Ohlins HD357...Worth it?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,021
Likes: 260
From: Seattle
Initially, my main goal was just to lower my scoot a ****** hair for better footing, even with the loss of travel. Tried lower seat hand all that jazz. Higher boots, etc. My two options were lowering blocks and bitchin baggers. I ordered lowering blocks and by the time they arrived I had already sold them. Then it was bitchin baggers which is still in the running. I guess to me.... pay a couple hundred if I just want to lower the bike and a bit more if I want to upgrade my shock in the process. I am an inpatient person and I want to mod now, and I am the type of person that enjoys the nicest of things. That being said, its somewhat like having a nice set of snap on wrenches. It wouldn't be until you have wrecked 1,000 nuts and bolts and smashed your knuckles to hell using all the other crap out there that you appreciated the snap on set. I have little riding time on my first Harley and haven't gotten the feel of it yet.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 138
Likes: 2
I have the JRI B's that I bought from Howard several years ago. I am getting a little confused with all the choices for the Ohlin's. I was thinking the 6's but i do agree that it may be overkill for me and the price is too high and install issues. I am curious about the 2.5's that you guys are talking about. can someone post a pic of those. I am also thinking about the 3-3's. can someone explain the difference between the 3-3's and the 2.5's. Thanks, Ted
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
I have the JRI B's that I bought from Howard several years ago. I am getting a little confused with all the choices for the Ohlin's. I was thinking the 6's but i do agree that it may be overkill for me and the price is too high and install issues. I am curious about the 2.5's that you guys are talking about. can someone post a pic of those. I am also thinking about the 3-3's. can someone explain the difference between the 3-3's and the 2.5's. Thanks, Ted
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 138
Likes: 2
IIRC, the 2.5's have the damping adjusters and the valving stack of the 6's but NO remote reservoir and no divider to separate oil from n2o(the divider is in the remote reservoir on the #6's) so they should be emulsion shocks. The 3's have a divider piston to seperate oil from n2o in the shock body and have damping adjusters. I am not an expert and I could be wrong so I'd double check with someone who has had them apart and knows such things.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 622
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
IIRC, the 2.5's have the damping adjusters and the valving stack of the 6's but NO remote reservoir and no divider to separate oil from n2o(the divider is in the remote reservoir on the #6's) so they should be emulsion shocks. The 3's have a divider piston to seperate oil from n2o in the shock body and have damping adjusters. I am not an expert and I could be wrong so I'd double check with someone who has had them apart and knows such things.
The 3 will have the one rebound adjuster on the bottom, or is that a combo rebound/compression adjuster?. Questions for Howard or Ohlins.
Last edited by skypilot_one; Jan 5, 2016 at 04:15 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
I'm gonna catch hell for this but mainly , EGO, lol. Some guys gotta have the best so they just buy the most expensive one but couldn't tell one Ohlins from another if their lives depended on it. But they gotta have the best.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Talldog originally asked for advice on shocks, with his wife in mind, as she needs some special care back there and they need the best ride they can get. 
We have good friends who have ridden together for decades, however her health is steadily deteriorating and getting quite bad. The doctor looked her square in the eyes just before Xmas and told her she should stop riding - now! No argument!! If Mrs Talldog can enjoy riding for a while longer, before being given a similar instruction, then a set of Howard's #6 are cheap. They are also probably the best available!
So that's that then. And no cost cuttin' - #6s.
We have good friends who have ridden together for decades, however her health is steadily deteriorating and getting quite bad. The doctor looked her square in the eyes just before Xmas and told her she should stop riding - now! No argument!! If Mrs Talldog can enjoy riding for a while longer, before being given a similar instruction, then a set of Howard's #6 are cheap. They are also probably the best available!
So that's that then. And no cost cuttin' - #6s.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,121
Likes: 489
From: sunny florida
The difference is the 3-3 can be adjusted in length from 12 3/4"-13 9/64" , the 2.5 is 13 1/4" , all this before setting sag which would lower both approximately 1" , as far as 3-3 being a separated and 2.5 being a emulsion shock the difference in these types of shocks is an emulsion would fade faster on long hauls as it heats up however I have never seen a tourer put on enough miles or push a touring bike hard enough for shock fade to be an issue
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,121
Likes: 489
From: sunny florida
I don't disagree with many riders , but I certainly can tell the difference. With my number 6 having both a compression and rebound adjuster it really let me dial it in . With this being said I'm also running Ohlins 30mm cartridges in my forks , if I was still running monotubes up front I'd probably have stayed with my 3-3 in the rear or even the 2 series and been happy , but for me I couldn't see putting the best up front and something less in the rear.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 622
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
Howard's 2 series have up to 4" of travel. I'd pick that one myself although the photos on his site show no damper adjustment on the 2's.??
Basically Howard could build anything from the parts he buys from Ohlins and give you exactly what you think you want.
I imagine he could even build a set with rebound adjustment and the wrench preload adjuster like on the Sportster shocks minus the piggyback reservoirs and eliminate having to rotate the nut making one up/two up a little easier
Basically Howard could build anything from the parts he buys from Ohlins and give you exactly what you think you want.
I imagine he could even build a set with rebound adjustment and the wrench preload adjuster like on the Sportster shocks minus the piggyback reservoirs and eliminate having to rotate the nut making one up/two up a little easier
Last edited by skypilot_one; Jan 5, 2016 at 04:35 PM.