SV with Ohlins- worthwhile?

[rocketman1]

I have wondered for a while if it is worthwhile getting my bike set up with Ohlins suspension, I know it is not cheap, but would it make a lot of difference to the handling?, ie the bike handles reasonably well with standard suspenders, and I can keep with most bikers of the same size bikes, but my old GSXR makes it feel retarded in comparison.
Im not saying the SV handles poorly it doesnt, its just that,
the GSXR carves corners so well and predictably, you get the feeling that you can always go faster and lean more, holding a fast predictable line
The SV1000S doesn't always feel that way, I sometimes have to overcorrect half way through corners etc. I don't know if new suspenders would fix that.
Anyone got any recommendations.
Ive always been told spend your money on suspension before motor improvements. I tend to agree.

[Pussy]

Ive always been told spend your money on suspension before motor improvements. I tend to agree.

There's your answer!
Yep, trust me... you WON'T regret fitting an Ohlins shock to your SV.
SVs are great bikes, but the accountants saved a few bucks on the suspension of them

[NighthawkNZ]

There's your answer!
Yep, trust me... you WON'T regret fitting an Ohlins shock to your SV.
SVs are great bikes, but the accountants saved a few bucks on the suspension of them


ditto... get the suspension done first and you will be surprised the difference they make in the over all handling... then go for the extra power

[Kiwi Graham]

+1 to above comments mate, money well spent. Dont foget when you come to sell you can pull it back off and sell it seperately.

[Shaun]

+1 to above comments mate, money well spent. Dont foget when you come to sell you can pull it back off and sell it seperately.



Very good post Graham! A lot of people do not think about this option at the time. Ohlin's shock, and race tech gear in front end, will improve your baby incredibly mate

[Rcktfsh]

Very good post Graham! A lot of people do not think about this option at the time. Ohlin's shock, and race tech gear in front end, will improve your baby incredibly mate

Would they do anything for my lack of personality and bad breath?

[Shaun]

Would they do anything for my lack of personality and bad breath?



Make you look better and more approachable, and just Drink the Oil man, and get that thing of Andrew's out of your mouth, that will help the scent issue:scooter:

[imdying]

Think about the total cost of ownership... Ohlins shocks appear to hold their value well, and there's a whole heap of SV1000s in New Zealand. To own it for a few years is going to cost you say $500 when all is said and done... if you can afford the capex, go for it.

[Cajun]

also better tire life. so saves you money

[Robert Taylor]

This highlights interesting points as follows and thanks guys for reinforcing some of the advantages.

1) Yes the product is expensive but it has great residual value. We encourage our customers that when they onsell their bike and change to a new one that they remove the Ohlins shock. We can then respec them to suit the new bike or if there are too many changes involved we trade used Ohlins for new ( providing we sold the shock in the first place ). If the customer wishes to onsell himself they have very good resale.

2) Yes the improvement these suspension units provide is night and day. Improved ride compliance, much better ride height and pitch control, response to adjustment and also improved tyre life because the suspension actually moves rather than constantly overloading the tyre.

3 ) As the local distributor we are totally attuned to road and track conditions, which some faceless parasite in a far flung country is not. We always ensure that the correct spring and setup ( internal if neccessary ) is added at no extra charge before delivery to the end customer. However, everyone has a different perception of feel and if it is subsequently decided by the customer that the springing and setup needs altering a little we do so at no extra cost sans courier recovery costs.

There in fact is no current Ohlins listing for SV1000 but the last 6 that we have supplied for these we have custom built ( including one in TTX36 spec ) That is another advantage, we scratch build many shocks.

Beware that there are a couple of people in major centres who are masquerading as Ohlins technicians but they in fact are not, have had no formal training and are not privy to ongoing factory updates. In Christchurch / south island Peter Fenton is our agent. In Wellington Pat McLachlan at Motomart and in Auckland we are setting up Cyclespot, there are a couple of exciting initiatives to follow.

PM me and I will elaborate on what we can do for the front and rear of that bike.

[AllanB]

Good post - always wonder the same.



Where's that dam Big Wednesday ticket ............

[cs363]

Would they do anything for my lack of personality and bad breath?

