Simple Ohlins shock question

twinrider

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The YA013 Ohlins shock comes stock with a 130N/mm spring rate. Does anyone know what rider weight range this covers? Thanks...
 

Rasher

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TenereStreets said:
With a quick look it seems like that will be close to the stock spring rate of around 750 lb/in. Probably too soft.
Yamaha quote 137 for the OE spring, when my bike went to MCT (UK Suspension Specialist) they measured it at about 130, originally on my wilburs shock I had a 150 spring as I was doing a lot of two up, this worked well quite well both solo and two-up but did feel a compromise between solo and two-up (ie a tad stiff when solo without luggage)

As the Mrs now has her own bike I went back down to a 140 and this is pretty good for my 190lb weight, noticeably stiffer than stock, but not by much - this works very well for me both riding laden and unladen and is also better two-up than the stock shock.

You will also find the wider range of adjustment on the Ohlins, I can make the bike feel a fair bit softer or stiffer with a few clicks here and there.

Unless you are a small guy and never load the bike much / ride two-up a slightly stiffer spring will work better.
 

twinrider

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Rasher said:
You will also find the wider range of adjustment on the Ohlins, I can make the bike feel a fair bit softer or stiffer with a few clicks here and there.

Unless you are a small guy and never load the bike much / ride two-up a slightly stiffer spring will work better.
Thanks for the info, does Ohlins list anywhere what weight range the 130 spring is suitable for?
 

MXTZS10

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twinrider said:
Thanks for the info, does Ohlins list anywhere what weight range the 130 spring is suitable for?
Use the contact us from their website they will provide the information. when i picked up my ohlins i had a heavier spring installed, based on my weight and anticipated riding. if you are working with a suspension shop they would be a good source of information as well. The shop i worked with ordered with the correct spring and preload and provided good base settings.
 

offcamber

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MXTZS10 said:
Use the contact us from their website they will provide the information. when i picked up my ohlins i had a heavier spring installed, based on my weight and anticipated riding. if you are working with a suspension shop they would be a good source of information as well. The shop i worked with ordered with the correct spring and preload and provided good base settings.
This is the route I went,...ordered mine through http://www.propilotsuspension.com/ he's got a long thread in the vendor section over at ADVRider. I'm sure our own Tabasco can help as well.
 

~TABASCO~

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VPS1

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I got my rear Ohlin's from Tobasco over a year ago. The whole deal went great for me. We set the bike up for two up riding but after a few thousand miles my wife decided she wanted to ride her own. So, Jaxon set me up with Ohlin's to re-spring it for just me riding solo. They ended up using a nearly new take off spring and charged me next to nothing to swap it in. Really great service from Jaxon and Ohlin's.
 

Ironhand

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I bought mine through our man Tobasco. Sprung, valved, etc., per the questionnaire I filled out. I had it in less than a week. Highly recommended.
 

twinrider

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Thanks for all the replies. I am in Japan and with exchange rates the way they are plus shipping costs, it's less expensive to buy locally.

That is why I was wondering what weight rider the 130 spring is rated for.... :)
 

Rasher

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twinrider said:
That is why I was wondering what weight rider the 130 spring is rated for.... :)
Maybe easier to ask what has worked for other guys / what you make of the current OE setup.

So to kick off I reckon my 140 is about perfect for a 200lb - 220lb (90-100kg) rider - feels a fair bit firmer than OE spring, I think it is partly due to spring being heavier and partly due to firmer damping, being around 185lb I could probably go down a spring weight and be OK, but as I do about half my miles with 3 loaded boxes and like a sporty ride my setup works for me.

I would say if you find the Yamaha OE shock really nice and compliant and it generally works for you then stick with the stock Ohlins spring, I am pretty sure it will feel a lot better due to improved damping and will have a wider adjustment range, my previous Ohlins equipped bikes have given a magic-carpet like ride, pretty sure superior to my Wilburs, but in the UK almost twice the cost.

Two-up is what I found the OE shock hopeless for, even with full pre-load it was saggy, sitting low at the back and had hardly any ground clearance - and would then wallow when pushed (adjusting damping helped a little, but then it also made it feel harsh) with luggage and the Mrs it was a proper wonky donkey.
 

Berg_Donk

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I'm about 115 kgs. I have the 15 kg spring and find with the valving set to suit, it does need more rebound internally, its fine for me solo. I would likely be happy with the 14 kg spring, but when 2 up and loaded, the 15 kg spring comes into its own. I have it set so that solo I have the hydraulic preload wound right off, and 2 up, wound right up with 2 clicks extra rebound and 2 clicks less compression. We also adjusted the spacers internally so its longer than stock for about 22 mm more ride height and wheel travel. Also quickens up the steering with no stability issues for me. Recommended!
 

twinrider

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Thanks for the additional replies Rasher and Berg Donk, very helpful.


FWIW, Dan Kyle says the stock Ohlins 130 spring is rated for a rider weight of 150-230 pounds.
 

Rasher

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I assume they mean solo rider and no luggage, sounds about right.

Wilburs ask for rider weight (in typical riding kit) if you carry luggage (and how heavy your luggage is) if you carry pillion and then the percentages of the time you are solo / two-up / two-up with luggage etc.

For my 95% solo use / 50% loaded with my 190lb + 30kg of luggage they recommended the 140, which seems about right for my mix of riding, if I never put on luggage I would be tempted to try a 130....

....next plan may be another bike for local blatting around and keep the S10 exclusively for the long trips.
 

Rebo14

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Does anyone know if it's possible to remove the reservoir hose from the shock? I would like to move the reservoir elsewhere?


Sent from Rhys using Tapatalk
 

Berg_Donk

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It can be removed, but then you have to reoil and regas. If you jjust take a little tension off the banjo you can turn it OK without loosing much pressure.
 
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