Ohlins #2 ?
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
There are Ohlins, then there are Howard's Ohlins! The #2 that the OP and others refer to is a model that Howard builds for us and may not be available from any other Ohlins outlet. My #3-3 have been giving excellent service for several years - it's the only way to travel!
Last edited by grbrown; Mar 2, 2015 at 04:12 AM.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,360
Likes: 453
From: Davie, FL
Was your vendor me?
Was your vendor me? If it was, I have you in my data base and I am 100% sure, no matter what the model model is, I can assure you I can help you attain the ride you wish. If you purchased them from a different vendor I would suggest contacting them and voice your needs and let them deal with it. If you are going to Daytona and you are my customer, just call and I, 100% can fix you up, face to face. I guarantee results, face to face.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,070
Likes: 2,375
From: Camp Lejeune, NC
Was your vendor me? If it was, I have you in my data base and I am 100% sure, no matter what the model model is, I can assure you I can help you attain the ride you wish. If you purchased them from a different vendor I would suggest contacting them and voice your needs and let them deal with it. If you are going to Daytona and you are my customer, just call and I, 100% can fix you up, face to face. I guarantee results, face to face.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,334
Likes: 17
From: Rosamond, Cali
You might consider the Ohlins 3-x model, as well. They have an additional adjustment, not available on the 2-x models, that gives you greater variability in setting the ride characteristics. Not sure about the difference in cost, but it seems to me a couple of hundred bucks (my guess on the difference) is not much when you pro-rate the cost out over the number of years you'll use them. Might as well spend the money to have the advantages.
I recently put a set of 3-3's on my '14 SG. My only trepidation was that they'd raise the rear of the bike too much. Frankly, as far as rear-end height goes, I can't tell much if any difference between the HD Premium Hand Adjustables I had on, and the Ohlins. In terms of ride quality though, there's a big difference in favor of the Ohlins.
Alan
I recently put a set of 3-3's on my '14 SG. My only trepidation was that they'd raise the rear of the bike too much. Frankly, as far as rear-end height goes, I can't tell much if any difference between the HD Premium Hand Adjustables I had on, and the Ohlins. In terms of ride quality though, there's a big difference in favor of the Ohlins.
Alan
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
You might consider the Ohlins 3-x model, as well. They have an additional adjustment, not available on the 2-x models, that gives you greater variability in setting the ride characteristics. Not sure about the difference in cost, but it seems to me a couple of hundred bucks (my guess on the difference) is not much when you pro-rate the cost out over the number of years you'll use them. Might as well spend the money to have the advantages.
I recently put a set of 3-3's on my '14 SG. My only trepidation was that they'd raise the rear of the bike too much. Frankly, as far as rear-end height goes, I can't tell much if any difference between the HD Premium Hand Adjustables I had on, and the Ohlins. In terms of ride quality though, there's a big difference in favor of the Ohlins.
Alan
I recently put a set of 3-3's on my '14 SG. My only trepidation was that they'd raise the rear of the bike too much. Frankly, as far as rear-end height goes, I can't tell much if any difference between the HD Premium Hand Adjustables I had on, and the Ohlins. In terms of ride quality though, there's a big difference in favor of the Ohlins.
Alan
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
The valving stack that Howard installs is, in my case, dead on and I have had no need for a clicker. The #2 shocks have more travel(all things being equal) than the #3 shocks(or the #6's) you are talking about so that can be a plus for many people. The clicker can be a bonus IF a person needs them due to large changes in load carried and changing preload of the springs. That should be the reason to go for those shocks in my mind.
In my discussions with Howard over which one to chose the fact that Mrs B and I like to travel on long trips, fully loaded (and close to our Glide's max weight) tipped things in favour of the #3. I suspect that the solo rider will indeed be very happy with #2, but a second rider can change the rules quite significantly!
We have hit railroad crossings and serious potholes in Eastern Europe and never bottomed out. For our use the #3 are the bee's knees!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
There is much more to shocks than travel! What Ohlins brings to the Harley suspension party is a range of dampers that can knock spots of most of what we have been able to use in the past. #6 shocks have superior damping control than #3, which in turn have better damping control than #2. A set of #3 shocks with shorter total travel than #2 can provide a superior ride, simply because they better control what the rear wheel gets up to.
In my discussions with Howard over which one to chose the fact that Mrs B and I like to travel on long trips, fully loaded (and close to our Glide's max weight) tipped things in favour of the #3. I suspect that the solo rider will indeed be very happy with #2, but a second rider can change the rules quite significantly!
We have hit railroad crossings and serious potholes in Eastern Europe and never bottomed out. For our use the #3 are the bee's knees!
In my discussions with Howard over which one to chose the fact that Mrs B and I like to travel on long trips, fully loaded (and close to our Glide's max weight) tipped things in favour of the #3. I suspect that the solo rider will indeed be very happy with #2, but a second rider can change the rules quite significantly!
We have hit railroad crossings and serious potholes in Eastern Europe and never bottomed out. For our use the #3 are the bee's knees!
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 348
Likes: 13
From: Winnipeg
Howard, if I wasn't 2500 miles from you and in a different country I would let you take it for a ride and see what you think. The way a vehicle rides is very subjective, but my but thinks they are way too harsh.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,360
Likes: 453
From: Davie, FL
My ulterior motive is I think they are overpriced for what they do. I set the sag like I was supposed to and it doesn't ride very good. My stock CVO shocks are better as far as I'm concerned, and they have an inch less travel. The person who started this post wanted opinions and I gave him mine. One positive thing that I can say about them is they are way better then Progressive 940 shocks.
Howard, if I wasn't 2500 miles from you and in a different country I would let you take it for a ride and see what you think. The way a vehicle rides is very subjective, but my but thinks they are way too harsh.
Howard, if I wasn't 2500 miles from you and in a different country I would let you take it for a ride and see what you think. The way a vehicle rides is very subjective, but my but thinks they are way too harsh.
All Ohlins shocks can be re-Valved and blueprinted as well as inspected to make sure the parts are machined correctly. By running it on a shock dyno you can tell the performance of the shock without taking it apart. If you do not get the ride you are looking for (with reasonable expectations) than the problem is one of two only; 1) The shock so you fix it. 2) Your set up.
There is something very wrong there and you need help. The Ohlins, any Ohlins can be set up to ride like you describe or can be set up to ride like the 1,000's of my customers who realize the ride they really appreciate. I would do what it takes to correct your situation. I have no idea why or what is wrong other than what you stated which does not help one bit. Maybe describing your problem better can help as well as if you are my customer, just follow what I have previously stated.