Any thoughts on the new Ohlins cartridges Howard?

 

There are a few posts made by others concerning the deficiencies of the 41mm fork tube / top triple tree connection that Ohlins did not address. If you are satisfied with the way your pre-2014 ~ 1986 FL handles than I am sure that Ohlins cartridge system will be the best solution out there. I brought a 41mm fork up to Ohlins USA several years ago in November 2007. I asked Mike Hensley to ask Sweden to develop a cartridge system. They still have my forks. Many here who were around watched how great suspension developed on our touring bikes. Ohlins did not take what I asked seriously at that time until my sales for Harley (the job I was given by Ohlins to market HD shocks) suspension became overwhelming. Ohlins did not address the inherent problems of the pre-2014 ~ 1986 FL's to make there offering a complete solution. When I was at Sturgis I looked at the display cartridges, there is no compression/rebound/external spring adjustable as pointed out on the flyer. The display cartridges were just that, a set of prototype cartridges and not what is ready for sale. No one can predict how well they will work. I hope them the best.

Internally the cartridges can be made shorter by reducing the stroke. I have shortened the actual fork to keep the same stroke but I am against reducing ground clearance. If you are that short, wear high healed boots. I was up in the Black Hills and saw motorcyclist drag their frame/floor boards with their feet up on the crash bars, I got out of the way. I only do this for really short people and not for looks.

Finished bike with shortened forks.

When OhlinsUSA was at Daytona last March the executives from Sweden came there to see the market for themselves. I am sure that is what prompted the interest in Harley's. They purchased all aftermarket front fork suspension available and took it back for study. I am sure the new Ohlins offering will be much, much better than anything else out there currently.

The 20mm cartridge system that is offered by both HD & another aftermarket company is a joke and does not work well. For those who like that option really do not have anything else to compare them with, and do not have experience with anything better. When January, the scheduled release of the new cartridges from Ohlins arrives, I am sure that there will be many who will purchase them themselves and will give their impressions.

Without a real fork tube/top triple tree connection, you are just putting a band aid on a wound where the limb should have been amputated. Of course if you do not ride your bike aggressively and always obey all traffic laws, than you should have no problem with the old design. There is a reason why Harley changed their fork design in 2014 and why I am contacted 2X a year to testify at trials against Harley concerning their wobble and highway fatalities which I do not ever do.

I hope I answered your question.

I do hope to have my own externally adjustable compression/rebound & spring pre-load fork & trees on a stand as I will have the 2014's suspension upgrade ready to go. This is the difference between a company that just sells crap in a box to someone who actually makes the parts & does the research themselves.

 

Thank you for your response, I've been on the fence for awhile regarding suspension upgrades on my 10SG. Perhaps I'll wait till 15 and purchase a new SG with the larger fork tubes and fix both ends at the same time. Appreciate your effort in this area and when I do upgrades it will definitely be thru you. Thanks again.

 

Very curious to see what Howard comes up with for the front end.

 

Me too!

 

There are clues to his imagination and abilities on his website - upside-down forks and 49mm kits with Ohlins cartridges for some models.

 

with help from Howard installed the 13B JRI on my 10SG. a 13" shock rides 11.88" after 1/3 of the stroke (sag) is in the shock piston. one of the first things I learned from Howard.

went on a 862KM (535m) ride to break them in. what a difference to stock! no longer getting launched or spine tingling jolt was the first thing you notice. still bracing for the jolts which do not come as expected. was getting taps from bumps in the road so about 1/2 way added 2 clicks to soften damper and no more taps.

Incredible change to ride quality.

 

JRI has changed the 13 B shock design from what is in their catalog and on Howard's website. The new design is on their website. Looks like fewer machining steps/cost savings. I went to mount them and they hit the quick detach hardware and stock chrome trim on my 2000 RK. Started a new thread for the new design.


The new design is shown with the stock black springs.