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[Limited Lou]

Howard still has a relationship with Ohlins as well.

OK thanks. I had some JRI installed by him and I just took it the wrong way on Ohlins..

[FLHTCUSE7]

Öhlins are light years ahead of the crap that come stock on our bikes.

Good choice

[SDCVO]

I think Howard moved on and is selling JRI shocks.. I kinda asked and the answer was JRI now... Some one correct me if wrong...

I think Howard is back on Ohlins pretty much full on from what I read on another forum. He said personal changed at JRI and they are not the same. When I got mine he told me that nothing made was close to the Ohlins with the separate reservoirs. I have over 20000 miles on them now and have always completely enjoyed them!

[05Train]

I think Howard is back on Ohlins pretty much full on from what I read on another forum. He said personal changed at JRI and they are not the same. When I got mine he told me that nothing made was close to the Ohlins with the separate reservoirs. I have over 20000 miles on them now and have always completely enjoyed them!

Yeah, I'm not sure what's happened with his relationship with JRI.

I spoke to Marcus (the Harley guy) at JRI a few weeks ago and ended up getting heavier springs than what Howard had spec'd for me.  Drastically altered my sag and damping settings as well, and the shock is far, far better than it was.

Howard's a really good guy and his attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction is second to none.  You can't/won't go wrong with either a JRI or an Ohlins.

[kmh364]

Yes, I am capable and do "ride" all my bike(s) to their limit(s) and beyond.  Zoom -in and ck the right floor board, FB, mounts and Tru-Track mount on the oil bag on the FLHRCI. This is also THE only time you'll likely see any significant chicken strips and rubber "t*ts" on my tires,...they're freshly-installed in the pic.

I'm not an Iron-Butt rider by any stretch, but that R/K Classic is well-worn and has been all over this great land. It's seen plenty of 400-600-plus mile days solo, fully-loaded and/or two-up in all weather/seasons for weeks on-end.

I'm a prolific MSF Rider Coach specializing in ERC's and ARC's for 10yrs, with a total of 30 soild years on-road in the saddle (15yrs on mostly H-D baggers). I can, and do, ride it 'like a pro". I drill myself and all my bikes on the M/C range and on-road constantly to keep my riding skills, both at low and high speeds, at a high level and razor-sharp.

I figure the Ohlins shocks are transferable to any new H-D bagger, as I swap bikes out every two years and the dampers are fully-rebuildable, making them a sound investment IMHO. As far as the R/K Classic, the Ohlins suspension will be there for life unless it goes, or gets thrown-down, the road. Heaven forbid!

Regards,

K M Hogan
MSF #121548
NJMVC DCN# 618

[spada84]

Yes, I am capable and do "ride" all my bike(s) to their limit(s) and beyond.  Zoom -in and ck the right floor board, FB, mounts and Tru-Track mount on the oil bag on the FLHRCI. This is also THE only time you'll likely see any significant chicken strips and rubber "t*ts" on my tires,...they're freshly-installed in the pic.

I'm not an Iron-Butt rider by any stretch, but that R/K Classic is well-worn and has been all over this great land. It's seen plenty of 400-600-plus mile days solo, fully-loaded and/or two-up in all weather/seasons for weeks on-end.

I'm a prolific MSF Rider Coach specializing in ERC's and ARC's for 10yrs, with a total of 30 soild years on-road in the saddle (15yrs on mostly H-D baggers). I can, and do, ride it 'like a pro". I drill myself and all my bikes on the M/C range and on-road constantly to keep my riding skills, both at low and high speeds, at a high level and razor-sharp.

I figure the Ohlins shocks are transferable to any new H-D bagger, as I swap bikes out every two years and the dampers are fully-rebuildable, making them a sound investment IMHO. As far as the R/K Classic, the Ohlins suspension will be there for life unless it goes, or gets thrown-down, the road. Heaven forbid!

Regards,

K M Hogan
MSF #121548
NJMVC DCN# 618

Awesome.  That's the way it ought to be.  One of the best complements I ever got was from a Suzuki SV rider who had his bike modified for corner carving.  I waved him past on US33 east of Seneca Rocks in WV.  I tailed him all the way to Harrisonburg.  We stopped at a light and he flipped up his shield and said "I didn't know you could ride a bike like that, like that!".  That was on my '08 Anniversary Ultra (non-CVO).  Last year, another CVO rider and myself, both 2 up, came upon a group of BMW riders headed east out of Monterey, VA on US250.  Came to the first tight turn and I almost rode up the exhaust of the last bike.  I backed off, but kept my following distance the same thru straights and turns.  They turned off and the next available road.  My riding companion (John) came over the CB and said we embarrassed them off the main road.  That night at the hotel, a group sporting BMW regalia came into the dining room.  We had spoken to other obvious riders in the room that night, but these guys totally ignored us.  John supposed that they were "the group".  We wanted to go ask, but our wives held us back.  The 2 of us have a peculiar sense of humor.  We are not allowed to sit together when with the larger group 

[kmh364]

Just pulled the trigger on the HD-357 "Motor Officer Special" shocks as well as the brand-new FKC-101 25mm cartridge fork kit. I've been personally waiting for them for months, and now that they're finally available from Sweden, there's only a small handful left @ Ohlins USA HQ in NC. They should be here by the end of the week, and, hopefully, I can get them put on the following week. While this is for my FLHRCI and not my CVO Ultra, which is being sold for (hopefully) a new CVO Limited in the fall, it'll determine if the new CVO gets the same treatment. All indications are that this is the be-all/end-all in H-D suspension WRT a smooth, comfortable ride and improved control & handling. Wish me luck!

