Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Canning
Looks really nice I have to say, how have you got on with the front Ohlins, found with it being longer than stock couldn’t raise the rear any more to counter it, as it slowed the steering, did you find a solution or just put up with it.
|
Thanks Chris.
I have Ohlins on the 'prep' and found the front rather harsh so I had it revalved for less compression damping and it
still sent a fair amount of
banging through so I just went back to a
not-so-stock, stocker. Contrary to how many have praised their Ohlins -
"to each their own" I say. However, I concede my O.E. shocks were NEW when they were redone by the late Jim Lindemann prior to his passing. My son found them somewhere still unused with Lindemann's invoice in their respective boxes when I snatched them up a couple of years ago.
The rear is a different matter and
there the
quality of damping is far more evident. At least it is to my 62 year old derriere.
On
this bike, Chris. There's more going on than initially meets the eye. To wit:
It's a standard height bike with an 10mm shortened telelever. The rear is raised via the Verholen arm set at 360mm vs the 365 BCR specification. I have had it as short as 355 though even with the steering damper set reasonably firm I would experience an uncomfortable wiggle from time to time.
Also, you'll note the forks and calipers are late units as I found the larger brakes more effective - particularly more-so after the composite rotor swap. Plus, at least to
my eye, they just
look better.
Similar to yours I believe, Chris. The fasteners on
every unsprung (and many others) component are titanium. From the 5mm front carbon fender bolts, caliper bolts front/rear to the 12mm rear wheel bolts and 12 point nuts. I opted to carry my weight loss sickness to minutia as trivial as manifolds, cam plug covers, exhaust headers, even the clutch brake covers didn't escape.
The objective weight difference
particularly with the rear lug bolts is
most considerable. Can I actually
feel the benefits?..Hardly, but I
know its there just from an empirical/mass dynamic perspective and anything more I attribute to being an psychosomatic gain easily verified by diminished funds in my bank account.
I should also point out just how different my two 11's are from an outright maneuverability standpoint. Of course, the Dymag's put Mandy into a different league altogether. More than the Dymag's it is also their respective height. Sure, my prep allows more lean angle but on the 'B' roads I frequent -
that requirement just does not come up all that often and everywhere
but the longer,
high speed sweepers, the short bike just runs away, and not by a slim margin. The left/right transitions, particularly if in swift succession glaringly expose the sacrifices, and
any height benefits gained quickly diminish. When having two identical machines as is the case here, only then can one truly, objectively quantify any real gains one way or the other.
Another interesting note. Many recall my R12S, and those who do -
know I didn't get on with that bike very well at all. It certainly looked the part but I just didn't
jell with it so I got rid of it. Well, a mate who owns one came up from San Diego recently to visit and we took off on a 200+ mile romp, swapping bikes a couple of times we
both acknowledged Mandy's superiority in every way.....
but one....
J.S.