Question about Ohlins on an R1100S

zustation · 05-18-2010, 12:25 PM

I've got a problem I need to run by the guys who have Ohlins.

I installed my new Ohlins suspension the other day, and since a local bike shop was having a grand opening with suspension tuners on site, I thought I'd take advantage of their expertise to help get my suspension dialed in.

But, there's a problem. The tuning tech thinks there is something wrong with the front shock. He thinks that it is too bouncy when you push down on the handle bars, and that there's something wrong with the oil in the shock.

Now the front Ohlins isn't adjustable for compression or damping, and feels much better than my old shock so I don't really think there's anything wrong with it, but what do you think? When you push down on your handlbars, does the shock compress much?

Is it possible that he's just never worked on a tele-equipped bike before, and expects the front end to behave like a conventional fork?

shreddr · shreddr's Garage

I don't think th eOhlins guys are too up on the BMW shocks. I got into a discussion with an Ohlins guy at the motorcycle about the shock on the front of my R12S. I told him it was an emulsion unit which he debated, telling me I had a unit with a floating piston. He got back to me later and let me know I was correct.

the interesting thing about the Telelever is that pulling the front brake and pushing on the front end doesn't get you much movement, certainly not like a conventional fork. if the tech thought it was too bouncy did he try dialing up the rebound and see how that affected it?

zustation · 05-18-2010, 02:41 PM

No rebound or compression on the front R11S unfortunately, though he did twiddle the pre-load to full and have the same issue. Which is kinda what raised alarm bells in my head in the first place.

He did a great job on the rear shock though!

roger albert · 05-18-2010, 02:53 PM

I've never seen an R11S front w/o rebound. No such animal, unless it's custom, or broken.
Most of the Öhlins techs are plenty up on BMW front suspension, but most regional tuners are not.

shreddr · shreddr's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by roger albert

Most of the Öhlins techs are plenty up on BMW front suspension, but most regional tuners are not.

that makes sense, the guy i was talking to was a regional guy.

sgoodwin · sgoodwin's Garage

That big knob sticking up in front of the tank is missing? I'm with Roger, never seen one without rebound adjustment. Pictures?

shreddr · shreddr's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgoodwin

That big knob sticking up in front of the tank is missing? I'm with Roger, never seen one without rebound adjustment. Pictures?

the Ohlins on the R12S doesn't adjust like that, it has a clicker knob (collar) at the a-arm mount. i would be surprised if the R11S ohlins was different, but i have never seen one.

roger albert · 05-18-2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

but i have never seen one.

Clearly.

But in any event we're talking about the 1100S here, which has both a proper rebound adjuster in the proper factory location, at the top, and for that matter, an internal piston.

How it can be missing, is beyond me. But if both the very top of the shaft and the knob are missing, then it is effectively hard selected to minimum rebound, which would indeed be a bit bouncy (equivalent to nearly 70 clicks out, vs the desired 10-20 range)

sgoodwin · sgoodwin's Garage

On mine there isn't any adjustment collar on the shock body, the shaft is on the top & protrudes through the frame/steering head & the knob is attached after installation of the shock. This makes it easy for every dingbat that comes along to screw with it.

bill pierce · 05-18-2010, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shreddr

the Ohlins on the R12S doesn't adjust like that, it has a clicker knob (collar) at the a-arm mount. i would be surprised if the R11S ohlins was different, but i have never seen one.

Jeff,

Are you confusing rebound with preload? The r11s stock and Ohlins both have the rebound as a knob that sticks up thru just behind the top triple clamp.

That gold knob is rebound

shreddr · shreddr's Garage

yeah, my R11 shock was like that, i know its the rebound. I am saying the ohlins on an R12 is different, i didn't realize the R11 Ohlins was the same way

roger albert · 05-18-2010, 06:01 PM

We need pictures.

Quote:

though he did twiddle the pre-load to full

Also, that line above makes no sense. If you have too much rebound, and add preload at all, much less to max, it will only get worse.

Markus 57 · 05-18-2010, 07:48 PM

zustation · 05-19-2010, 11:22 AM

Forgive me Roger, I appear to have had a moment of stupidity wash over me. For some reason I thought that gold knobby was pre-load, not rebound. Not sure where I got that idea from, but my mistake.

So I mucked around with the bike again last night to see if I could clarify things. With the rebound right off, standing beside the bike and pushing down hard on the handlebars will result in what feels like the shock bottoming out. Cranking the rebound all the way on slows the motion considerably, but there still seems to be a lot of travel.

The tech had set the front free sag at 15mm and with rider 26mm.

Does that amount of travel seem "normal" for these bikes, or does it sound like a possible oil problem? This guy has me worried that the shock is bad, but I have nothing to compare it to!

roger albert · 05-19-2010, 11:49 AM

It's at least a tech that doesnt' know what he's doing. Dropping the front about 10mm would be normal, but you don't want to if youre' bottoming. Otoh, I seriously doubt your'e bottoming.
First, that's tough to do manually even with NO damping (i.e. spring alone will resist it) Secondly, the rebound, though having some effect on compression, it's not much, so the description of the problem doesn't even square with how things work. I know I'm not being overly helpful. It doesn't sound like an oil issue.. I'd lay even odds the whole thing is fine, and the ignorant tech has you worried for no reason. If in doubt though, get it serviced and checked by someone (else)

zustation · 05-27-2010, 09:54 AM

Thanks for the advice Roger. I'm not going to sweat it. It feels better than stock, so I'm assuming everything is OK.

bikerfish1100 · 01:59 PM

that could be a weak assumption, as an incorrectly adjusted Ohlins can still be superior to a properly adjusted stocker (if such a thing can actually exist).
go to Ohlins website- they have a setup manual that is pretty dang good for the home enthusiast.
Set up your R&T bike - Öhlins

roger albert · 05-27-2010, 01:40 PM

+1

blutruck1 · 05-27-2010, 10:14 PM

zustation:

I've had a front Ohlins that was way too bouncy, sounds like yours may have the same problem. I could adjust spring preload and rebound but the front end was always "too fast", it would extend on acceleration, drop during a shift and re-extend quickly, the drop was a problem. It was too quick, and when leaned over it could get very exciting watching the front pogo during shifts/throttle changes.

I contacted Pro Pilot and they changed an orifice in the shock and did a rebuild, seals and oil. I'd suggest you contact them, they were reasonable, quick, and knowledgeable.

Much happier with the front now.

roger albert · 05-28-2010, 01:05 PM

Strange. I've seen a couple that came in with the wrong jet, but with the proper one, they shouldn't normally need that. It's usually a matter of the oil having gone off, the rebound needle jamming, or debris in the shims -- or really rarely, cracking.

Do get it looked at though. You have a really nice set of shocks, that very possibly aren't doing you much good. Good luck either way.