Ohlins nix22 cartridge oil level
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2019
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From: Georgia
Ohlins nix22 cartridge oil level
Need some help here. I set up my fxdls with nix22s a week ago but I'm still fighting an issue with the front end bottoming out over larger bumps. Not sure if it's a spring issue or oil level? Front end is damn near perfect at highway speeds but rough roads are noticeably harsher w anything under 10mph. Dips and potholes are felt through the bars. Set my oil at 150mm from the top compressed with the spring out but it seems like something is still preventing the forks from working effectively. Should I add some oil or am I way off base?
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Bay Area, CA
what spring rates do you have in there now and curious how heavy are you with gear etc - just to see if the springs could be the problem or not? I have 0.95kg/mm springs with 10w oil and I'm 160lb w/o gear. For me this rate is a bit too soft just to give you reference.
every setup is different i have the GP 25mm suspension on mine so my measurements might not be as helpful. It's a combination of fork oil level, fork oil weight, and spring rate and then finally your settings:
every setup is different i have the GP 25mm suspension on mine so my measurements might not be as helpful. It's a combination of fork oil level, fork oil weight, and spring rate and then finally your settings:
HDF Community Team
Joined: Aug 2018
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From: New Hampsha
What is your sag set at? It should be about 1/3 of total travel. Tie a string or a zip tie around the fork tube and slide it down to the top of the slider. Note how far it moves up the tube when you bottom out. Are they bottoming out before you reach full travel? If so, you need to lower the oil level; they are hydro-locking. If they're reaching full travel then you need stiffer springs (most likely) or more oil.
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Joined: Dec 2014
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From: SWFL
Could be insufficient “air cushion” from too little fluid. Call Ohlins USA support and find out.
Could be insufficient spring rate. Calculate total rider weight and call Ohlins to ensure your current springs are correct.
Could be too thick oil. Cartridges use valves for dampening, not orifices on damper rods like stock. Ohlins fork fluid is 5w I believe. Call Ohlins to confirm your 10w isn’t causing insufficient compression dampening.
I think “call Ohlins” - who are the experts on their product, as opposed to asking the internet is my answer...
Edit: looks like Ohlins R&T oil (what I used in my old NIX22’s and my current GP25’s) is 7.5w
Could be insufficient spring rate. Calculate total rider weight and call Ohlins to ensure your current springs are correct.
Could be too thick oil. Cartridges use valves for dampening, not orifices on damper rods like stock. Ohlins fork fluid is 5w I believe. Call Ohlins to confirm your 10w isn’t causing insufficient compression dampening.
I think “call Ohlins” - who are the experts on their product, as opposed to asking the internet is my answer...
Edit: looks like Ohlins R&T oil (what I used in my old NIX22’s and my current GP25’s) is 7.5w
Last edited by Mchad; May 14, 2021 at 08:14 AM.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2019
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From: Georgia
Thanks for the replies. Decided I'm just gonna take it to the suspension shop and have them figure it out. I suspect both my front and rear springs are incorrect for my weight. With zero added preload I can barely get the forks to compress with my weight let alone a 3rd of the total travel. Rear shocks wound to 7.5 turns @ 25lbs per rotation for my 185 is way too much and causes instability at speed. Ignored this and just measured for 1" of rear sag, which is barely any preload. This fixes the stability issue but the ride is still harsh at low speed, which I believe has more to do with the valving(?) Both front and rear were supposed to have been shipped already tuned to my weight specifications but I'm certain they weren't. So at this point it's easier for me to just get the shop to figure out what's going on. I paid a lot of money for my setup, so I might as well fork over a bit more to get the best ride possible.
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2014
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From: SWFL
Thanks for the replies. Decided I'm just gonna take it to the suspension shop and have them figure it out. I suspect both my front and rear springs are incorrect for my weight. With zero added preload I can barely get the forks to compress with my weight let alone a 3rd of the total travel. Rear shocks wound to 7.5 turns @ 25lbs per rotation for my 185 is way too much and causes instability at speed. Ignored this and just measured for 1" of rear sag, which is barely any preload. This fixes the stability issue but the ride is still harsh at low speed, which I believe has more to do with the valving(?) Both front and rear were supposed to have been shipped already tuned to my weight specifications but I'm certain they weren't. So at this point it's easier for me to just get the shop to figure out what's going on. I paid a lot of money for my setup, so I might as well fork over a bit more to get the best ride possible.
But we have no idea what shocks you are using. Every component should have instructions on recommended starting settings... I’d try there. You’re 185lbs which I believe is pretty much the starting point for most shocks so you should be close to those settings.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2019
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From: Georgia
I think you may have the above wrong. Generally (at least as Ive ever seen) - using preload is for increasing spring rate beyond its set rating. I.e. if your shocks springs are rated for a 175lb rider and you weighed 200, if your shocks add 25lbs for each revolution of the preload collars, you only add one turn for 200lbs, not 8... So it sounds like you are calculating your preload from 0 which in most cases is not correct.
But we have no idea what shocks you are using. Every component should have instructions on recommended starting settings... Id try there. Youre 185lbs which I believe is pretty much the starting point for most shocks so you should be close to those settings.
But we have no idea what shocks you are using. Every component should have instructions on recommended starting settings... Id try there. Youre 185lbs which I believe is pretty much the starting point for most shocks so you should be close to those settings.
The shocks actually arrived 'pre-set' for my weight of 185lbs with 7 turns of preload. This through me off. Not sure wtf happened there.
Also not sure why the instructions call for 21mm of preload as a starting point. This is WAY too much.
Anyway, I just spoke to an ohlins rep. He said my particular set of blackline shocks use a stiffer spring than typically used on the baggers. 'Zero' is actually roughly 170lbs, while the spring has a rating of 170 to 250lbs. Because it's a dyna, 1 turn of preload is roughly equal to 50 lbs, vs the 25lb per rotation on a bagger.
I've got them set up correctly now and it's better...not sure if it's $1400 better, but at least the speed wobble is gone.
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