Top-out springs?

**Yankee Doodle Dandy** · 22nd October 2009, 07:04

Ohlins has 4 different rate top out springs for their forks & cartridges.

How do you know you have the right one for your set up?

**Pussy** · 22nd October 2009, 07:09

This is VERY much a personal preference thing.
I've got what I like in my cartridges, for the feel that I'm looking for... might not necessarily suit you.
Another US company was for some time advocating short top out springs.. I had their product in one of my previous bikes. Short top out springs feel like shite... induce quite a bit of understeer when changing from one turning direction to the other

**Robert Taylor** · 22nd October 2009, 07:48

Originally Posted by Pussy

This is VERY much a personal preference thing.
I've got what I like in my cartridges, for the feel that I'm looking for... might not necessarily suit you.
Another US company was for some time advocating short top out springs.. I had their product in one of my previous bikes. Short top out springs feel like shite... induce quite a bit of understeer when changing from one turning direction to the other

It also has to be balanced against main spring rate. We have a box of top out springs ( also for shocks ) and we test with them all the time. The results of testing different options can be quite marked. Different rates and lengths, more tha 4 options...
Race Tech and Penske dont use them in their rear shocks and have their own theories. I prefer Ohlins and WPs mentality of embracing their use. Dont get me started any further, this is a huge subject.

**Yankee Doodle Dandy** · 22nd October 2009, 08:00

OK that is what I thought.

When working with a rider, what should he be looking for if you had him trying different top out springs?

And -

If you were changing fork springs to higher rate at what point of increase would you also want to change the top out spring to maintain that balance?

Is there any type of chart that x rate top out spring should be used with x rate main spring?

**Robert Taylor** · 22nd October 2009, 11:13

Originally Posted by Yankee Doodle Dandy

OK that is what I thought.

When working with a rider, what should he be looking for if you had him trying different top out springs?

And -

If you were changing fork springs to higher rate at what point of increase would you also want to change the top out spring to maintain that balance?

Is there any type of chart that x rate top out spring should be used with x rate main spring?

Youll have to do what we do, buy up all the options and test test test! Much of this is from experience.

**Yankee Doodle Dandy** · 22nd October 2009, 11:15

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Youll have to do what we do, buy up all the options and test test test! Much of this is from experience.

OK, I understand no free lunches.

**Shaun** · 22nd October 2009, 11:19

Originally Posted by Yankee Doodle Dandy

OK, I understand no free lunches.

What part of the USA are you from mate?

**Yankee Doodle Dandy** · 22nd October 2009, 11:21

The whole part, its all mine.

Boston.

**Shaun** · 22nd October 2009, 11:23

Originally Posted by Yankee Doodle Dandy

The whole part, its all mine.

Boston.

Sounds like you need a GOOD test rider to work with for a bit, to up your data base?

PM Robert about me, and see if I fit the bill for you

**Yankee Doodle Dandy** · 22nd October 2009, 11:34

Trust me you don't want to come here.

I used to do racing stuff full time and went to all the races to provide support to the guys I worked with. Then I got hurt and pretty much got out of it and was working in an office in cubicle.

A good friend of mine is now going pretty fast so I am looking to get back into things somewhat so I can get his bike to where he can win some championships.

Some things have changed in the time I was away so I am trying to pick it back up as quickly as I can. Trust me, we will end up testing a lot of stuff next season.

**Shaun** · 22nd October 2009, 11:38

Originally Posted by Yankee Doodle Dandy

Trust me you don't want to come here.

I used to do racing stuff full time and went to all the races to provide support to the guys I worked with. Then I got hurt and pretty much got out of it and was working in an office in cubicle.

A good friend of mine is now going pretty fast so I am looking to get back into things somewhat so I can get his bike to where he can win some championships.

Some things have changed in the time I was away so I am trying to pick it back up as quickly as I can. Trust me, we will end up testing a lot of stuff next season.

OK, perhaps you need to come out here and work then, and learn as much as possible

**Yankee Doodle Dandy** · 22nd October 2009, 11:40

If there is a job there then here I come because there are none to be had here.

**Shaun** · 22nd October 2009, 11:47

Originally Posted by Yankee Doodle Dandy

If there is a job there then here I come because there are none to be had here.

You have been typing with one of the very best suspension people in the world on here through Robert mate, give him a push

Ha ha Robert, here he comes

**Robert Taylor** · 22nd October 2009, 20:11

Originally Posted by Yankee Doodle Dandy

OK, I understand no free lunches.

No, no intention to be evasive. Its just that our workload is mental and I am mindful that sometimes I give too much away publicly ( as Shaun has often warned me ) and we do have ''parasites'' in NZ feeding their own already inflated egos.

We have over the years spent a lot of time with various lengths and rates of topout springs and often the box of toys is too big! There is something new and very clever being trialed by the Ohlins race department but I have viewed this in the strictest confidence.