Considering the 440's cost about the same as the Ohlins #2-3 with the forum discount, IMO it is a no-brainer if you are buying aftermarket shocks for the first time. I sold my 440's for $300 on the forum for-sale section (what I paid for them used two years before on Ebay) and got into the Ohlins for only $216 net. Great bang-for-the-buck enhancement! Look at it that way and you might bite sooner than you thought possible, as Progressives should sell readily on Ebay or this forum's for-sale section, how quickly depending on what model and size you have now.

As a caveat, I ride only solo--so those who carry a passenger will likely have different settings from MM, as he asks all the pertinent questions to set-up your shocks as well as possible from the outset. This may change the results in some way compared to my situation, but there are enough threads about these shocks over the past two years to get an assessment on what others have experienced. I will say that contrary to what I experienced with the Progressives, which required a bit more preload when in touring trim (loaded), the Ohlins have never felt like they needed any adjustment. In fact, I haven't made any changes to the shock settings since installing them, whether touring or not. I can't see how they could be better for my needs as they are, so I don't mess with them. You know, if it ain't broke....

 

Hi Graham,
The preload adjuster I am referring to is not lossening and jam nuts with a spanner but rather done hydraulically with a small ****. Seems if the preload can be adjusted w/o removal of saddle bags that would be a good thing.
greg

 

The hydraulic spring pre-load adjuster found on my #4 & #5 will not fit behind the bags. If it would, I would have had them on all shocks I make. Ohlins does not make a 36mm hydraulic remotely adjustable spring pre-load adjuster. They make them for a 46mm shock only. If they did make it I would offer it. The people manning the Ohlins booth should know that right off the bat. I am sure the person who you talked to was probably an affiliate and not an Ohlins personnel. There really is no reason to have a remote spring pre-load adjuster because you just set it up for an event and go. These shocks do not need to be adjusted every day. Unless there is fat chicks involved, you will not need to adjust for a passenger.

I do make a remotely adjustable compression adjuster that is mounted on a remote reservoir but that will be a thing of the past anyhow. Very soon we will have the servos and computer system for sale that is retrofit-able in the shocks and forks. You can choose your own preconstructed map that will be changeable by buttons on the dash, through wireless, GPS, and cell phone. I guess the guys at the Ohlins booth did not show you my #6's either? You want adjust-ability, you got adjust-ability. You want to know why no one could tell you about the #6? Because you only can get them here.

 

Thanks to the patience of Howard in teaching me over the phone how to set up and dial in my Ohlins, I am a believer. These are shocks for people who love to tweak and dial in their suspension. I know now how set my bike up to tour fully loaded (the bike not me) and ride solo for the handling and ride I want. Besides the stock shocks, I had progressive 440's and did not like the handling or ride of either - IN MY experience there is no comparison. Others may say differently and there is always another option, but I am very happy with these shocks.

 

Greg,

The man himself has replied! Do visit Howard's website where you will see the various options he offers. A picture paints a thousand words!