No. As an apprentice lawyer you are, as is well known, a bottom feeder which explains the breath, along with the constant suckling on Stroudy's appendage as Shaun has pointed out.

I would however argue the point regarding your lack of personality, you do have one, it's just not very attractive. :whistle:


Now, getting back on topic - + 1 on the positive comments regarding Ohlins, and in fact any money spent on suspension upgrades. Many people think that it's not worth their while spending money in this area because they don't ride fast, or they're 'only average riders' and so on. I'm sure Robert would agree that these are the very people who would benefit most from improved suspension. Riders like Andrew Stroud, Craig Shirriffs and co have enough skill to be able to ride around problems created by average or below average suspension, though of course good suspension will allow them to ride faster with less effort and tyre wear. The average road rider does not, and improved suspension will provide not only increased comfort and control but also bring with it an improvement in safety.

Funny how some of these same people who don't think suspension is worth spending the money on will go out and buy expensive race style exhausts, power commanders and all kinds of other performance equipment to make their bike go faster.....go figure...

[CookMySock]

the GSXR carves corners so well and predictably, you get the feeling that you can always go faster and lean more, holding a fast predictable lineThat is the main thing that worries me about a quality suspension package.


The SV1000S doesn't always feel that way, I sometimes have to overcorrect half way through corners etc. I don't know if new suspenders would fix that.Which is the most fun to ride?

Steve

[Rcktfsh]

As Shaun and yourself well know i talk far to much to have any spare time for appendage sucking.

[Number One]

Do eeeeeeeeet! You won't regret it....I didn't! (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1482980&postcount=1)

[GSVR]

Its rough harsh untamed country where the roads are made for riding...

And if your lucky you might get see "the best"

And who is "the best"?

Well that would have to be the "Ohlins Man"

Every man wants to be him and every woman wants to be with him, he is the "Ohlins Man".

Ride Ohlins today.

[Robert Taylor]

Its rough harsh untamed country where the roads are made for riding...

And if your lucky you might get see "the best"

And who is "the best"?

Well that would have to be the "Ohlins Man"

Every man wants to be him and every woman wants to be with him, he is the "Ohlins Man".

Ride Ohlins today.

Sorry Gary the position of Ohlins communications manager at the factory is already taken.

[rocketman1]

That is the main thing that worries me about a quality suspension package.

Which is the most fun to ride?

Steve

Steve,
I have thought about this, and to be honest, I dont really know.
On a tight twisty race track/ road, the GSXR is heaps of fun, the 86 model, you actually sit "in it", not on it, the peaky power the huge lean angles, high footpegs, raw fairing, and gauges just "bolted on", make you feel like Valentino Rossi. Yeah you need to stretch your legs after 1/2 hour.
The SV you sit more "on it" like the latter GSXRs, On more open roads that have undulating, uphill carving type corners, the SV is magic , the raw torque and engine braking, exhaust note, into corners is awesome. I just wish that I could feel the confidence that the GSXR offers on the SV.
Hey as I said before don't get me wrong the SV is a good handling bike and few would know otherwise, its just that i have the luxury of jumping of one onto the other and you then realise the difference.

OK all Ducati riders, before you comment,I know what your gonna say... No I dont have the money!!

[rocketman1]

This highlights interesting points as follows and thanks guys for reinforcing some of the advantages.

PM me and I will elaborate on what we can do for the front and rear of that bike.

Thanks for this info Robert. You have got me thinking hard now.
I may get in touch.....I know what I want to do.....just $$$

[GSVR]

... like you can put gold ear rings on a pig but it won't change the fact its still a pig!

[davebullet]

... like you can put gold ear rings on a pig but it won't change the fact its still a pig!

But... dreams are free... and one day, we might be able to get our SV pigs to fly!

[FROSTY]

Not argueing with the above posts but what rubber are you running and has anyone actually set up your standard suspenders for you?

[HenryDorsetCase]

Not argueing with the above posts but what rubber are you running and has anyone actually set up your standard suspenders for you?

IIRC the standard suspension is totally nonadjustable. Spring preload in the front and rear maybe?

[imdying]

IIRC the standard suspension is totally nonadjustable. Spring preload in the front and rear maybe?650s, thou is 3 way adjustable at both ends.

