Ohlins

**yamahaggis88** · 6th October 2011, 03:06

I ride an inadequately suspended bike every day, does it handle? Like fuck it does. Do I feel safe on it? Not really, but I ride to its limitations, usually after the rear wheel starts chattering and hopping, I back off

Would I upgrade to the best of the best if I could? Of course. While i'd be happy with a Hagon or YSS replacement for the shock-imitation block of wood I have holding up the rear of my 400, If they made it, and I could afford it, i'd go for Ohlins, Nitron or Maxton without a second guess, purely because its quality gear, has all the adjustment you could ever want and its proven, that, and you cant really put a price on your own safety, that of your bike, or other people...

Will definitely go for a suspension upgrade on my next bike, purely out of past experience and the reassurance i have quality gear, well, that and after seeing the ohlins front and rear on my stepdads GSX-R1000, it all looks too damn pretty to say no to

**Kickaha** · 6th October 2011, 05:48

Originally Posted by gsxr

Why do you need these fancy suspenders now. Those of us that started racing in the 70's didnt need fancy garter belt suspenders.We knew the limitations of our ride and grew bigger testicles to compensate for the shortcomings of the suspenders tyres and brakes. Seems nowadays the more money you throw at a bike the less skill you need.

You did that back in the seventies because you had no other choice

**White trash** · 6th October 2011, 06:17

Originally Posted by gsxr

Seems nowadays the more money you throw at a bike the less skill you need.

Sweet! Can't wait to see you on the grid of NZSBK 2012 Round I. Grab yourself a GSXR1000, throw some Ohlins at it and a pair of slicks. Andrew, Robbie, Craig, Choppa and Nick are all dead meat. I bet they're looking forward to it as much as I am in fact.

**Robert Taylor** · 6th October 2011, 07:29

Originally Posted by gsxr

Why do you need these fancy suspenders now. Those of us that started racing in the 70's didnt need fancy garter belt suspenders.We knew the limitations of our ride and grew bigger testicles to compensate for the shortcomings of the suspenders tyres and brakes. Seems nowadays the more money you throw at a bike the less skill you need.

Tell that to Valentino Rossi...................

**Eyegasm** · 6th October 2011, 08:34

Going to get my stockers sorted first, then find out if I need to get a better rear shock to cope with my mass.

I feel much better knowing that my contact patch is on the ground, rather than bouncing around.

I had 2 years of the worst suspension available (Hyosung suspenders are pretty bad) that the upgrade to the ZX's is like riding on feathers in comparision.

I dont even know if the front is stock or not... Hmmm a question for Jimmy I think.

**White trash** · 6th October 2011, 08:49

Originally Posted by Eyegasm

Going to get my stockers sorted first, then find out if I need to get a better rear shock to cope with my mass.

I feel much better knowing that my contact patch is on the ground, rather than bouncing around.

I had 2 years of the worst suspension available (Hyosung suspenders are pretty bad) that the upgrade to the ZX's is like riding on feathers in comparision.

I dont even know if the front is stock or not... Hmmm a question for Jimmy I think.

It's stock mate. Let me know when you wanna bring it round to set the sags and the like.

**tigertim20** · 6th October 2011, 11:17

Originally Posted by White trash

Sweet! Can't wait to see you on the grid of NZSBK 2012 Round I. Grab yourself a GSXR1000, throw some Ohlins at it and a pair of slicks. Andrew, Robbie, Craig, Choppa and Nick are all dead meat. I bet they're looking forward to it as much as I am in fact.

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Tell that to Valentino Rossi...................

Not everyone is a track rider. what percentage of riders even see the track regularly? 30%?

**Robert Taylor** · 6th October 2011, 12:19

Originally Posted by tigertim20

Not everyone is a track rider. what percentage of riders even see the track regularly? 30%?

