Service interval on an Ohlins rear shock

[Robert Taylor]

Really, do you think bumps are different in Italy ?
To quote someone, maybe you consider this guy just a tinkerer too.

One thing I have found to be fact: Suspension tuners in every country on Earth think there is something special and hard to work with at the tracks in their country, and they convince their local racers of the same. A bump is a bump, a hole is a hole, a crack is a crack. They all exist in tracks all over the world.

I do undertand that your bumps are pointing down from the earth and ours point up here in the States... but your bikes should weigh less, and hit the bumps with less force since you are hangin' off the bottom of the earth... ... seriously, though...

I have worked at racetracks in the USA, Canada, Japan, Austrailia, Qatar, England, France, Italy, and Spain. It's not the black magic it's cracked up to be.

Sincerely,

Max McAllister
President
Traxxion Dynamics, Inc.

Yes the argument above does not stack up. The cold hard reality is that first world countries such as Italy and the States have a much much higher percentage of smooth roads and therefore such bikes dont find themselves so often on bumpy roads. If they spend much less time on bumpy roads then the riders are much less inclined to complain, FACT.
Here in NZ we have a much much higher perecentage of bumpy roads to continuously challenge the suspension and we are therefor infinitely more attentive to requiring more compliant settings.
Max has never been to NZ nor I suspect many of the Italian test riders ridden on our roads. I have been to the US and Italy several times and witnessed their roads across several parts of their respective countries.
It helps rather a lot to be in command of the facts.

[Robert Taylor]

Get Real OK

This thread was a request for "service recommendations"

A simple service checking if shock was performing to expectations, strip clean inspect, replace any worn parts and seals. reoil using vacuum bleeder.

A roadbike shock service would rarely include updates or changes unless they were requested





We all know some people who know some people... and if asked...
are those "latest updates and more privileged information" actually helping you ?

Yes and my exact point is that if you take it to a non accredited person he wont be aware of any important updates or safety precautions. We receive shocks all the time that have been ''serviced'' by people who say they can do it. To correct, there is a LOT of BS and incompetence out there, FACT.

[GSVR]

Yes and my exact point is that if you take it to a non accredited person he wont be aware of any important updates or safety precautions. We receive shocks all the time that have been ''serviced'' by people who say they can do it. To correct, there is a LOT of BS and incompetence out there, FACT.

You would expect an accredited vehicle inspectors would be highly skilled. Unfortunately I feel the whole process is designed to fleece the majority of road users of their hard earned cash in a process that is illegal to avoid!

I have my piece of paper so I'm ok.

[Robert Taylor]

You would expect an accredited vehicle inspectors would be highly skilled. Unfortunately I feel the whole process is designed to fleece the majority of road users of their hard earned cash in a process that is illegal to avoid!

I have my piece of paper so I'm ok.

Yes indeed there are good ones and bad ones. But its also important to not tar everyone with the same brush or apply the same level of cynicism to other industries. I have people that I trust and those I very definitely do not.

[_STAIN_]

Again you misunderstand and twist. SV650s are raced in only a few countries and I have never had a request from the States re these or sought info. We share on occurence basis.
Ohlins Sweden do not have update specs for RACING / TRACK DAYS for SV650, as they consider them only a commuter bike.
I was not calling Ohlins parasites, you need a better command of the English language.

But the most hated tinkerer of all from Wellington got a couple of SV's going quite well last year (Sam Love champion and lap records almost everywhere, and Glen Williams champion and biggest winning margin ever for F3) just imagine how much faster you would have had them going with your factory trained abilities, and access to the latest privileged information... It is widely noted by all that you still claim responsibility for Glen's victories but all you did was supply parts... the suspension tuning was done by Dukic Performance tinkering.

So it is those selling in the states under the ohilns umbrella ( appointed parasites ) but not ohlins ?

In the stakes of misinforming and twisting I am but floundering in your wake.

