New Ohlins Questions
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,424
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From: Northern, Ohio (Yuck!)
New Ohlins Questions
Just got Ohlins 3-3s and Progressive mono tubes (lowered 1") up front. Set up the Ohlins as per Howard's instructions. Now Howard's says I need to break in the Ohlins and adjust them to my liking.
What I am looking for is relatively cushy, Cadillac ride. I don't push the bike all that hard and Momma has Fibro so she likes a smooth ride.
Took Momma for her first ride on the new suspension yesterday and she says it feels stiff. I expect the shocks will free up some as the break in.
Question - Which way do I adjust the preload and or rebound to soften up the ride? The manual describes what you need to do in relation to how the bike feels when you push it hard. Like I said thats not what I want.
Looking forward to a little help so I don't have to reinvent the wheel...
Thanks,
What I am looking for is relatively cushy, Cadillac ride. I don't push the bike all that hard and Momma has Fibro so she likes a smooth ride.
Took Momma for her first ride on the new suspension yesterday and she says it feels stiff. I expect the shocks will free up some as the break in.
Question - Which way do I adjust the preload and or rebound to soften up the ride? The manual describes what you need to do in relation to how the bike feels when you push it hard. Like I said thats not what I want.
Looking forward to a little help so I don't have to reinvent the wheel...
Thanks,
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
Not sure if this will help, but the preload was way off when I got my ohlins, it had a quarter of an inch of sag and Howard wanted me to ride it to break it in...I do not mean to diss Howard, he is the best, but you lose a bit over the phone.....anyway, make sure you have an inch of sag, I came back after ten miles and dialed mine down to the limit of what the shock would allow, and it helped alot
I can't describe how to soften the compression, because, I have 2-2a s
I can't describe how to soften the compression, because, I have 2-2a s
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,542
Likes: 161
From: Booming metropolis
I have a set of 6's that I have not installed yet. but from what i read and have been told, I don't think you will get a cushy cadillac floating ride out of these shocks. Thats not what they are designed for. I hope you find that cushy ride cause that is what I am after as well.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 927
Likes: 17
From: Spotsylvania, VA
They will take some time to break-in. I have about 300 miles on my #6 and while they are much better than stock, I still expect them to get better. Remember, you will need to adjust sag first, otherwise other adjustments will be useless. Additionally, make sure you keep a log of the changes you are making.
While I don't think you should expect the cushy Cadillac ride, my wife says these are much more comfortable. Take you time and make small changes.
While I don't think you should expect the cushy Cadillac ride, my wife says these are much more comfortable. Take you time and make small changes.
Sag adjustment on 3'-3s is by turning top ring CW to stiffen and CCW to make it softer.... but when you change the SAG , do you have to adjust the Rebound ??? Im new to the Ohlin family, Haven't installed them yet so looking for some teaching...
I do agree, you will not get a Caddy ride.. why would you want that anyways, it will throw u off the road !!!!
I do agree, you will not get a Caddy ride.. why would you want that anyways, it will throw u off the road !!!!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
If you ride mostly 2-up, set your sag for that. You can sort out solo sag later. It can be a bit time consuming, as the two of you have to pop on and off quite a few times. It would help to have a third pair of hands, to measure sag, but we managed with just the two of us, my wife performing acrobatics on the back! It's a serious business, but not one to be taken too seriously!!! We were in stitches on occasions.
As for comfort, I can describe the improvements you can expect. My wife and I have done a few long tours, but one of just over 2,500 miles was the incentive to really tackle the problem of her comfort. Towards the end of that trip she was very saddle sore and we took short cuts to reduce saddle time.
The following year we did a similar trip on our Ohlins. We found we could ride longer each day if we wanted and after we got home, with no problems of comfort, we reckon we could have ridden on! And we no longer bottom out. In fact we are planning a 5k+ miles trip right now.
So the ride is smoother and more comfortable and I am sure your wife will find the same. Perhaps not like a Cadilac, but greatly improved. It's the only way to travel!
