Ohlins front-end makeover

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Despite playing with the pre-load and compression damping, I'm using up virtually all of the front suspension travel - although it's never quite bottomed out.

My dealer is trying to talk me into having Ohlins internals fitted to solve the problem - he hasn't given me a price yet apart from "not cheap"

Obviously it would be churlish for a slow old fart like me to complain about the handling of the F4, but has anyone out there had this mod done, particularly on a Senna? What was the result? How about just changing to slightly harder springs and leaving the rest as is?

Thanks in advance for any advice..........

-- Ralph Goldstein (ralph@eurograv.co.uk), January 10, 2003

Answers

There's a difference between using up all the travel and actually getting adverse affects from this. Is the bike not handling like you want or do you just want a new front end?

I am gradually increasing preload and rear ride height to get the bike to turn with a little more confidence. I found that the front end became just ever so slightly vague, before raising the ride height, during initial turn in. This is counter to what you would normally think, but it is true in my case.

If you are having similar problems, maybe some adjustments are all you need. I ride the bike pretty hard, and I definitely don't have any major complaints about the suspension yet. What the bike needs is careful setup. You can definitely make a good thing better with just time and screwdrivers/wrenches. The stock springs on both ends could probably be half a tick heavier though to increase the amount of preload adjustability available.

I'm beginning to think that setup is a major difference between the stock MV and Senna which is what makes so many raves about the Senna (Superbike mag).

-- Andy Ruhl (quadreverb@yahoo.com), January 10, 2003.


Can any of the Senna owners out thier give us the stock settings? I would be interested to compare the Senna's numbers with my F4. I have no complaints but if I could make a good thing better then I would appreciate any info. Thanks

-- Kevin Warner (kwarner@11thhourbiz.com), January 11, 2003.

yep-exactly the same,going into corners arse end wagging about amd back wheel patering on catseyes etc,ended up full preload on the front a couple of extra clicks on compression,another thing is take the sag out of the rear,mine had 35mm-Maxton reckon 10mm is enough.ended up with a maxton front fork conversion and rear shock- now that is the dogs!

-- mike tilston (mike@tilston00.fsnet.co.uk), January 11, 2003.

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