[Robert Taylor]

But the most hated tinkerer of all from Wellington got a couple of SV's going quite well last year (Sam Love champion and lap records almost everywhere, and Glen Williams champion and biggest winning margin ever for F3) just imagine how much faster you would have had them going with your factory trained abilities, and access to the latest privileged information... It is widely noted by all that you still claim responsibility for Glen's victories but all you did was supply parts... the suspension tuning was done by Dukic Performance tinkering.

So it is those selling in the states under the ohilns umbrella ( appointed parasites ) but not ohlins ?

In the stakes of misinforming and twisting I am but floundering in your wake.

Well the person you mention certainly wasnt the very same one who developed and first built TTX36 for those and developed a very sound footing that was 95% done prior? Yes its easy to grab glory when someone else has done all the hard graft beforehand.
I have no problem with people that are honest and straightforward.

[slowpoke]

Not really G. I believe that if the three other top level brands were promoted to the level that Ohlins has been in NZ, there's no reason why they couldn't be as strong. From what I've seen, the importers of other brands have run it as a sideline to their normal business, where as the good Doctor focuses on only suspension.

I for one would LOVE to see someone take the WP brand and try to build it to a level as what CKT is now at, offering the same level of trackside support. It would add one more factor to the outcome of the racing here. Be nice if the tyre importers put themselves forward also.

Good post Jimmy, and sums it up for most of us.

The number of professional suspension techs I've seen at the track can be counted on three fingers and two of those are the dastardly duo Robert and Dennis from CKT, with the other being Kerry from Dukic. As a racer why would I use anybody else if they are never going to be available during a meeting? What am I gonna do get on the phone on a Sunday arvo to try and get some set-up advice from some guy I've never met? Until this thread I didn't even know who the WP agent was fer chrissakes.

My new race bike has got some top o' the wozz WP suspension in it, which is beautifully made and looks fuggin' sexy as, but as soon as finances permit I'll be ditching it for Ohlins simply because I know the back-up service is so good.

(An email is on it's way Dr Bob)

As for the tyre thang, yep it amazes me too that the manufacturers don't have a bigger presence in the pits. If a tyre supplier gave similar service in the pits as Robert and Dennis do they'd have to set up crowd control at their truck.

Oh yeah, as for paying a premium for a lil' bit of Swedish magic I reckon the bullshit all comes out in the wash at the track. There's no where to hide if something doesn't work, and word soon gets around if something is a waste of money. From personal experience I've used many products which have failed to live up to their own promises and my expectations. By contrast I'm a happy repeat customer of CKT/Ohlins thanks to the quality of their product and service.

[GSVR]

Having wittnessed first hand the need for good suspension and the necessity to constantly modify and adjust it to get the last fractions of a second in laptimes heres some thoughts on the subject.

I believe it gets way to much emphasis put on it for the club rider who would get faster anyway by just learning to get closer to the limits of their machine. By all means if you can afford to get the best suspension do it. But having good fresh tyres is by far the thing that will inspire the most confidence. If your bikes geometry, engine is ok, and tyres are good and the suspension is "in the ballpark" then theres no reason except the rider that it can't be within a couple of seconds of the best riders on any given day.

No need to give examples as anyone thats hung around a race track with their eyes open would have seen this.

So then we have the arguement that good suspension will save you a fortune on tyres... my belief is tyrewear is more directly related to the horsepower of the machine. The correct grade of tyre for the intended use and conditions would be next.

Enjoy your racing people for once it becomes a money sucking burdon on your life is it really a sport worth pursueing or are you just riding in the wrong class.

BTW Glen and Sam are fast and have track records not becuase of a suspension tuner but because thay live and breath bike racing. The suspension tuners are like tyre or bike manufacturers and need to have examples of how they are effective in order to sell their product. Same could be said of riders too.