As for comfort, I can describe the improvements you can expect. My wife and I have done a few long tours, but one of just over 2,500 miles was the incentive to really tackle the problem of her comfort. Towards the end of that trip she was very saddle sore and we took short cuts to reduce saddle time.
The following year we did a similar trip on our Ohlins. We found we could ride longer each day if we wanted and after we got home, with no problems of comfort, we reckon we could have ridden on! And we no longer bottom out. In fact we are planning a 5k+ miles trip right now.
So the ride is smoother and more comfortable and I am sure your wife will find the same. Perhaps not like a Cadilac, but greatly improved. It's the only way to travel!
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Northern, Ohio (Yuck!)
[quote=grbrown;9543099]If you ride mostly 2-up, set your sag for that. You can sort out solo sag later. It can be a bit time consuming, as the two of you have to pop on and off quite a few times. It would help to have a third pair of hands, to measure sag, but we managed with just the two of us, my wife performing acrobatics on the back! It's a serious business, but not one to be taken too seriously!!! We were in stitches on occasions.
As for comfort, I can describe the improvements you can expect. My wife and I have done a few long tours, but one of just over 2,500 miles was the incentive to really tackle the problem of her comfort. Towards the end of that trip she was very saddle sore and we took short cuts to reduce saddle time.
The following year we did a similar trip on our Ohlins. We found we could ride longer each day if we wanted and after we got home, with no problems of comfort, we reckon we could have ridden on! And we no longer bottom out. In fact we are planning a 5k+ miles trip right now.
So the ride is smoother and more comfortable and I am sure your wife will find the same. Perhaps not like a Cadilac, but greatly improved. It's the only way to travel![/quote]
That is exactly what I am looking for!
As for comfort, I can describe the improvements you can expect. My wife and I have done a few long tours, but one of just over 2,500 miles was the incentive to really tackle the problem of her comfort. Towards the end of that trip she was very saddle sore and we took short cuts to reduce saddle time.
The following year we did a similar trip on our Ohlins. We found we could ride longer each day if we wanted and after we got home, with no problems of comfort, we reckon we could have ridden on! And we no longer bottom out. In fact we are planning a 5k+ miles trip right now.
So the ride is smoother and more comfortable and I am sure your wife will find the same. Perhaps not like a Cadilac, but greatly improved. It's the only way to travel![/quote]
That is exactly what I am looking for!
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 41
From: So Cal
Just got Ohlins 3-3s and Progressive mono tubes (lowered 1") up front. Set up the Ohlins as per Howard's instructions. Now Howard's says I need to break in the Ohlins and adjust them to my liking.
What I am looking for is relatively cushy, Cadillac ride. I don't push the bike all that hard and Momma has Fibro so she likes a smooth ride.
Thanks,
What I am looking for is relatively cushy, Cadillac ride. I don't push the bike all that hard and Momma has Fibro so she likes a smooth ride.
Thanks,
Your 3-3 have increased the rear travel by about 50% over stock but then you reduced front travel with the lowered Monotubes. I found the Monotubes to be a lot better than the stock setup but I stayed stock and even then I could use a little more travel to keep from bottoming occ.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 421
From: Northern, Ohio (Yuck!)
If you were looking for a cushy , Cadillac ride why did you lower the front end ? One of the biggest problems the bikes suspension has is a lack of travel. appox 3.5 on the front and 2.2 on the rear is a big reason why its tough to get a HD Touring bike to handle and ride as well as it should even with a shock change.
Your 3-3 have increased the rear travel by about 50% over stock but then you reduced front travel with the lowered Monotubes. I found the Monotubes to be a lot better than the stock setup but I stayed stock and even then I could use a little more travel to keep from bottoming occ.
Your 3-3 have increased the rear travel by about 50% over stock but then you reduced front travel with the lowered Monotubes. I found the Monotubes to be a lot better than the stock setup but I stayed stock and even then I could use a little more travel to keep from bottoming occ.
Installing Ohlin 3-3 lowered my ride height (With me on board) by about 1". To keep the factory geometry that meant I needed to lower the front end by 1". The fact that I have 29" inseam might also have something to do with it.
None of this means I can't want to have the smoothest ride possible...