New WSBK Ohlins forks?

[johan]

i believe it was a rear shock not the front, yes the yamaha used them for 3-5 races at end of season. To some good results

SBK banned them over the off season, under 'cost cutting measures' heading.

It looks like they (electronic suspension) are not banned, but they must be OEM:

"No aftermarket or prototype electronically-controlled suspension unit may
be used. If original electronic unit is used, it must be completely standard
(any mechanical or electronic part must remain as homologated). The
original electronic system must work properly in the event of an
electric/electronic failure otherwise it cannot be homologated for FIM
competitions."

[johan]

Ok, hot off the press. Fork tube diameter 48mm, up from 42mm on the works Yamahas since 18 months ago. Internal damping system 25mm with a through rod damper. System is called # TRVP25. Such dampers have absolutely no shaft displacement so dont have to have a large reservoir in the normal sense and it can be contained internally thereby reducing ( in that instance ) weight and complexity.

This operates on the same principle as Ohlins TTX40 through rod shock. Here in NZ 4 of these can be found on Carl Hansens all conquering TVR Tuscan Super GT racer. Also one can be found in the rear of the OZZY 450, so effectively peddled by Glen Skatchell.

Suzuki MotoGP also have these 48mm forks but with the olderTTX25mm displacement type damping.

Valentino gets the new stuff first, someone has to!

Johan, thanks for your question, wouldnt have thought of asking so soon.

Thank you Robert, very informative, as always!

[Robert Taylor]

Thank you Robert, very informative, as always!

And I forgot to mention that Haga in Superbike also has the use of this technology, concurring with your posted image. I will get a look at some of this stuff next August / September when I head up to your home country.

[JJ58]

Yeah thanks for the great explaination Robert.

But when you say "rod damper" I can't help but think of the "old skool" forks with oil running through a hole in a rod to create a damping effect....Surely this isn't the "rod damper" you're mentioning?

Also, wouldn't a 25mm damping area be considered small after the intro of the 37mm pistoned Kawasaki BPF fork on a production bike and the positive reviews that it's had??

[Robert Taylor]

Yeah thanks for the great explaination Robert.

But when you say "rod damper" I can't help but think of the "old skool" forks with oil running through a hole in a rod to create a damping effect....Surely this isn't the "rod damper" you're mentioning?

Also, wouldn't a 25mm damping area be considered small after the intro of the 37mm pistoned Kawasaki BPF fork on a production bike and the positive reviews that it's had??

No, through rod twin tube cartridge, no shims on the main piston and no shaft displacement, its acting like a pump and therefore the size ( swept area ) has to be smaller.
That Kwaka fork is still a production fork with pcd ( product cheapening department ) materials and production compromises etc. It in reality wont be anywhere near as good as magazine testers hype it up to be, we hear hype like this every model year. They may raise the bar but then the aftermaket stuff ( Ohlins and WP especially ) is also raising the bar all the time.
The serious guys that race these will ditch the oem internals.
Ohlins have supplied over 3 figures ( in numbers ) of their gas cartridges for AMA racing, a good many destined for Suzuki K9 1000 ( with BPF forks ) , including Mladin.

[steve74]

funny, just flew back from aussie today, picked up a copy of FEB performance bikes magazine to kill some time in the departure lounge . pg 51 has an article with the title caption: "you cant buy these ohlins forks. you cant even touch them..." it talks about a variation of the twin tube ttx25 forks that haga run last year. yamaha get priority as they contributed financially to the development, only one guy in the uk is allowed to tune them for the few BSB teams that will be allowed them this year. Are these are the forks in question?

[Robert Taylor]

funny, just flew back from aussie today, picked up a copy of FEB performance bikes magazine to kill some time in the departure lounge . pg 51 has an article with the title caption: "you cant buy these ohlins forks. you cant even touch them..." it talks about a variation of the twin tube ttx25 forks that haga run last year. yamaha get priority as they contributed financially to the development, only one guy in the uk is allowed to tune them for the few BSB teams that will be allowed them this year. Are these are the forks in question?

Yes, and no. They are clearly working very well by the confidence Haga had in his front end at Valencia yesterday.

[cowpoos]

Yes, and no. They are clearly working very well by the confidence Haga had in his front end at Valencia yesterday.

Whats going on with the two lots of adjusters on the forks below?? two types of Rebound??

[Robert Taylor]

Whats going on with the two lots of adjusters on the forks below?? two types of Rebound??

One is for compression and one is for rebound. Its a through rod type damping system that doesnt have any displacement so rebound does not pass through the shaft in the traditional sense.