[vagrant]

Well Gary you dont understand the cost of business so well. There is a difference between making a living and making a killing. I fit into the former category, just. If I wasnt so helpful and free with information maybe Id turn a reasonable profit.

I for one am glad you are in the former. I have had fantastic service, advice, and information from Dr Rob. Thanks.

[Corse1]

What you little realise is these guys lean on me a lot for service info for the Ohlins brand. The difference being that there is never a hidden agenda with these guys, I trust them.
You misunderstand and twist. Yes we can service those brands but the WP specialist in NZ ( for example ) is Mark Patterson.

+1 On Mark Patterson. He has recently serviced my OEM Ohlins rear here in Rotorua and some of the first words out of his mouth were that he would contact Dr Bob for any updates etc.

Reasonably priced and great results!!

[lukemillar]

Wow - Think I opened a can of worms! I was only after service intervals for which I have an answer - Thanks!

However there are some interesting points, like this:

I believe it gets way to much emphasis put on it for the club rider who would get faster anyway by just learning to get closer to the limits of their machine. By all means if you can afford to get the best suspension do it. But having good fresh tyres is by far the thing that will inspire the most confidence. If your bikes geometry, engine is ok, and tyres are good and the suspension is "in the ballpark" then theres no reason except the rider that it can't be within a couple of seconds of the best riders on any given day.

This is something I think as well. I notice it a lot on the Triumph forum that people spend ridiculous amount of time and money chasing a few extra HP with kit parts, when they probably aren't even using the bike at 70% in stock trim. Same goes for suspension. I think a lot of those guys want to stick Ohlins on their bikes because it's an opportunity to get a bit more anodised gold on there!

However, a club racer is always learning - different lines, ref points, passing moves etc. Why can't this extend into the realms of suspension as well? That doesn't necessarily mean run out and buy some top drawer suspension straightaway, but I do believe getting involved with a suspension tuner, discussing setup, feel and feedback etc. from the bike is a good thing for any experience level of club racer/trackdayer, rather than waiting until your setup is holding you back instead of your ability.

[Robert Taylor]

Wow - Think I opened a can of worms! I was only after service intervals for which I have an answer - Thanks!

However there are some interesting points, like this:



This is something I think as well. I notice it a lot on the Triumph forum that people spend ridiculous amount of time and money chasing a few extra HP with kit parts, when they probably aren't even using the bike at 70% in stock trim. Same goes for suspension. I think a lot of those guys want to stick Ohlins on their bikes because it's an opportunity to get a bit more anodised gold on there!

However, a club racer is always learning - different lines, ref points, passing moves etc. Why can't this extend into the realms of suspension as well? That doesn't necessarily mean run out and buy some top drawer suspension straightaway, but I do believe getting involved with a suspension tuner, discussing setup, feel and feedback etc. from the bike is a good thing for any experience level of club racer/trackdayer, rather than waiting until your setup is holding you back instead of your ability.

Actually the reality is we sell rather a LOT of Ohlins shocks for many roadgoing Triumphs because the owners are very dissatisfied with poor performance, especially inability to absorb bumps. Last week a custom build set was completed for a Rocket 3 because the guy is over the jackhammer feel in the rear, an order taken today for Thunderbird for the very same reasons. An order yesterday for an old Triple, the ( second ) original shock isnt toast yet but the guy actually wants a smooth ride and less squat.
Some people undoubtedly do buy because of bling factor but Im in the box seat to know, most of our customers want better ride comfort, pitch balance control and tyre life. And at this point Im not even talking about racetracks.
On the racetrack its about best possible grip and tyre life, therefore also lap times. Most club level riders are also competitive and want to go faster.
40 odd bikes lining up for F2 at VMCC and most had aftermarket suspension fitted and other performance enhancements. Who said theres a recession? Probably will be once the Nationals roll around!
Ohlins is a victim of its own success because it has been getting stronger as its competitors appear to be getting weaker. That inevitably breeds tall poppy syndrome and for my part because I dont suffer fools and brazen BS or a poor command of the facts I also get targeted, but thats life.
Yes indeed good point that riders should embrace setup skills as much as possible, its an essential point of being a road racer, wherever you are on the globe. Mores the pity that there are some people within MNZ who very firmly have their heads in the sand.

