Setting up Ohlins - "Paging Albert Einstein.... Paging Albert Einstein"

[DaveTheAffable]

I am the proud owner of a new to me (and almost new but used) set of Ohlins for my K1200RS. I plan on doing the install myself.

 

(Pause inserted here so that the sound of gasps, guffaws, and hurumph's have a chance to die down)

 

Once I have them installed, is there a brave Southern California soul that has experience in settin up Ohlins / Shocks that would advise me in person?

 

Do I hear lunch? A six pack of... (insert beverage here)? Maybe you'd do it for pity? I promise to be affable.

[Firefight911]

Russell is your man!! Errrr, boy.

[JerryMather]

Once you get them on, ride out to WillowSpings Raceway when they're doing their monthly club races, which are on the thrid weekend of every month and have Lindemann help you with the set up.

You can find them in the parking area somewhere near the garages with their trailer.

 

Personally, I'm taking mine off for a rebuild by Stig sometime soon and I'll have him adjust them after he does the rebuild and then I can fine tune them to my liking afterwards. Unfortunately he's pretty busy and really doesn't like to spend time on doing set up's unless he has too, hence that's why I've suggested going out to the track.

On the way out you might want to do a test ride over Angeles Forest Rd. so you can tell them as best as you can what's happening with them and what you want out of them in the future. Ride back the same way and see if you got the results you wanted.

[DaveTheAffable]

I decided I would start by installing the rear ... Ohlin, that is.

 

Tupperware off... side bags off... fender... electrical thingy... hoses... Wait - do I really have to pull the final drive? Maybe not... drop the nut for the shock WAAAAY down some place dark... (Hmmm.. this is suposed to be easy)

 

Put that external tank on the frame thingy... weave the preload adjuster thru stuff under the seat... file the bracket just a smidge so the angle of the dangle is better.

 

"Measure the drop of the preload to distance prior to the sagging butt, making sure the extension of the damper is greater than "R - 30mm" prior to your big backside sitting on it and measure the droop." My eyes were drooping...

 

I believe the front shock will wait for another day.

 

3 hours later, I was taking it for a ride. I think it's kinna sorta close. Several have offered to help me get it dialed in. BUT... if the change in handling and feel gets any better once I install the front... and get it dialed in, I think I'll have died and gone to moto heaven.

 

Railroad tracks, little cracks, bumps in curves, all feel 'dampened' and the bike is SO much more stable in the turns.

 

The saga will continue.... Thanks to those who have posted or pm'd.

 

(No animals were hurt during this project, and the neighbors who came by and gawked were offered coffee and a chair. Adherence to local regulations on file upon request.)

[JerryMather]

I just took both of mine off and it took me 2 Hr's to do just that. The rear one only took about 15 min.

 

The front one is going to thrill ya, buddy.

[LBump]

About a year a go I put a set of Ohlins on the '03 RT... What a world of difference from the stock shocks! I was going to say that I have the instructions and some other information that came came in the box. If they are of use get in touch w/ me. I'm in LaHabra/Brea area.

[DaveTheAffable]

I just took both of mine off and it took me 2 Hr's to do just that. The rear one only took about 15 min.

 

The front one is going to thrill ya, buddy.

Well... I'm not stupid (am I?) but not very fast. A lot of the time was spent looking for tools... and getting coffee for the neighbors.

 

Thanks for the encouragement about the front! I'm all aflutter with anticipation.

[DaveTheAffable]

About a year a go I put a set of Ohlins on the '03 RT... What a world of difference from the stock shocks! I was going to say that I have the instructions and some other information that came came in the box. If they are of use get in touch w/ me. I'm in LaHabra/Brea area.

 

Thanks...PM'd you.

[JR356]

Hi Dave,

 

All the Ohlins instructions and setup guides were in one of the boxes.

 

JR356

[DaveTheAffable]

Hi Dave,

 

All the Ohlins instructions and setup guides were in one of the boxes.

 

JR356

Yes! It was all there, clean, complete. And I'm a happy guy.

 

(JR356 was the source of my new to me shocks. It was a pleasure to do business with him!)