Mike Stewart Posted October 18, 2003 Share Posted October 18, 2003 Dudes, The numbers on my Ohlins rear shock spring on my 03 Rosso are 1091-26/85 L262 I am trying to convert this to pounds so I can cross reference this to my 00 V11Sport. Currently I have a 550 lb. spring on my V11Sport which feels way too stiff, I need to know the kg. of the Ohlins so I can do the conversion. Thanks dudes, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlaing Posted October 18, 2003 Share Posted October 18, 2003 Sorry, I don't know the answer...But what is your sag with each bike? I assume all the preload is dialed out of your Penske??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldini Posted October 18, 2003 Share Posted October 18, 2003 Mike, My understanding is that the /85 refers to an 85Kg spring. Re spring rates - are 'Kg' & 'N/mm' same, anyone? KB, Wales Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Posted October 18, 2003 Share Posted October 18, 2003 262 may refere to the over all wieght in Kilos 2.2lb's to the kilo so your 550lb spring is rated at 250kg's. Although proceded by the L kinda suggests that is the overall length in mm. Is there anything on the Ohlins web site? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Stewart Posted October 18, 2003 Author Share Posted October 18, 2003 Yes, the spring is an 85 kg. mm. and there is a way to convert it to lbs. in. A friend of mine did a rough est. last night using a conversion that he made up and it came out to be 475 lb. in. for the stock Ohlins spring. I just do not know if his way of figuring out the conversion is correct. The LE respring and Penske springrate both use 550 lb. in. and both shocks are very, very harsh no matter where the sag is set. Thanks, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldini Posted October 18, 2003 Share Posted October 18, 2003 Mike, Could it be the harshness is caused by the damping rather than the spring? I have a Scura to which I fitted a 100Kg spring in place of the std 85. The spring is great, & shock works pretty good now, but I feel that the high speed compression damping is too stiff, causing harshness over sudden, sharp bumps. I understand this is not adjustable on my shock unless it's dismantled, the external adjuster only affecting low speed damping. KB, Wales Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_roethlisberger Posted October 18, 2003 Share Posted October 18, 2003 Very true, this is often the case, where the compression damping is actually the culprit. Try backing it all the way out, then all the way back in... then start taking compression out a few clicks at a time, ride, adjust, ride... and see if you note an improvement. If not, you may need a new spring and/or high-speed compression valving set on the shocks. If the sag is correct without much preload necessary, the spring rate is probably close. al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Stewart Posted October 18, 2003 Author Share Posted October 18, 2003 Baldini, I also think the compression dampening is too stiff, I wanted to go to a lighter spring to make sure that was the cause before sending the shock back to have it revalved. The first 2 inches of travel feel fine but after that it is way too stiff. The freeway expansion joints in California will jar the fillings loose from your teeth, and bump you cheeks off the saddle with any slight bump. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_roethlisberger Posted October 18, 2003 Share Posted October 18, 2003 I thought the Penske had high-speed compression damping adjustability(external) or did you just get the "2 way" adjustable shock? al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Stewart Posted October 18, 2003 Author Share Posted October 18, 2003 Al, There are only 6 compression settings on the Penske shock. I do not really feel that much difference between them. They use a rotating drum with six different sized orifices to control low speed compression. I think the high speed dampening is shimmed to stiff thus not allowing fluid to blow by on larger bumps. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Stewart Posted October 18, 2003 Author Share Posted October 18, 2003 I thought the Penske had high-speed compression damping adjustability(external) or did you just get the "2 way" adjustable shock? al I should of spent the extra money for the fully adjustable Penske shock, but it was $400. dollars more. Everyone said the two way adjustable shock would be fine. I think it is just a tuneing thing... Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_roethlisberger Posted October 18, 2003 Share Posted October 18, 2003 But bottom line, you say that the stock high-speed compression damping on the Ohlins seems good? Overall a good package and ride? al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlaing Posted October 18, 2003 Share Posted October 18, 2003 If the sag is "right" with the preload minimized, and it still rides like a freight train, we can assume it is the damping, correct? Your Sachs shock has 50mm of travel to give you ~100mm of wheel travel, so correct sag should be: Sport 20% 20mm 25% 25mm 30% 30mm 33% 33mm Touring Don't ask how I did the math Divide by 25.4 to get inches. FWIW I believe the spring rates are linear even under preload, but preload throws a wrench into calculating proper spring rate. So we cannot say that a 550# spring giving 15mm of travel should be replaced by a 275# spring if you wanted 30mm sag. But you might be able to assume for every pound over the rear axle that it takes to get it to proper sag, you could subtract that from the 550 lbs to find the proper spring rate. But this does not hold true because of the 2:1 ratio, so in fact that weight should be doubled. So, if adding a 100# wife gets the sag to a good number, than you need a 350# spring. WARNING: this is all pure speculation based on absolutely no experience. And even the logic behind the speculation may be wrong.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Stewart Posted October 18, 2003 Author Share Posted October 18, 2003 But bottom line, you say that the stock high-speed compression damping on the Ohlins seems good? Overall a good package and ride? al Al, The Ohlins on the Rosso is great but the aftermarket Ohlins is different. How different, I don't really know. We will have to compare them when you get yours. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Posted October 19, 2003 Share Posted October 19, 2003 Mike, You wouldn't be the first person to find an aftermarket Ohlins shock set-up with too much compression damping, I've been there myself. My first impression of Ohlins shocks (back in the eighties when they were new to the US market) was very poor, sort of a Swedish Marzocchi. I put one on my bike and it rode like an empty truck and the tire was off the ground half the time in the bumps. Remember we are talking about a big guy, I can't imagine what it would have been like for a rider 100 pounds lighter. A quick re-valve and it was the equal of any shock I've ever used. Don't worry, help should near by. It does kinda' piss you off to pay premium prices for something so badly set-up and then pay more (or at least wait even longer) to have it fixed. Cheers, Lex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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