Ohlins fork cartridge demo, you tube

**Robert Taylor** · 17th June 2009, 12:41

Presented here is a demo of the layout, inner workings and advantages of Ohlins FGK front fork cartridges. This same You-Tube video has found its way onto overseas forums especially in the States and has recieved a lot of hits. I cannot comment whether that has been mainly from the technical content or Sandras presence in the background! This video just ''happened'' and was very ad libbed but perhaps there is reason to carry through with more.
If readers would like more suspension related informative You-Tube videos we may investigate being able to oblige further. All sensible ( ! )comments would be appreciated.

**Cajun** · 17th June 2009, 12:45

very nice video Robert, very informative

**steveyb** · 17th June 2009, 13:36

Yes, very beautiful, exceptionally well put together with all parts perfectly proportioned and tuned.

Not bad cartridges either............

**Tony.OK** · 17th June 2009, 14:52

Robert you like those suspension bits way too much..................not even a sneaky peak over your shoulder all through that video hahaa.

Very interesting vid though

**erik** · 17th June 2009, 18:29

The top out spring increases the overall spring rate near full extension, not lessens it. The steeper rate makes the force in the springs reduce faster as the as the fork is extended.

**Shaun P** · 17th June 2009, 18:39

Yeah well technicals aside they feel much 'minter' than std especially under brakes, and are easy to do spring/oil level changes

Yep bring on more vids!

**GSVR** · 17th June 2009, 18:42

Is the guy Michael Hill? When he was at school the teachers said he would never amount to anything.

Are these the big piston shocks everyone says are so much better?

How many animals lost their lives to make that coat?

You going to be at the track on Friday Dr Taylor?

**AllanB** · 17th June 2009, 18:48

Good job - make more

**Robert Taylor** · 17th June 2009, 19:11

Originally Posted by erik

The top out spring increases the overall spring rate near full extension, not lessens it. The steeper rate makes the force in the springs reduce faster as the as the fork is extended.

Youd better discuss that with Ohlins....

**Robert Taylor** · 17th June 2009, 19:37

Originally Posted by GSVR

Is the guy Michael Hill? When he was at school the teachers said he would never amount to anything.

Are these the big piston shocks everyone says are so much better?

How many animals lost their lives to make that coat?

You going to be at the track on Friday Dr Taylor?

Yeah thats probably true. Doing what Im doing is not a path to untold riches but sometimes its ok to work with the beautiful people!

We removed a set of BPF internals this week to fit a set of cartridges. Its notable that in WSBK and MotoGP the BPF equipped bikes are not a resounding success. Or to be more fair they are not a big leap that everyone has to have.

Candidly I can see merit in some of the mentality with that design BUT there is a very real downside with the production version, the rebound adjusters also significantly affect compression flow as it cross talks, and the effect is likely much moreso than in a conventional cartridge fork. That is a very real negative, especially for those that already struggle to understand cause and effect of clicker adjustments. So everytime you do a reasonably significant rebound change you have to compensate with a compression change. It appears that the ''window'' of setting where it works best ( and that may be working really well ) is in fact quite narrow. If you like Ill bring one of these BPF assemblies to Manfield, its quite interesting.

Paul Thede from Race Tech has no axe to grind with allegiances to suspension manufacturers, he will pull any design apart, analyse and make improvements. I have an e-mail from him about these BPF forks thats very interesting. I will tell you that his comments were diplomatic but in no way complimentary. I tend to favour the comments of engineers than those from the pr world.

For my money ( settings aside ) I like the 30mm cartridges in the new R1. The increase in size gives the benefit of increased piston swept volume for more instant damping response. But one leg is compression only and one is rebound only, as the single pistons ( no base vlaves required )perform only one function there is no pressure balance problem in flow reversal. As they are checkplated a clicker adjustment on one side has no effect on the other. Its reassuring to know that if you are going to adjust your rebound it will have absloutely no effect on compression. That I believe is the future and it could be married to the BPF design.

Yes we will be there Friday, Saturday and Sunday, hopefully it will be t shirt weather???!!!

**Wingnut** · 17th June 2009, 20:18

Originally Posted by Tony.OK

Robert you like those suspension bits way too much..................not even a sneaky peak over your shoulder all through that video hahaa.

Na he had a wee peak alright - (2.51 min) She is a bit of a distraction but yet an attraction all wrapped in one.

Yea thanks for that Robert. Interesting indeed. Plenty of $$$$ though I would imagine??

**erik** · 17th June 2009, 20:26

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Youd better discuss that with Ohlins....

It's a small mistake, easy to make when trying to explain stuff on video/to an audience.

There's a bit of stuff about top out springs here: http://www.peterverdonedesigns.com/05fork.htm

**Robert Taylor** · 17th June 2009, 20:45

Originally Posted by erik

It's a small mistake, easy to make when trying to explain stuff on video/to an audience.

There's a bit of stuff about top out springs here: http://www.peterverdonedesigns.com/05fork.htm

Ohlins have made no mistake with the intent of that top out spring. Indeed we have done a lot of testing with various rates and engagement lengths and the effects are very interesting. Different rates and lengths will require a varying amount of main spring preload and I think that is where confusion possibly lies.

**KS34** · 17th June 2009, 20:52

Great job Robert, more videos would be very useful. I am staggered at the time and information you give away, the knighthood can't be too far off

**cowpoos** · 17th June 2009, 21:01

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Presented here is a demo of the layout, inner workings and advantages of Ohlins FGK front fork cartridges. This same You-Tube video has found its way onto overseas forums especially in the States and has recieved a lot of hits. I cannot comment whether that has been mainly from the technical content or Sandras presence in the background! This video just ''happened'' and was very ad libbed but perhaps there is reason to carry through with more.
If readers would like more suspension related informative You-Tube videos we may investigate being able to oblige further. All sensible ( ! )comments would be appreciated.

errrr....ummmm....ahhhhh.....erm....aaaAAAHHHaaaa. ..were a few of the interesting words I heard

but in all seriousness my opinion probabally does not matter, but here it is anyway... Top Job Bob!!!