Q: Optional Ohlins on new R1200S, is it worth the money?

[Steve Carlton]

Originally posted by roger albert
> In a stock as-sold form, the Ohlins is possibly no better than a regular shock

That is true as regards to spring rate, but not damping, durability, rebuildability etc. I wonder how long PPR will do the swaps.
Eventually, they'll have a vast surplus of the stock spring.
Given that they're in a range well outside the norm, they won't be of much use. I used to do free spring swaps on ducs, but after a while, you have boxes of 9.5kg springs and not much else

Jim at Pro Pilot Racing has been rebuilding shocks for 25 years (over 25,000 shocks personally), and has always exchanged springs for free, even if you bought the shock somewhere else. You have to send him the complete shock (not just the spring), and he will exchange the spring for free, even if you don't have him service it. All you pay is the freight. The shock has to be 100% unused, because the spring cannot have a mark on it, including the scuffs that develop on the top/bottom surfaces from riding it even one mile. They do a large volume with Ohlins, and Ohlins has always exchanged springs with Pro Pilot Racing for free.

Ohlins has informed the distributors of a 5-7% price increase as of the first of this year. Pro Pilot Racing is not passing on the increase (as bradzdotcom mentioned) through March 1st. They're hoping to not increase their prices after March 1st as well.

[roger albert]

I"m not sure, But a bunch of those overly stiff beasts put together will be a lot closer to a marble slab than pillow-top.

[acidburn]

""I would like to ask the owners of R1200S bikes ""

I have plenty to say, but you exlcuded me as well as all the other R1100S owners, tuners from commneting.

[gigantic]

That hasn't stopped the rest of us, G- why should it stop you?
Lance

[Steve Carlton]

Originally posted by roger albert
> If you buy new shocks off the shelf, you can get the right spring installed from the get-go.

Very true. Just hard to do so for 600 bucks.

Well, that could depend on what Ohlins offers aftermarket for the R1200S. From BMW, the front is an emulsion-type shock (oil & gas mixed) and the rear has no remote preload adjuster. If the aftermarket front has the oil & gas separated, and/or if the rear has a remote preload adjuster, those would be upgrades that would add to the $690 option price. So if one wanted those upgrades, he might not wind up too out of round buying a new set and having the OEMs to sell or keep as spares.

[roger albert]

Yes, we musn't have effete beemer owners mussing their manicures with manual preload mucking.

[GotRoad?]

I think there was an earlier thread where it was mentioned that ProPilot would do the conversions you mention for modest $ if the BMW shocks were sent to them unused.

[Steve Carlton]

Probably this thread. Haven't seen any numbers on converting the front shock to oil/gas separated, but my guess would be $300.