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Ohlins feedback

4K views 46 replies 21 participants last post by  cyclepsycho7 
#1 ·
I know there's a lot of suspension threads but here's my Q: I ride street and maybe 4 track days a year. If I scrimp and save I could get the ohlins ttx and 30mm forks early next year for the usual $2.5k+. I'm 205 lbs with an 08 R1 w OEM suspension. Of course I could spend that money on a lot of other things. I don't run race tires at the track. Is it worth it? Is it overkill? I'm never going to have race winnings to offset the cost; I run in intermediate class. Anyone get the ohlins and think they're NOT worth.the.cost if you're a recreational rider w some track days? Thanks for advice,
 
#5 ·
I'm going to respectfully disagree.

On the street you will notice it too. Ohlins RT's or Carts soak up road irregularities much better than stock and are more precise when cornering in the twisties. What this does is give you a higher safety margin in the event that you have to correct for debris, animals, potholes, anything in the road. Also if you go into hot in a corner and need to lean more to scrub speed you'll notice it. Shit, in all reality you'll notice it always, I do. The feel is much better, more responsive and flat out soak up road irregularities better. All of this leads to safety.

IMO: new springs --> Ohlins Carts --> RT's --> Superbike forks (Gas charged)

The Ohlins Carts are about 85% of the RT's IMHO. I've run modified forks (spring/valving changes), Ohlins Valves and springs, Ohlins Carts, and RT's. I prefer the RT's.

You can get the carts and rear shock for $2k even and it's worth every dollar. I'd skip out on flush mounts, fender eliminators, exhaust, fcking everything and do the suspension first, always.
 
#17 ·
Well fk I'm doing it wrong because Ohlins hasn't saved my ass on the track :lol

BTW..forks have nothing to do with a Highside :fact

I'll say it for the last time....Ohlins will help...your riding ability will help MORE. If you are scrimping and saving....work on your riding ability first :fact
Must be rider error.

Ohlins do almost everything. They even help if you overcook a corner :fact

Op, I'd say spend the money, what's the worst that could happen? You'll be giving them more $$ for R&D anyways
 
#4 ·
Are you exceeding the limit of your street tires? I'd start with a fork respring/revalve for 450-550$ and a perhaps a shock for the additional 11xx. It will be more than you need most likely, and a lot cheaper than the cartridges. I'm sure you've set sag and played with the adjusters on your stock stuff.
 
#9 ·
I've never raced, and probably never will. But I've been an avid track rider for years now, and about 2/3's of the year I commute on the bike and ride during the weekends.

For the longest time I thought I was the kind of rider who wouldn't be able to notice the difference in upgraded suspension. Perchance, I found a set of Ohlins FG43 forks for a price that NO ONE could refuse. Then I found out I was wrong about not being able to tell the difference. The best way I can describe the immediate difference in feel that I felt was how much the tires were in constant contact with the road. Like it didn't matter the high or low-speed bumps, the bike soaked it up and the tire would never leave the ground, not even by a hair's breath. And this was on my first ride on them on the street.

On the track, they are amazing, if not just for their ability to handle how much you throw at them without punishing the tires (rear especially, thank you Penske 8987).

Does this mean I've reached the limit of my OEM suspension? Probably not. But it does mean that I've been riding my bike long enough to actually be able to tell the difference from upgraded suspension.

That said, I probably wouldn't have purchased the forks if it weren't for the price I couldn't refuse.

My two cents.

My further two cents? Because you wrote you don't run race tires (or race DOT's?) at the track, I'd say just find a used set of wheels and rotors for your bike, buy some fresh race DOT's, and go from there. With stickier track tires, I guarantee you you'd feel the difference. :thumbup
 
#10 ·
Contact Race Tech. For less than half the cost of Ohlins TTX and internals, you can rebuild your OEM stuff to suit your needs. They do an outstanding job and for your type of riding it is money very well spent. Use the difference to get tires and more trackdays and you will be set.
 
#14 ·
+1

RaceTech can have your stock stuff revalved/resprung and set up to work well beyond what you expect (and likely well beyond what you can push your bike to).

Ohlins is pretty (I've got it on my 04 street bike) but well set up stock stuff (like on my 01 track bike....front and rear has been RaceTech'd) is damn close for less than half the price.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Thanks so far for the information. Yes, i previously had the OEM suspension set by a local speed shop that made a significant improvement. I'll re-read everything to keep learing and figure out the way to go.

As for "...Are you exceeding the limit of your street tires? " i guess i'm not sure, so probably not. I run Diablo Rosso Corsa which seem very good. Had a low-side (no video or witnesses) at NJMP thunderbolt this year on decreasing-radius turn but, I'm guessing, it was due to shifting body position mid-turn as much as anything. Throttle was smooth IMO. thanks again!
 
#16 ·
If you dont have any complaints about your suspension now... Dont worry about it. Just have fun and ride!

If you feel like your suspension is letting you down, Ohlins is good stuff. Will transform your bike, get to learn how to ride it all over again.
 
#24 ·
I been doing street riding and now racing for 2 years so far. Currently podium on intermedium level and mid pack at expert level.

I used to race stock, then I put 30mm front and ttx36 a few months ago.

The difference between yamaha’s stock suspensions and ohlins is just a fraction of a second a lap, major improvement is on a better feeling of the track and what the tires are doing when leaned up to the very edges of the tire.

Since you described yourself as a street rider and ocasional track day participant, I suggest you not to spend so much money on ohlins. It doesn´t worth it.

Given you weight you are a bit over the stock spring suspension range. Put new springs for your weight, set the suspension properly, and you are done.

Most of the time people says ohlins are su much better is because they were running on stock suspensions with a burned/degradated oil (no servicing), improper suspension springs for their weight, improper damping setup. Then while switched to ohlins, the springs were choosen right, fresh top oil, and ohlins already provides you a good base damping setup for most conditions.

just my 2 cents
 
#28 ·
Most of the time people says ohlins are so much better is because they were running on stock suspensions with a burned/degradated oil (no servicing), improper suspension springs for their weight, improper damping setup. Then while switched to ohlins, the springs were choosen right, fresh top oil, and ohlins already provides you a good base damping setup for most conditions.

just my 2 cents
:bow :bow

I'm not saying its a waste of money by any means...but any time people say something is leagues ahead of what it was (different plugs, tires, suspension, air filter...), chances are the set up wasn't proper before changing
 
#27 · (Edited)
It helps, but you really need to get magnesium or carbon to benefit marginally on the R1. The stockers are pretty light for OEM units. The few forged aluminum ones I looked into save only 3-4lbs between both wheels. Of course there's MOI to consider, but it would make more sense to go all the way. I had forged aluminum wheels on my RC51, but the stock wheels on it were much heavier.
 
#33 ·
I have had both upgraded oem forks and ohlins rt. I think ohlins give a slightly better feel and feels just softer. Hard to explain.
 
#41 ·
you guys would laugh to pick up my bst rear wheel with ceramic bearings and pure on her....off my hyper of coarse..no sprocket...noticed a big difference even between the forged marchis/bsts....pvm/oz when its time for the track whore to get wheels...ohlins r&t and nickel brembos first then wheels
 
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