able to go real bloody fast through corners now! So in summary, "I can't wait for a real ride"!!!

[Rockster1150]

Well, I have gone out for a 600km dayride to try the Ohlins out solo through a lot of twisties. Bloody cold is one thing I've noticed out west of the ranges from Sydney. We took in the Royal National Park south of Sydney, then down to Macquarie pass just north of Wollongong. These are just two of the haunts for Sydney's sport riders as they have lots and lots of corners with little traffic or men in blue uniforms. Then it was south down the Hume Hwy to Goulbourn before turning north through Taralga to Oberon for lunch. A big lamb shank over a beer by the pubs open fire, perfect on a winters day. Back via Hampton, Great Western HWY, and the Bells Line of road to Sydney.
What about the shocks? Love 'em! On the real bumpy sections (which Oz has many) I didn't know how to improve the ride I was getting. It wasn't nice, harsh. I had already backed the rebound off one notch on the front, so I went another on the back. Since having the Ohlins I think I may have gone two slower on the front and three on the back. Yep, real happy. The 1150 just tracks so certainly and confidently you have no answer but to screw the revs on more. Together with the telelever/paralever setup and Ohlins fitted, on aussie backroads not many other bikes can match it until the road opens up to give way to the speed advantage. I am very happy with the purchase, and recommend if you have an 1150 keeper, get some.

[duke]

... Bloody cold is one thing I've noticed ...

I thought Brits were the whingers, not Ausies

[fnfalman]

Well, I got a bit of a bad news for my Ohlins front. The damn thing busted a seal and leaked all the fluid out. I'm going to have to yank it off and send it to Ohlins to see what the heck happened. This shock has less than 3000-miles on it, that's for sure.

[Johnny]

Can anyone upload a pic with the Ohlins installed on the Rock (preferably an Ed80 one)? I am thinking about going for the upgrade myself but I'm just curious how those gold things will look on black and white...

[Beaze]

Ves, did you get the rockster shocks, or the roadster shocks? The roadster has a longer front shock, than the rock.

I called Ohlins today and they stated that the shortest adjustable length on the Roadster shock is 330mm vs. the 326 total length of the Rockster front. If you're like me (stuck with 2nd hand Roadster shocks) then it's a fair enough compromise to the stock setup. The main difference is that the Rocksters shocks are shorter in the front/longer in the rear and the Roadster is slightly longer up front/shorter out back. I figure if I crank the front down to 330mm then it'll be close enough. I'll just call it a Wylie Coyote setup and ride the piss out of it!

[Ves]

Ves, did you get the rockster shocks, or the roadster shocks? The roadster has a longer front shock, than the rock.

I called Ohlins today and they stated that the shortest adjustable length on the Roadster shock is 330mm vs. the 326 total length of the Rockster front. If you're like me (stuck with 2nd hand Roadster shocks) then it's a fair enough compromise to the stock setup. The main difference is that the Rocksters shocks are shorter in the front/longer in the rear and the Roadster is slightly longer up front/shorter out back. I figure if I crank the front down to 330mm then it'll be close enough. I'll just call it a Wylie Coyote setup and ride the piss out of it!

Yo B... Had to do that again..

I responded to your PM. Yup, you've got your facts straight... put on a short paralever arm in the back if the rear height difference is a problem for you...