Ohlins vs Penske shock advice

[nondairycreamer]

What are the recommended intervals for rebuilding the Penske and Ohlins shocks and what are the costs? I understand the Penske can be done by owner?

 

[avc8130]

What are the recommended intervals for rebuilding the Penske and Ohlins shocks and what are the costs? I understand the Penske can be done by owner?

I don't know about the Ohlins, but I have been running my Penske 20k miles. I plan to rebuild it myself this winter, mostly just to see what is going on in there.

The shock looks about as difficult to service as the forks, really not that difficult, but a bit more involved than an engine oil change.

Either shock will require the ability to recharge the nitrogen.

ac

 

[fredz43]

On my previous posts about the "bargain" price my sons found on the Ohlins shock, I should refer back to my earlier posts about the importance of having a source that you can work with to personalize your components for you. I have spent additional $$ to get my Ohlins shock properly set up for me. Others that have gone for reliable sources may have spent a bit more, but their suspension components were set up properly from the beginning.

 

[Mchaskell]

What are the recommended intervals for rebuilding the Penske and Ohlins shocks and what are the costs? I understand the Penske can be done by owner?

Ohlins:
"To keep your investment performing at it's design level, Ohlins recommends servicing your street motorcycle suspension every 12,000 to 15,000 miles, and your track/race bike suspension every 10 hours of track time."

Penske:
"We recommend that you have your shock serviced at the end of each racing season. For street applications, we recommend you service your shock approximately every 5,000 miles."

Lindemann Engineering charges $210 for a Penske or Ohlins rebuild.

 

[Duconce]

On my previous posts about the "bargain" price my sons found on the Ohlins shock, I should refer back to my earlier posts about the importance of having a source that you can work with to personalize your components for you. I have spent additional $$ to get my Ohlins shock properly set up for me. Others that have gone for reliable sources may have spent a bit more, but their suspension components were set up properly from the beginning.

That statement says it all, quality wise wether you buy either shock or a wilbers, it's about being able to have someone who can change the valving to what works for you. I find most come with to much high speed compression damping.

 

[avc8130]

One shouldn't see the "maintenance" as a bad thing. Just because the shock stock is not serviceable doesn't mean the same breakdown of oils and components isn't magically occurring.

Instead the opposite is true. The ability to service a significant investment like an aftermarket shock is a GOOD thing.

I know of plenty of people with more than 5k, 10k or 12k miles on aftermarket shocks (Penske/Ohlins/etc) that have not serviced them and they are providing wonderful suspension activity.

As I said earlier, I plan to tear into mine this winter, mostly just to see its "health" after 20k+ miles.

ac

 

[Mzee]

I am not technically oriented, but he discussion is informative. I feel much more knowledgeable. I have ridden on the stock and honestly have never felt the need for another kind of spring or folk, but I like good things too if I understand their value.

 

[Rasher]

One shouldn't see the "maintenance" as a bad thing. Just because the shock stock is not serviceable doesn't mean the same breakdown of oils and components isn't magically occurring.

Instead the opposite is true. The ability to service a significant investment like an aftermarket shock is a GOOD thing.

::026::

Many OE shocks go south much quicker that Penske / Ohlins etc anyway, I aim for 2-3 years / 20k between services, by 20k many OE units are completely knackered, but the slow decline tends to mean people do not notice them going off. A quality shock is almost certainly performing better at service time than the OE one was the day it was new.

I have to service my Wilburs every 2 years to keep up the 5 year warranty, but it only costs £85 and I will get the forks done at the same time, may even get the seals and bushes replaced at the same time if they are not too expensive.

 

[platty]

Well as a result of a loose comment in this thread by Fred (Fredz43) indicating that there just might be one last Ohlins upgrade kit left hanging around ;D

I'm happy to advise that said kit is now somewhere in transit between the States and Melbourne ::026::

Did I need it ... NO :-\ Did I want it ... PROBABLY : But in the end I COULDN'T let the opportunity just drift by No not cheap ... but it was a reasoned decision ::001::

If I rode Stateside I most likely would have gone for the more cost effective Stoltec / Penske option ... but in the end the Ohlins kit might just be a better option down under.

