OHLINS vs Stock Shocks
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
After sticking 18 inch wheels on my RK, the ride was back breaking. After spending 1200.00 on a tire and wheel, the last thing I wanted to do was to buy a new 16 inch wheel.
I got in touch with Howard and went with the 11 5/8 Ohlins and the ride is 100% better. I have them on the lowest setting and it rides awesome on 2up. But is a little firm ridding solo (I am 175 pounds). Might even send them back to Howard when the season is over and let him adjust them up one. But, over all these things are great and the service is top notch. "Just make sure you tell Howard yellow is not your thing"
I got in touch with Howard and went with the 11 5/8 Ohlins and the ride is 100% better. I have them on the lowest setting and it rides awesome on 2up. But is a little firm ridding solo (I am 175 pounds). Might even send them back to Howard when the season is over and let him adjust them up one. But, over all these things are great and the service is top notch. "Just make sure you tell Howard yellow is not your thing"
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I've been following recent debate here on HDF about rear shocks, peering over the Atlantic from the UK. I recently posted a list of all the US suppliers I could find of rear shocks. Frankly most of them are 'custom', which means they concentrate on looks over function and most brands, especially those that get most frequent mention on HDF, can be discarded without much thought.
For the discerning rider, especially one with a female backside behind that can feel the proverbial pea under twenty mattresses, I am fast coming to the conclusion there is only one solution. Nothing less than four inches of travel will do!
Even importing them into the UK, Howard's Ohlins do not look expensive, especially when marital harmony and bliss are at stake. I feel it is only a matter of time before I follow the same route....
For the discerning rider, especially one with a female backside behind that can feel the proverbial pea under twenty mattresses, I am fast coming to the conclusion there is only one solution. Nothing less than four inches of travel will do!
Even importing them into the UK, Howard's Ohlins do not look expensive, especially when marital harmony and bliss are at stake. I feel it is only a matter of time before I follow the same route....
Former Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,360
Likes: 453
From: Davie, FL
I've been following recent debate here on HDF about rear shocks, peering over the Atlantic from the UK. I recently posted a list of all the US suppliers I could find of rear shocks. Frankly most of them are 'custom', which means they concentrate on looks over function and most brands, especially those that get most frequent mention on HDF, can be discarded without much thought.
For the discerning rider, especially one with a female backside behind that can feel the proverbial pea under twenty mattresses, I am fast coming to the conclusion there is only one solution. Nothing less than four inches of travel will do!
Even importing them into the UK, Howard's Ohlins do not look expensive, especially when marital harmony and bliss are at stake. I feel it is only a matter of time before I follow the same route....
For the discerning rider, especially one with a female backside behind that can feel the proverbial pea under twenty mattresses, I am fast coming to the conclusion there is only one solution. Nothing less than four inches of travel will do!
Even importing them into the UK, Howard's Ohlins do not look expensive, especially when marital harmony and bliss are at stake. I feel it is only a matter of time before I follow the same route....
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,351
Likes: 461
From: Illinois
My wife and I took our first ride together with our new 13 1/4" ohlins and SE heavy fork oil up front yesterday. The road was horrible for a 20 mile stretch. I had ridden that same road once before, about a month ago by myself. I was riding 50 mph solo and bottoming out front and rear quite frequently on that stretch last month.
Yesterday I was riding 60 mph 2 up and never did bottom out. I didn't even tell my wife about the new shocks. I wanted to see if she could tell a difference in the ride. She was much more comfortable on the 300 mile ride yesterday.
She is a fair weather rider who always find something to complain about. She is usually crying that she needs to stop and rest within the first 50 miles. We were 250 miles into the ride yesterday when she started whining.
All I can compare to is stock. I have no regrets spending this money with the results I have so far.
Dennis
Yesterday I was riding 60 mph 2 up and never did bottom out. I didn't even tell my wife about the new shocks. I wanted to see if she could tell a difference in the ride. She was much more comfortable on the 300 mile ride yesterday.
She is a fair weather rider who always find something to complain about. She is usually crying that she needs to stop and rest within the first 50 miles. We were 250 miles into the ride yesterday when she started whining.
All I can compare to is stock. I have no regrets spending this money with the results I have so far.
Dennis
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
We shipped this bike to Chicago in 2003, and took it back home to Milwaukee, for the Centenary celebrations. Did a total of 3,500 miles in the US and Canada on that trip of a lifetime. It amazed us that you don't have more accidents over there, what with you all driving on the wrong side of the road! BTW our Harley owners manuals tell us in the UK to always drive on the RIGHT!
The only decent coffee we had on the entire trip was in the Art Museum, in Milwaukee. Divine! Frozen custard was a close second....
It was also that trip which started me on the lengthy journey of trying to improve ride quality! Your concrete roads and tar seams were a novelty, to be polite. I'm still working on it (2007 swingarm in transit, 2004 wheel about to follow). Once the new rear end is in and proven I will be taking another look at those Ohlins.
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 17
From: eastern oklahoma
iclick, i watch your posts, and seems like you always have good advice, i'm waiting to hear your review on the ohlins, cause i've got an 08 sg, and the stock shocks are too short for having complete suspension travel. i'm 6'4" tall, so i don't need the low seat hieight. matter of fact, i found a roadglide seat and it helped tremendously with the feel of my bike. but i am concerned with swapping out the stock sg shocks for the ohlins. i suppose i'll wait to read your review, and then give howard a call. i see another benefit with getting rid of the stock air shocks. no more pump to haul around, no more air lines, etc. and from what i understand, a far superior ride. good thread guys, thanks. information like this prevented me from spending money twice. example, buying progressive shocks only to be unsatisfied and go with the ohlins.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
I expect my Ohlins to arrive next Tuesday, so they will be on the bike that day hopefully followed by a test ride, weather permitting. I'll need to decide ahead of time where to go for an acid test--i.e. a third-rate road in disrepair, which is not hard to find around here.