BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Hi all,

I just got my bike back from the dealer for the final drive oil change and installation of Ohlins.

My question: the preload adjuster is in the stock location but there is sharp bend in the preload hose. I don't recall how the hose went with the stock one.

I might relocate the hose a few inches down from the current location (more mid seat placement) to straighten the hose more and keep it from snaking down and touching the top of the shock. It currently bends as shown and then follows the mid-line of the frame tube (can't be seen in the photo).

Hey Echo I installed my rear Ohlins last night and I ended up routing the cable for the preload adjuster exactly the same way. In fact the cable naturally just sort of went that way. I don't think that it's too much or too sharp a bend. Just my $.02

Hi Echo,

How does the bike "feel" with the Ohlins???
I just ordered a set - should be here in a few weeks.

The stock shocks are OK, but i cant help but feel that the Ohlins will bring out a more plush and controlled ride (especially on the CR*P roads over here)

Regards,

E

Erik,

Thanks for the confirmation of the placement of the adjuster.

Eisen,

You will love the Ohlins. I've used Ohlins and Wilbers on previous bikes and both brands transformed the ride from excellent to great.

Between my son's swimming and birthday parties, I hope to install the engine guards and P3 lights.

I hope to post some good photos this weekend.

Nice setup echo. Would love some more pics of the front and rear to see how the shocks look on the bike(I would be guessing great though).

I would like to use a combination of hypnosis and a lie detector in as logical a sequence as possible to test just how good these $1500 shocks really are. I know it would be hard to admit that they really aren't $1500 better after having spent that much on a set. I would also like to somehow get around the Emperor's New Clothes affect also. I am not however bent on disproving the worth of expensive aftermarket shocks just making sure that for the price they are worth it. My wife will take a heap of convincing.
Mark

celticus wrote:I would like to use a combination of hypnosis and a lie detector in as logical a sequence as possible to test just how good these $1500 shocks really are. I know it would be hard to admit that they really aren't $1500 better after having spent that much on a set. I would also like to somehow get around the Emperor's New Clothes affect also. I am not however bent on disproving the worth of expensive aftermarket shocks just making sure that for the price they are worth it. My wife will take a heap of convincing.
Mark

I bought Ohlins ten years ago for my R1100R. Then for my GS. Now for the R12R.

If they weren't worth the money, I would have stopped getting aftermarket shocks after spending the money on Ohlins for the R1100R.

If you can convince your wife that better handling and control will result in an improvement in safety, that might work. If you say the shocks are for performance, then forget it because a veto is likely.

If someone near you has installed aftermarket shocks, you should try them and see for yourself. I'm only accused of having the Emperor's New Clothes Syndrome when I try to convince my Honda friends that a BMW is worth the extra money....

Mark,

Never ask permission. Ask forgiveness.

If you ask permission you get a ROS (Raft-O-poo) before you do it, then another ROS after you do it. Asking forgiveness cuts the ROS down to one.

Get Thee behind me Deilenberger! I also want a set of wheels off of an R1200S which will end up being at least a grand.
Mark

I don't drag you into temptation, I just show you the path..

celticus wrote: My wife will take a heap of convincing.
Mark

So, don't tell her.

I've had Ohlins on two bikes, a Penske on one, and an Elka on another. Aftermarket suspension has been superior to NEW OE suspension in every instance.

Ohlins are in

Took the dealer about 3 hours to install (with all our coffee breaks and chatting!)
Here are my thoughts:

The bike initially felt a little harsh and the road imperfections were being directed through the chassis. Also the rear end felt a bit twitchy.
So i wound down the preload, adjusted the tire pressure (was far too high) and voila - perfect.
If there was a way to describe the ohlins, i would use the term "confidence inspiring". The bike simply feels more planted, like its going on rails. I also feel that braking is more effective; the front feels more stable and i am getting more feedback.

Here are some pics:

Front Suspension:




Preload adjuster:


Rear shock:


Side view:

Looks great! Now you need the rear-hugger to protect the expensive shock (it never ends.. )

deilenberger wrote:Looks great! Now you need the rear-hugger to protect the expensive shock (it never ends.. )

You really do lead us down the road of temptation
Nice article about your bike, by the way...


Regarding the hugger, I've never liked the look of them - even the expensive carbon fibre ones. How important is this hugger really?

Very nice looking! I'm envious. If you don't like the look of the hugger, don't sweat it. Less is more IMO. As long as you're not going to be trashing your bike in the mud, there's plenty of bikes without a hugger with Ohlin's....
So what are you doing with the OEM shocks? Mine are worn out, take away from my confidence on the rough Chicago streets, and though I really want Ohlins, it's just not in the budget right now.... Want to be a sponsor of ChiTown's Adventure's?

eisen wrote:

deilenberger wrote:Looks great! Now you need the rear-hugger to protect the expensive shock (it never ends.. )

You really do lead us down the road of temptation
Nice article about your bike, by the way...


Regarding the hugger, I've never liked the look of them - even the expensive carbon fibre ones. How important is this hugger really?

You can look for a shock-sock.. something that goes around the spring. The important part is - keeping grit/sand off the shaft of the shock. Grit and sand aren't a good thing there since it will tend to eat up the seal on the shock with time. Also - any stone impacts on the shaft are a bad thing, they'll leave pits that will chew up the seal. The BMW shock you removed had a plastic guard over it.. some people have made something similar for aftermarket shocks by cutting up a plastic soda bottle and a few tie-wraps.

The other plus to the hugger IMHO - it keeps the underseat area clean (and the battery).. if that's important to you.

Placement of the PreLoad Adjuster, should always take maximum blink effect into account. Hidden under the seat will not do


Clets......"Honey, I have some good news and some bad news....the dealer just informed me the stock shock on my baby has failed, and is out of warranty. A new BMW shock is god awful $1800, but I found another shock we can get for $1500"

Clets......"Honey, I have some good news and some bad news....the dealer just informed me the stock shock on my baby has failed, and is out of warranty. A new BMW shock is god awful $1800, but I found another shock we can get for $1500"
parkec

That is remarkable. I flows so well like you are an adept. Like you have used this or something like it before.
Mark

As the owner of a fair number of firearms that the missus is unaware of the funding source (never let her have the combination to the safe ) and now a set of Ohlins I'll let you in on a secret. The rat hole fund, and the miracle of the U.S. postal money order. Just rat hole the money in low dollar amounts and when the time comes to pull the trigger remotely a postal money order works wonders Of course if you have a shop near at hand cash speaks the universal language

Great pictures Eissen the Öhlins look great!! I'm with you on the hugger I never liked the look of those things all though it was a real blessing on my Buell S1 White Lightning where it kept the oil from my tire witch the old Harley lump occasionally puged out.