At the moment I'm just doing the front end and the back suspender will have to wait until the Christmas excesses have past

Interestingly I'm also in the process of preparing my XT660R for it's next major off-road adventure and that will be having a small Wilbers upgrade to both ends 8)

But now to end with a question or two ... seeing as Yamaha charge a fortune for genuine spares down-under I'm looking at sourcing the fork dust and oil seals from overseas.

Now the pictures I've seen of the Yamaha OEM parts clearly show the NOK brand so I'm assuming sourcing NOK seals from an alternative supplier would be suitable option.

I'm also assuming that given the bike has only travelled around 20,000 kms (say 13,000 miles) I won't also need to replace the snap rings, oil seal washers or fork bushings.

 

[fredz43]

Well, first off congrats on snagging the last Ohlins fork kit. Or should I apologize for mentioning it, thereby costing you some $$$?

As for parts, my dealer, Niehaus Cycle Sales ships all over the world, so if you want to call them at 800 363 6565 and ask for Char, she can set you up at what should be a savings over your Australian dealer price. With my upgrade, they replaced the seals, dust covers and bushings. Tell Char to look up the parts that they ordered for my bike.

 

[Dallara]

~


Just as an aside...

I don't know how many miles you have on your forks, but when Nick Stolten re-did mine at 21,000 miles he noted a rather large amount of fork bushing wear, and we tossed around the idea of replacing them at that time. Unfortunately one of the bushing sets was unavailable (on backorder) at the time, so we decided to wait. He said he was sure they would be fine for another 10,000 miles or so, but I should think of replacing them by at least 32,000 miles.

OK, so here I am at 35,000 miles and I still haven't changed them, but I check the *feel* of the forks regularly, and I still have no seal leaks (one indicator of bad bushings is the seals start to leak after even gentle rides). The fork oil still looks good, too, so I'm waiting until I pull the front end down sometime in December or January. At that time it's new bushings, seals, the whole works.

Anyway, the point is, if you have some miles on the bike it might be a good idea to lay in a set of fork bushings, upper and lower, just in case... Particularly if you're ordering your parts from overseas.

Dallara



~

 

[arjayes]

If I had all the money I would not LIMIT myself to Ohlins...

LOL

I agree with Rasher. If you are budget-minded, a set of proper straight rate springs and some fresh oil in the front is a good improvement for ~$100 if you can wrench yourself.
MANY guys are very happy with ~$625 spent on springs/oil/pistons/re-shim from Stoltec.
A FEW guys are very happy with ~$2000 spent on Ohlins cartridge kits.

For the rear, pick your poison/budget. Stock sucks. There is no REAL solution working with the stock shock. Options IN THE US, that actually have SUPPORTING dealers:
Penske
Ohlins

Penske 8983: <$900, comp/rebound/ridge height/manual preload
Penske 8987: <$1200, same as 8983 but with separate high and low speed comp adjustments (this is AWESOME)
Ohlins: ~$1100-1250? comp/rebound/hydraulic preload

ac

Sorry for digging up this old thread, but it's a good starting point for my question. I'd like to add the Elka stage 5 shock to ac's list above because it seems like a new and very viable option. The Ohlins vs. Penske debate is clearly not resolvable. I saw no budging either direction in this thread. But the Elka appears to combine the best of both - separate high and low speed compression adj (like the Penske 8987) plus hydraulic preload adj like the Ohlins, at a price point during the group buy of < $1000. What's not to like?

Any opinions from the Penske camp (ac, Dallara, fredz43, et al) or the Ohlins camp (Jaxon, Snakebitten, Karson, et al)?

 

[avc8130]

Sorry for digging up this old thread, but it's a good starting point for my question. I'd like to add the Elka stage 5 shock to ac's list above because it seems like a new and very viable option. The Ohlins vs. Penske debate is clearly not resolvable. I saw no budging either direction in this thread. But the Elka appears to combine the best of both - separate high and low speed compression adj (like the Penske 8987) plus hydraulic preload adj like the Ohlins, at a price point during the group buy of < $1000. What's not to like?

Any opinions from the Penske camp (ac, Dallara, fredz43, et al) or the Ohlins camp (Jaxon, Snakebitten, Karson, et al)?

The only opinions I have are based on industry hearsay from jaded sources.

ac