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

[Fenring]

Hello everyone!

I'm not sure if there's a special introduction forum page that I'm supposed to use as a newbie, so I'll just do it here.
I've been reading this forum for almost a year now and it's very interesting, but now I have questions so I decided to register. In other news, I'm currently looking to purchase me own R1200S. At the moment, I'm riding Kawasaki ZX-6R '04, but would like a "slightly" more comfortable ride.

Since my budget is limited, I would like to ask the owners of R1200S bikes if they feel that the optional Ohlins is worth the money, and if anyone has stock suspension, are you satisfied with it's performance?

[btmoto]

Hey Man,

The Ohlins is by far worth it . It cost just an extra $690, try to put Ohlins front and rear on your ZX, it would cost upwards of four grand.
My R1200S is one of the best handling bikes I have ever owned, I just simply love it.You will never regret getting the Ohlins, but you might regret not getting it.

[NakedRider]

It's a no brainer. Well worth it.

[sdaddy]

I paid over $1,400 to put them on my '04 and it was well worth it. At less than half the price, there is no way I would leave them off a 1200S.

[tominator]

Last night I attended a Tech Session here at our Local BMW shop. They recently became a Ohlins Authorized Service center. And arranged for a special guest who spent 3 hours on talking about shocks.

I have to admit what they covered yesterday about the Ohlins brand, the research, quality and serviceability that goes into these baby's ...I was impressed.

If anything, it would be the last shock you ever purchase.

Not to mention the dial in capabilities make this brand well worth the investment!

Tomas

[Bob Hancock]

Being as one of the first mods any knowledgeable sport rider makes to a new ride is suspension, and being as Ohlins is the cats meow and available from BMW for half what they would cost aftermarket, I can't imagine not having them new on the bike. You'd be foolish not to, imho.

[roger albert]

A true no brainer. You couldn't touch the same for less than half that price in the aftermarket. It is the most bang for the buck you're ever going to get on that bike, be is chassis or motor.

[Rapid Dog]

...for the price right from the factory, I wouldn't hesitate.
The non-Ohlons will need replacing soon enough anyway, so pay now for a rebuildable unit (the Ohlins), or pay later.

[Fenring]

I guess that settles it then. One Ohlins to go, please.

Thank you all for answering so quickly.

[bradzdotcom]

that would be two ohlins: one front, one rear. and supersize 'em.

[Sideshow_S]

Supersizing is 39 cents more.

I have a problem getting over the fact that people are so agreeable with them when they aren't set for a particular rider's weight from the factory. Maybe the power of suggestion is better than science.

[roger albert]

That may be the case, but is surely not the reason here.
You'll note that a lot of the guys chiming in on the Pro side are pretty sharp guys.

There are a whole list of reasons a knowledgable person
might still opt for the Öhlins

First, that is true of all factory shocks (one rate only)

That one rate will fit a good number of people.

For those that it doesn't, changing a spring is a relatively cheap and easy swap. And one they'd have to do to a stock shock, if they're demanding enough, on any bike.

In this case, the damping is adequate in strength and adjustability to accomodate some latitude in spring. Again, not true of even a resprung stocker.

Damping will be better than a stocker. Less variant with both wear and temperature. More compliant AND more controlled.

The shock will still be rebuildable, and easily revalvable, unlike a stocker.

And they're still cheaper than even the lowest end aftermarket shocks you could purchase later.

They're a deal at the offered price.

[Phil Buttolph]

SS..when are shocks ever pre-set/sized for the riding style and weight of the person ordering a production bike? That aside, I would love any information about how to set up the R12S shocks...and what the consequences of the various settings have on the handling of the bike.. [including of course tire size/pressure/brand-model as that is part of suspension]

Phil:::

[Steve Carlton]

Originally posted by Sideshow_S
I have a problem getting over the fact that people are so agreeable with them when they aren't set for a particular rider's weight from the factory. Maybe the power of suggestion is better than science.

Pro Pilot will exchange the springs for free, provided the set you give them have zero miles on them. (Other Ohlins service facilities might do the same). So, if you're buying a new bike, plan on doing that before it is ridden and you'll save $200 for new springs. Otherwise, you can recoup much of the expense by selling the take-off springs. If you buy new shocks off the shelf, you can get the right spring installed from the get-go.

[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.

[Sideshow_S]

Cool, good points. I didn't know about the Pro Pilot option. I'm guessing they have a general spring-rate-to-rider-weight scale that you can go on?

Phil, I wasn't saying that other shocks are set up, I'm basically saying exactly what you said. No stock shock is sold for the owner. In a stock as-sold form, the Ohlins is possibly no better than a regular shock. The benefit of the Ohlins is that it can be adjusted to work at required preload/rebound damping rates better than the stock shock. I was just surprised that the out-of-the-box Ohlins is that well set up for everyone.

I'm no suspension genious and do not claim to be one. I have experimented with different shocks on a couple of bikes, but I'm no guru. My skepticism wasn't mean to be a slam. I'm one who likes to feel the improvement of aftermarket purchases. I don't know how you can get a baseline that one is better than another if you haven't had some seat time on a stocker. But all said and done, roger, your bottom line IS the bottom line. I agree that for the price in relation to aftermarket that it's a done deal. I guess I could have just highlighted that in a quote and said," 'nuff said."

[gigantic]

An Ohlins with the wrong springs is still light years away from the stock shocks.

[Bob Hancock]

Originally posted by gigantic
An Ohlins with the wrong springs is still light years away from the stock shocks.

+1. All this talk about not buying Ohlins because the spring may not suit your weight is like not buying the Lexus because the radio is tuned to the wrong station. No need to explain any more than that. Those who understand, do. Those who don't, won't.

[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

[Bob Hancock]

Originally posted by roger albert
I used to do free spring swaps on ducs, but after a while, you have boxes of 9.5kg springs and not much else

Just out of curiousity, Roger....what does one do with boxes of 9.5kg springs? Maybe build a bouncy bed?