Ohlins Fork Kit FKA 106

ron5378

New Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Messages
13
Location
Thailand
Hello All,
I need some advise or experience about Ohlins Fork Kit FKA 106 for XT1200.

Thanks....XT1200 Y2012
 

~TABASCO~

RIDE ON ADV is what I do !
Founding Member
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Vendor
Joined
Apr 4, 2011
Messages
7,328
Location
TEXAS
Fire away........... ?
 

~TABASCO~

RIDE ON ADV is what I do !
Founding Member
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Vendor
Joined
Apr 4, 2011
Messages
7,328
Location
TEXAS
Totally different. Much larger window of adjustment. Much more refined. Built to the riders weight and how they ride his or her motorcycle. Totally custom for each person.
 

ord13

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2015
Messages
204
Location
Marseilles (France)
Totally different. Much larger window of adjustment. Much more refined. Built to the riders weight and how they ride his or her motorcycle. Totally custom for each person.
Absolutely not :rolleyes:

Tried it on a 2011, the "totally cutom made" is pure bullshit, all springs are the same from 80 kgs to 140 kgs, oil levels are given "as a starting point" before adjusting later and by yourself according to your real personal use and weight, finally selled to a buddy after 1600 kms of pure brainstorming and Ohlins' after sales multiple calls for nothing.

Overpriced, overrated and not really useful, changed for aftermarket springs and lo friction oil quality, and after some basic hydraulic adjustments it worx not too bad, in any case much better than the stock fork.

Just my real-experience based personal advice ;)
 

Don in Lodi

Well-Known Member
Founding Member
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
Feb 1, 2011
Messages
5,780
Location
Lodi Kalifornia
Just thinking 9 years ago would have been a Beta test rather than a tried and true, all the bugs worked out, kit.
 

ord13

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2015
Messages
204
Location
Marseilles (France)
Ah ok :oops:

My bike is 2011, but my Ohlins experience was for just five years now (when it was evident that OEM fork springs will never be better than they were).

So this kit was not in Beta when I tried it, or maybe it's still the case now, who knows ?... ;):D

Anyway this fork kit did the job on my friend's bike (road use only) and not for me (road use too, but some "light" off-road), and no mention of what use is better with this kit at Ohlins' before buying and also after buying, so my opinion is still u know what :confused:
 

EricV

Riding, farkling, riding...
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
May 22, 2011
Messages
8,227
Location
Tupelo, MS
I replaced my stock 2012 S10's bits for the Ohlins 30mm kit at 100k miles. The Ohlins was certainly an upgrade from the tired stock bits, but for my mostly on road use was not earth shattering. Smoother and sucked up bumps better than stock. I swapped those forks over to my '15 when I got it. The '15 had 3k on the stock bits and back to back, riding 1k on the stock '15 forks, then the next day riding 200 miles on the Ohlins, the Ohlins were still nicer, but again, not night and day.

I noticed a lot more improvement in the rear from upgrading the shock, but the system was well balanced with the Ohlins up front and Touratech Extreme in the rear. If you do a fair amount of off pavement, you may notice more significant differences.
 

ron5378

New Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Messages
13
Location
Thailand
Hi all,

Thanks all informations.

I replaced my stock 2012 S10's by Ohlins YA013 at rear shock. It more improvment from stock unit. Then, I interest for upgrade at Front end by Ohlins FKA106.

However, FKA106 with Ohlins recommnd Fork Spring. It to expensive ( 1,XXX USD). if not much improvment compared stock unit.

Thanks.
 

Bikedude987

Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2014
Messages
76
Location
United States
I just ordered a set from Jaxon (Tabasco), and they are a big improvement over stock. Especially considering the stock were trashed after only 40K miles and provided very little bottoming resistance in the first place.

Not sure who pissed in France's cornflakes, but they are a customized, high quality unit that can be set up to any rider with ease.

Pro's:
-seriously increased bottoming resistance - no more 'clang'!
-highly tuneable
-huge range of preload adjustment
-true split function, both adjustments on top
-stiff but plush damping from non-traditional compression leg (no rod displacement)
-extremely well thought out and user friendly design (no spring compressor required for example)

Cons:
-big $$'s
-requires one special tool to revalve
 

bimota

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2017
Messages
6,523
Location
bridgend, Wales, UK
I just ordered a set from Jaxon (Tabasco), and they are a big improvement over stock. Especially considering the stock were trashed after only 40K miles and provided very little bottoming resistance in the first place.

Not sure who pissed in France's cornflakes, but they are a customized, high quality unit that can be set up to any rider with ease.

Pro's:
-seriously increased bottoming resistance - no more 'clang'!
-highly tuneable
-huge range of preload adjustment
-true split function, both adjustments on top
-stiff but plush damping from non-traditional compression leg (no rod displacement)
-extremely well thought out and user friendly design (no spring compressor required for example)

Cons:
-big $$'s
-requires one special tool to revalve
HI,
i have a ohlins rear shock, been looking at the ohlins front for awhile, but can,t see what springs come with kit and how to you work out what weight springs you need,
rob
 

jrusell

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2017
Messages
460
Location
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Last year I was considering the kit and found Ohlins only offered 2 different springs with the kit. 8.0 or 9.0N. (approx 0.82kg/mm or 0.92kg/mm) Possible they have others but I could not find any. I could not find dimensions of the spring but you could probably find an aftermarket spring to work in the Ohlins cartridge if you wanted go stiffer. Sonic springs could probably make some for you.

Assuming your rear shock has a spring that will get your sag in the 25-30% range I would say the stiffer 9.0N spring will be good for most people up to 240-250lbs. I am 215lbs and currently run 0.95kg springs. My sag is good and I could actually go down to a 0.9kg spring and still be able to get the sag numbers I want.
I would guess those 180lbs or less would probably want the 8.0N.

If you follow this link and click on the Mounting instructions download, (near bottom of page) you can scroll down and it lists the springs available for the kit.

https://www.ohlins.eu/en/products/motorcycle/fka-106--4780/
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
What the heck happened to this thread? It went from suspension to political mayhem in just a few posts!!

I just ordered a set from Jaxon (Tabasco), and they are a big improvement over stock. Especially considering the stock were trashed after only 40K miles and provided very little bottoming resistance in the first place.
40K miles on stock suspension is really good. Bang for the buck you will be hard pressed to get better than Ohilns products. OTOH, being a 600+ lb bike, there is only so much you can do to improve the handling. I'm personally a big fan of Race Tech products. I'll be waiting until about the 10,000 mile mark and have mine re-valved and wearable parts replaced.

The cool thing about the Ohlins cartridges is they are a simple drop in product for the forks and bolt on shock for the back. The disadvantage is when it comes time to replace the wearables. Special order for bushings, shims, seals, oil lock pistons/cups, compression side base valve, etc. The Ohlins suspension products are very high maintenance products that require a lot of attention to get the best lasting performance.
 

AVGeek

Well-Known Member
Founding Member
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
Sep 5, 2010
Messages
2,780
Location
Boulder City, NV 89005
Alright, one of the great things about the internet in general and forums in particular is how we can share information with people all around the world. At the same time, one of the drawbacks is that cultural and language differences can create drama where there doesn't need to be any. The fact that one person did not find the expense to be worth the return is just as valuable as someone who found it to be the best thing they have ever done. So just a reminder to keep discussions civil, and on topic. Personal attacks are not allowed and such posts will be removed.
 
Top