Suspension question

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Apr 20, 2020 | 08:08 PM

Drtumolo

Thread Starter

Road Captain

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 581

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From: Sunbury, PA

Suspension question

Does anyone on here know anything about suspension tuning and how to size spring rate for rider weight? I was reading in an Ohlins manual that you should have the following:
Free sag 5-15 mm
Ride sag 25-35 mm

I only weigh 135# and I am thinking I need a lighter spring but have no idea how to decide what I need. I am currently running 128# per inch springs and I only get about 5mm of sag difference when going from free sag to rider sag. I can achieve the 25mm rider sag number but 20mm is free sag + 5mm sag from my weight. Any advice?

Apr 21, 2020 | 06:29 AM

grbrown

Club Member

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 45,429

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From: Bedford UK

While reading the Ohlins manual, were you also considering buying their shocks - or do you already have them? The simplest way to find the correct springs is to find an expert supplier IMHO! I have Ohlins front and rear and simply relied on my chosen expert to provide matching springs, etc.

Apr 21, 2020 | 07:46 AM

FastHarley

Former Sponsor

Joined: Apr 2007

Posts: 5,360

Likes: 453

From: Davie, FL

My Advice to you

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drtumolo

I would suggest that you confide with the vendor who you sent your money to and give them the opportunity to resolve your problem. If I was that person than I would be happy to help you just like any other reputable vendor and consider this problem the most important chore of the day. I believe you also have some incorrect information,RE: 128# per inch spring. Ohlins does not make those springs or in proper terms:14.46206 Newton-Meter (N∙m) springs that also has a measurement LINK .<46/200 through 220mm length/Spring rate so 46mm inner diameter, 14.5Nm, and 200~220mm Nm. Hope this helps. Again call your agent as they will help you and most importantly, this is an Ohlins product.. Good luck.

Last edited by FastHarley; Apr 21, 2020 at 07:52 AM.

Apr 21, 2020 | 07:51 AM

Ben221

Road Warrior

Joined: Dec 2012

Posts: 1,686

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From: Glen Mills, PA

Read up on how to set your sag as your first step and go from there.

Apr 21, 2020 | 09:18 AM

Drtumolo

Thread Starter

Road Captain

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 581

Likes: 28

From: Sunbury, PA

To answer the questions above, these are not ohlins shocks but ohlins sag suggestions for rider sag vs free sag are the same as most other shock tuning articles I have read. That is the reason I quoted them. Howard, thank you for getting involved with this thread since you are very knowledgeable on shocks. I am trying to educate myself on shock tuning and how to pick the correct spring rate for my weight. Everything I have read states that if when setting rider sag and you don't get the correct ratio of rider sag vs free sag it shows that your spring rate isn't correct. The problem is nowhere that I can find do I get any information on how to calculate what spring rate to try next.