[Odakyu-sen]

There's your answer!
Yep, trust me... you WON'T regret fitting an Ohlins shock to your SV.
SVs are great bikes, but the accountants saved a few bucks on the suspension of them

I'd recommend a suspension upgrade if you're going to keep the bike for a while, on account of the expense.

It's not a simple as bolting on an Ohlins rear shock. You've got to get the correct spring for your weight as well.

Once you get your suspension upgraded, you'll have maintain the improvements through regular servicing.

It's worth it though.

[rocketman1]

Seems to be getting more costly $$$$$ and confusing as I read.

[cs363]

Seems to be getting more costly $$$$$ and confusing as I read.

I believe the correct (tailored to the individual) spring rate is included in the cost of the shock.

[davebullet]

Ohlins offer 3 spring rates with the SU 606 piggyback resevoir shock for the SV650 (03+ model). Has single compression / rebound / preload and ride height settings... although USD$920 online + freight (and probably plus NZ customs duty & GST)

Elka and Penske are other options talked about on svrider.com

Quite a few put on a Kwaka ZX10R shock. Apparently the 06-07 model has compression / rebound and similar spring rate to the stock SV shock spring rate. Same mount point distance (330mm) as stock shock too.

[Robert Taylor]

Ohlins offer 3 spring rates with the SU 606 piggyback resevoir shock for the SV650 (03+ model). Has single compression / rebound / preload and ride height settings... although USD$920 online + freight (and probably plus NZ customs duty & GST)

Elka and Penske are other options talked about on svrider.com

Quite a few put on a Kwaka ZX10R shock. Apparently the 06-07 model has compression / rebound and similar spring rate to the stock SV shock spring rate. Same mount point distance (330mm) as stock shock too.

And it wont ( if you purchase from the US parasites ) have all the internal valving, bleed jet, compression body and end eye upgrades that I eluded to in a previous post on this thread. So that is suitable for our conditions..Those that are blinded by the cheapest possible purchase price often end up shortchanging themselves.
I support NZ business and employ New Zealanders.

[Robert Taylor]

Seems to be getting more costly $$$$$ and confusing as I read.

Only if you believe those who have posted on this thread who have only enough knowledge to be dangerous. Re read my first post on this thread.

[davebullet]

And it wont ( if you purchase from the US parasites ) have all the internal valving, bleed jet, compression body and end eye upgrades that I eluded to in a previous post on this thread. So that is suitable for our conditions..Those that are blinded by the cheapest possible purchase price often end up shortchanging themselves.
I support NZ business and employ New Zealanders.

Price was quoted to give an indication to those interested what an Ohlins shock costs for an SV650.

Can you post your price here please?

[Robert Taylor]

Price was quoted to give an indication to those interested what an Ohlins shock costs for an SV650.

Can you post your price here please?

NZ$1899.90 GST INCLUSIVE. Note that this is inclusive of fitting a compression adjuster body with a smaller bleed hole and changing its valving stack, fitting a poppett one way shaft jet, completely changing the valving stacks on the main piston, changing the rubberised end eye bearing to a self aligning bearing with side distance spacers and changing the main spring ( which incidentally is too light for all but the shortest and lightest riders )
If you buy out of the States the only thing that they will change is the spring and for most scenarios that is frankly not enough, especially if the bike will also be used for trackdays. For racing all the mods above are an absolute neccessity.
There is nothing wrong with the Ohlins shock as such but when I spoke to Ohlins about this their test rider Anders Andersson replied ''you race those things???!!!, its only a f...ing commuter bike''
While I havent crunched the numbers thoroughly the mods detailed above would run out at around $700, maybe a little more, if an unmodified SU606 shock was sent to us as a retail job to modify. And this one ''hurts'' us a little as the springs we remove are such an orphan we havent found homes for them, that is dead money on the shelves.
Please dont doubt us on this as we have developed and tested this all very thoroughly. If someone says they can do it cheaper they are cutting corners and it wont work properly.
Local puchase equals local pre setup and local backup. If for example you dont like the selected spring ( everyone has a different perception of feel etc ) we exchange at no further cost.