[Robert Taylor]

Having wittnessed first hand the need for good suspension and the necessity to constantly modify and adjust it to get the last fractions of a second in laptimes heres some thoughts on the subject.

I believe it gets way to much emphasis put on it for the club rider who would get faster anyway by just learning to get closer to the limits of their machine. By all means if you can afford to get the best suspension do it. But having good fresh tyres is by far the thing that will inspire the most confidence. If your bikes geometry, engine is ok, and tyres are good and the suspension is "in the ballpark" then theres no reason except the rider that it can't be within a couple of seconds of the best riders on any given day.

No need to give examples as anyone thats hung around a race track with their eyes open would have seen this.

So then we have the arguement that good suspension will save you a fortune on tyres... my belief is tyrewear is more directly related to the horsepower of the machine. The correct grade of tyre for the intended use and conditions would be next.

Enjoy your racing people for once it becomes a money sucking burdon on your life is it really a sport worth pursueing or are you just riding in the wrong class.

BTW Glen and Sam are fast and have track records not becuase of a suspension tuner but because thay live and breath bike racing. The suspension tuners are like tyre or bike manufacturers and need to have examples of how they are effective in order to sell their product. Same could be said of riders too.

Gary even though I have certain variances on your comments your post is a good one that has tried to instil some balance.

[Robert Taylor]

Good post Jimmy, and sums it up for most of us.

The number of professional suspension techs I've seen at the track can be counted on three fingers and two of those are the dastardly duo Robert and Dennis from CKT, with the other being Kerry from Dukic. As a racer why would I use anybody else if they are never going to be available during a meeting? What am I gonna do get on the phone on a Sunday arvo to try and get some set-up advice from some guy I've never met? Until this thread I didn't even know who the WP agent was fer chrissakes.

My new race bike has got some top o' the wozz WP suspension in it, which is beautifully made and looks fuggin' sexy as, but as soon as finances permit I'll be ditching it for Ohlins simply because I know the back-up service is so good.

(An email is on it's way Dr Bob)

As for the tyre thang, yep it amazes me too that the manufacturers don't have a bigger presence in the pits. If a tyre supplier gave similar service in the pits as Robert and Dennis do they'd have to set up crowd control at their truck.

Oh yeah, as for paying a premium for a lil' bit of Swedish magic I reckon the bullshit all comes out in the wash at the track. There's no where to hide if something doesn't work, and word soon gets around if something is a waste of money. From personal experience I've used many products which have failed to live up to their own promises and my expectations. By contrast I'm a happy repeat customer of CKT/Ohlins thanks to the quality of their product and service.

I can relate to why you dont see manufacturers reps and tyre people in the pits every weekend. Because they are engaged in their out of work activities that may not neccessarily embrace motorcycles. We ourselves could be way nearly every weekend of the year but who would want to be, we already have precious little spare time.
But it is important that when you do attend meetings to give of your best. Frankly also the BS that has crept in is tiresome.

[lukemillar]

Actually the reality is we sell rather a LOT of Ohlins shocks for many roadgoing Triumphs because the owners are very dissatisfied with poor performance, especially inability to absorb bumps. Last week a custom build set was completed for a Rocket 3 because the guy is over the jackhammer feel in the rear, an order taken today for Thunderbird for the very same reasons. An order yesterday for an old Triple, the ( second ) original shock isnt toast yet but the guy actually wants a smooth ride and less squat..

Didn't mean to tarnish all Trumpet owners with the same brush! I was referring to the 675 US forum where there are one or two posters who are obsessed with all things gold or carbon fibre! It was said in jest