70% or greater of our customers are in fact road going riders who are seeking a greater level of compliance and ride comfort on our mixture of bumpy and challenging roads, but also with improved chassis control and stability.
It is a HUGE ongoing misconception that premium aftermarket suspension is all about and nothing more than about going faster on a track

**White trash** · 6th October 2011, 12:50

Originally Posted by tigertim20

Not everyone is a track rider. what percentage of riders even see the track regularly? 30%?

Agreed. But the cat I quoted and responded to was indicating he was some hotshot in the 70s and that all our current top riders do is chuck a heap of money at a bike in exchange for not requiring skills to ride at the pace they do. Which is laughable.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 6th October 2011, 16:26

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

70% or greater of our customers are in fact road going riders who are seeking a greater level of compliance and ride comfort on our mixture of bumpy and challenging roads, but also with improved chassis control and stability.
It is a HUGE ongoing misconception that premium aftermarket suspension is all about and nothing more than about going faster on a track

THIS.

thats what I'm all about. I'm so slow its embarrassing to be in the same county as me, particularly on track...

**HenryDorsetCase** · 6th October 2011, 16:29

Originally Posted by White trash

Agreed. But the cat I quoted and responded to was indicating he was some hotshot in the 70s and that all our current top riders do is chuck a heap of money at a bike in exchange for not requiring skills to ride at the pace they do. Which is laughable.

I LOLed too. the other thing is that the hotshot riders in the 70's would have had what was then state of the art available to them, and the road going bikes of the day would have had even worse.

Ah well.

One thing I will say is that having properly set up and nice suspension bits isn't making anyone go "Oooooh, Ahhhh must buy this Triumph Scrambler". Then again, neither is the aftermarket zorst and stuff.

My bank manager really wishes someone would buy it though.

**Robert Taylor** · 6th October 2011, 17:13

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

I LOLed too. the other thing is that the hotshot riders in the 70's would have had what was then state of the art available to them, and the road going bikes of the day would have had even worse.

Ah well.

One thing I will say is that having properly set up and nice suspension bits isn't making anyone go "Oooooh, Ahhhh must buy this Triumph Scrambler". Then again, neither is the aftermarket zorst and stuff.

My bank manager really wishes someone would buy it though.

Ok, here in the second decade of the 21st century Im personally engaged in working with top level suspension. I was also around in the 70s given that I was born in 57. As a schoolboy I remember watching the likes of Alan Collison wobbling around Pukekohe on H2 Kawasakis and thinking at the time what an evil handling motorycle. Although I never raced I had a succession of big Yamahas through the mid 70s to early 80s. RD350, TX650, XS750, XS1100, XJ650 etc. I rode all year round in all weathers and long distance so consider myself an accomplished motorcyclist. In the early through mid 80s I managed a large bike workshop in London and got to work on and ride pretty much everything of European and Japanese origin.
Looking back especially the earlier stuff was pretty grim. The frames were flexible, the shocks were largely single acting requiring heavily preloaded springs, they didnt absorb bumps and they faded quickly when ridden at speed on bumpy roads.
Fast forward and technology has evolved significantly, apart from low cost commuter bikes ( which still have VERY grim suspension ) sportbikes and sports tourers have in general hugely better suspension than their ancestors. And with some great aftermarket product on offer they can be made a lot better again.
That is not to be knocked, technology has in many ways served us all well.
Like I have divulged I was around in the 70s and there are certain things I miss like agreeable looking girls wearing hot pants but I dont miss the grim suspension that motorcycles had at that time.

**blackdog** · 6th October 2011, 17:22

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

I miss like agreeable looking girls wearing hot pants but I dont miss the grim suspension that motorcycles had at that time.

I reckon my 750j has suspension that can't be improved upon but am happy to be proved wrong. I will even provide photos of the wife in hotpants if you can.

**Pussy** · 6th October 2011, 17:28

Originally Posted by blackdog

I reckon my 750j has suspension that can't be improved upon but am happy to be proved wrong. I will even provide photos of the wife in hotpants if you can.

It was ROBERT who wore the hotpants....