Ohlins. Thanks Robert

[flame]

After some big set up issues on Saturday with my bike tucking, and bottoming out the forks I figured there may be more of a problem than just my riding tecnique.

I approached Robert Taylor from Ohlins and told him I was fighting with the front end of my bike, and it was winning! That I was unsure if it was me...or the set up.

Robert kindly come over and spent some time talking with me, and then proceeded to tweak, tug, lower, lift and tweak some more, lots of changes front and back.
What a HUGE difference he has made to the 749. Instantly I dropped a second of my time. My cornering confidence was quickly beginning to return by the end of Sunday's racing, by the last lap I was wondering why it started to feel 'easy' (I know! I know! its coz I was going to slowwwwww

IF ONLY I had taking the time to go and talk to Robert earlier in the year. I know he is busy as hell on race weekends, the fast guys need him and that is truely an important part of their racing, but he took the time and effort to help me. And I realised all I had to do was ask.

So to anyone out there needing help with your set up no matter if your a front runner or a back marker, do ask! If he's racing round busy as hell you may have to wait in the line, but he will happily take the time to help you out.

Thanks Robert, by helping my bike, you have helped me! I appreciate the time you took. There may even be a bottle of Merlot waiting for you next round I cant wait for the next test day to get some practice

[ajturbo]

it is great to see that he is willing to do this sort of thing!!!
shame the RG's cannot be "tweaked" like yours eh....

[johan]

That's great to hear Flame!

I've experienced Roberts generosity as well. He handed out a very nicely written text about suspension setup at the track to me.

I'm thinking about asking him do his magic on my bike as well in the near future.

cheers!

[puddytat]

He really helped sort out my mates 'prilia factory at the HAGD @ Ruapuna so if you read this thread Robert, Grant is very grateful. He's done the rear ride height adjustment now to, & is one happy chappy.

[Skunk]

He will even sort out Buckets if you ask nicely... Top guy!

[Clivoris]

Big ups to Mr Taylor. The difference from the stands was like day and night Flame. You looked heaps more comfortable on Sunday.

[slowpoke]

Yep, as a Clubman level "racer" (is chasin' still considered racin'?) I can attest to his wiilingness to help anyone.
He transformed my ol' girl too, and she went from a drifting wide, tyre chewing bitch to a much sharper wee thing that held a good line and hooked up like I couldn't believe, all whilst being much easier on tyres.

RT FOR PM!!!!

[Robert Taylor]

Hey thanks Vicki and all those that followed in concurrence with your kind words. The reality is I/WE enjoy helping people be they Robbie Bugden or Robbie Clubracer. All customers are important.
When I started with Ohlins back in 97 the reality was unit sales and activity was at a very low level. Having worked at it very hard it just keeps growing and growing and staff have gone from one person to four, and we still cannot keep up. But all the while we have remained focused and are there to backup the product. People do like to know that the people selling them suspension units know the product intimately ( including the internal workings ) and will actually be there next week to back it up. To that end our investment is huge as is our technical understanding and commitment to keep getting better.
During the period of fast growth while I was still a one man band I did struggle to help people, many of whom were prospective rather than established customers. And the fact was not lost on me that would be competitors with often less than ethical approach were all too quick to say ''he is only interested in the fast guys'' ( and they still do so ) But the reality is I have always been there to ask and no one should be intimidated about doing so as I am hardly an ''in your face guy'' ( Such personas leave me cold ).
At the start of the Road Race Nationals last season I contracted Dennis Shaw, an excellent and highly experienced mechanic, former work colleague and I am proud to say a good friend. Dennis now works with me full time and he has my full respect as someone who does the job thoroughly and as an excellent sounding board for setting changes ( internal and external ) with suspension. So, there are actually two of us able to offer suspension setup advice and help. We are not brazenly commercial and will technically state the problem as it is. Vicki needed help with her bike setup and we adjusted at no charge. We will do so on a goodwill basis at meetings as time permits.
We also have suspension setup guides for road race and MX available via e-mail on an foc basis. E-mail requests to ohlins@crownkiwi.co.nz

[R6_kid:Me]

Was a pleasure watching you guys work for the little while I poked my head into your pit garage - very clean and efficient.

It was very interesting to see the number of racers (both fast and average) coming and going, all with smiles on their faces, and all with what appeared to be a stronger than normal customer-supplier relationship.