How long can I ride on a dry Ohlins shock?

[MikeRC]

Looking for advice, please.

 

I'm starting day 3 of my long trip and my front Ohlins shock has developed a fluid leak. Testing the front end it sounds to me like the thing is just pumping air

 

I have an appointment for new tires this morning and I'll have them take a look, but just in case they don't have the Ohlins parts how long can I leave it like this? FWIW I have nearly 5000 more miles planned for this trip. Or 1000 miles to get home.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Mike Cassidy

[philbytx]

Mike,

I would immediately look for a used front shock on

EBAY, (where there are a couple more), or call Beemerboneyard. I went to their website and they don't show any "in stock" but a call to them at (973) 775-3495, Noon to 5PM EDT, might get the job done.

Don't screw up a good trip, just have the shock expressed to you at your next stop right away. R&Ring one on the road isn't that difficult. Then have your Ohlins refurbed, plus you have a "cheap" spare.

[Paul Mihalka]

If your shock really goes dry, you can keep on riding, you are not stranded, but it would be a terrible ride. Do you have at home the stock shock you took off when installing Ohlins and is it still OK to ride? That is one possibility. - How far are you from Sedalia MO? at the BMWMOA rally I am sure Ohlins is there. Get a new shock and keep the other as a spare or sell it after service. - On your trip is there a place where you can park the bike a few days and work on it? If yes, call around Ohlins service shops and Ohlins itself to see if they can do it same day. HermanUSA in Florida does it on Wilbers, but not Ohlins. Overnight shipping both ways and the stop is not that long. Good luck!

[Paul Mihalka]

EBAY great idea. Several used ones at under $100. Arrange overnight shipping. I would go with this one. Over 7000 sales and 100% positive feedback sounds reliable.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/02-BMW-R1150RT-R1150-RT-Front-Mono-Shock-Suspension-Strut-/320828432988?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4ab2dd625c&vxp=mtr

[Bob_Minor]

There are a number of capable people that can rebuild your shock scattered around the country. Where are you now? Someone may know a tech that rebuilds Ohlins close to your location.

[CoarsegoldKid]

Mike, I've ridden Ohlins front and rear dry at different times for a few thousand miles each time. Yeah the wheel control isn't great because it's mostly a pogo stick. But it's not going to ruin the shock.

[MikeRC]

Thanks everyone. I'm in Rapid City, SD.

 

Sturgis Motorsports (BMW/Yamaha) changed my tires quickly this morning and checked through their inventory but didn't have a spare front shock of the right length (they actually did have a shortened one). Having a new one shipped was an option but would cost me a week of hotel rooms. None of the eBay sellers I checked ship overnight. I called Beemer Boneyard but they don't have anything. I can't find anyone close to here that services Ohlins suspensions but maybe I'm not doing the search properly.

 

I have the stock shock at home to put back on when the Ohlins get sent out for rebuild but it would take at least an extra day to clear customs if I had it shipped here.

 

The front end started to "pogo" yesterday when I finally hit some roads with curves. I'll take it out again this afternoon and see what it's like. Seems like such a shame to ride all the way to Colorado for the Un and have to doddle along on those nice roads with the front end hopping around. But I'm also worried if I keep riding 5000 miles I might wreck the hardened coating on the alloy parts of the shock therefore making it unrepairable.

 

All the BMW parts on the bike are working well, though

 

Michael Cassidy

[NCStephen]

As others said.. buy one on ebay have it shipped to a destination up ahead, a planned hotel/motel stop or campground or even a dealer of some sort. A contact to one of the ebay folks with some extra $$ might get it shipped right away.

 

Also Call Olin folks and ask what to do. They could have some good advice for you.

 

NCS

[azccj]

Make another topic, Help need front shock. Surely someone along the way on your journey has a spare sitting in their garage you can borrow.

[Bob_Minor]

On Advrider I found a suspension shop in Fort Collins that handles Ohlins. Stmsuspension. Phone # 920-682-2017. It's 330 miles from you but better than going home.

[MikeRC]

Thanks everyone:

 

The Ohlins USA website has a "page under construction" sign for Service locations. I was unsuccessful getting through to them initially. And a web search mostly came up with sales locations. But via another number I spoke to an Ohlins rep who directed me to a couple of possibilities in the Denver area.

 

After a few phone calls I was able to get find a service tech at Faster Motorsports in Denver. They have the seal IN STOCK for the BM 124 shock and can fit me in on Saturday.

 

Any hotel recommendations near the intersection of I70 and I25?

 

Mike Cassidy

[SANTA]

Big bummer, makes that dead battery in 2010, not such a miserable affair...

 

good to here there are shops out there that can bail you out. have a safe trip

 

 

[JB80120]

Mike,

I'm not sure if you will see this in time but I live in the Denver area (Littleton) and would be happy to put you up for the night. I can pick you up at the repair shop and drop you back there, or anything else that makes it work. Whatever works. Let me know.

[AndyS]

Hi Jeff, your offer is what makes this place such a refreshing place to be around.

I had a similar offer from another one of our members and it was fantastic.

Andy

[Kathy R]

{{{{{JEFFBURNS}}}}}}}

 

(cyber hug, for now.... see you in a few)

[MikeRC]

Yes, thanks for all the offers for help. I actually found reasonable accomodation within 10 minutes of the shop. I have my Service Manual on pdf with me and removing the shock (strut in the manual) isn't a big deal. The shop will lend me tools once I have the tupperware off and gas tank moved.

 

Having now put over 900 miles on this "dry" shock I must say it isn't any worse then the stock BMW suspension was when I traded it out with about 50,000 miles on it.

 

Mike Cassidy

[outpost22]

Late to the party as usual, but if things don't work out, PM me as I have a used front shock off of my 1100RT That you can borrow, (if it fits on the 1150?).

 

I have a UPS shipping account. Just let me know.

[MikeRC]

 

Thanks, but the job is done. I pulled the shock this morning out in the parking lot of Faster Motorsports Denver.

 

 

Unfortunately they couldn't get to it until late morning because they still had bikes on the lifts not finished from Friday. By the time Bart was finished with the shock it was over 98 F and they took pity on me and let me reassemble the bike in the shade inside the shop.

 

After putting the shock/strut in and testing the front end I can't believe it was streetworthy before. I guess the forks do give a bit of rebound damping. But now I'm back to a front end that is a solid as a rock.

 

He HAS had an Ohlins shock seize when it was left dry. But it was a GS and the guy was loading it up pretty heavy and doing an extended off-road trip.

 

Mike Cassidy

[azccj]

The problem with the front Ohlins shock on the RT is that it's movement is the opposite of the stock shock. With the stock shock the chrome rod that moves in and out of the shock body is on the top, where it is much more protected from incoming junk, bugs and small rocks. With the Ohlins, the exposed chrome rod sits on the bottom of the shock where it is much more exposed to incoming objects. When I rebuilt my front Ohlins shock because it was leaking, I also made a junk deflector that mounts in between the two preload adjuster rings. Hopefully it will prevent the shock seals from failing but only time and miles will tell. So far so good. I'm actually surprised that Ohlins doesn't offer something simular.