Regards,

Kevin M Hogan
MSF #121548
NJMVC DCN 618

[kmh364]

Here's the HD-357's installed on my FLHRCI


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[kmh364]

The HD P&A chrome saddlebag filler strips made perfect remote reservoir mounts for the anodized alloy remote reservoirs


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[kmh364]

The front Ohlins cartridges went in like buttah, according to my tech.

They shipped their "special" (probably 5W-7W) Ohlins Fork Oil that they claim they have as much R&D time into as the cartridge damping valving and spring rates, as well as some install "tools" made out of sheet metal (for an extra $30). Of course, I replaced both inner and outer fork slider bushings, oil seals/dust shields and even the damper rod (now cartridge) lower leg bolts and copper crush washers, as well as drain screw washers, all with OEM H-D (i.e., SHOWA) parts.

I'm told, that the dreaded now-obsolete air manifolds are history as the kit includes o-ringed screw caps to block off the air adjust system and seal the top end of the fork tubes once and for all. Finally! I hated that d*mn leaky air-adjust crap, prefering to run just ATM pressure (i.e., 0 psig) to avoid that wonderful 16" front wheel "tuck" sensation, loss of road feel, and the unwanted transference of front-end stiffness to an already overly-flexy frame.

My biggest problem: I can't provide a riding impression/review of the installed and correctly tuned/adjusted suspension system yet!

The bike is still in the shop awaiting custom front and rear Spiegler Teflon-lined S/S braided brake lines. After numerous tries (and failures) by my past dealer to get them right, the ill-fitting existing "custom" Goodridge stuff was ready to fail, so I'm finally, hopefully, getting the right stuff. It just takes time. About 10days to be exact.

FWIW, When they tell you that an aftermarket brake system (Performance Machine, in this case) is a direct "bolt-on" replacement, don't believe it! While the PM 6-piston differential bore dual front calipers and 11.5" PM S/S rotors with billet spiders, and the PM rear 4-piston differential look and work MUCH better than the craptastic stock brakes,  the banjo and bleed fitings are in totally diferent places, rendering any "stock" or H-D P&A brake line solutions useless. PM's "custom" Goodridge stuff was merely bulk lines with universal, screw-type fittings.

[kmh364]

Just got the bike back today. The verdict:

It's still not a sport-bike, LOL!

Seriously, improved ride quality, stability, resistance to diving during braking, better handling....it's all there in spades. For the first time, that "rocking" sensation is now gone due to the frt & rear suspension FINALLY being tuned properly and correctly matched! The ride is firmer, but still tuned for comfort. The bike's ability to control response to bumps and avoid/eliminate bottoming is greatly improved.

I plan on really shaking the bike down this WE and putting it through its paces. Today was just an initial re-familiarization ride with the bike. So far, so good!

More to follow.



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[SDCVO]

Just got the bike back today. The verdict:

It's still not a sport-bike, LOL!

Seriously, improved ride quality, stability, resistance to diving during braking, better handling....it's all there in spades. For the first time, that "rocking" sensation is now gone due to the frt & rear suspension FINALLY being tuned properly and correctly matched! The ride is firmer, but still tuned for comfort. The bike's ability to control response to bumps and avoid/eliminate bottoming is greatly improved.

I plan on really shaking the bike down this WE and putting it through its paces. Today was just an initial re-familiarization ride with the bike. So far, so good!

More to follow.



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looking forward to hearing how they perform "under pressure".. I am sending my forks to Howard at Motorcycle Metal first week in Sept so he can install the Ohlins. I have run the rears for 22000 miles and love them. Currently have the HD premium cartridges in the front and hoping for a big improvement with the Ohlins!

[FLHTCUSE7]

Öhlins are great but they can't do wonders. Face it our HDs are not made to be great handling. They are at best mediocre.

[kmh364]

SDCVO: will do. I'm planning on riding it hard all weekend.
FWIW, I'd recommend a refresh  of those fully-rebuildable Ohlins rears when you do the fronts. You'll love them, IMHO.

Rotarywing: Ohlins isn't claiming you'll get a Gixxer when you upgrade to their suspension. They've concentrated on control, stability and ride quality. You're simply buying the best suspension available for your H-D at any price and your bike is going to handle as good as is possible. You've got a boxer that I'd venture you use when you really want to carve corners, just as I do with my Ducati. Having said that, I've embarrassed many riders riding superior-handling machines on my flexi-flyer FLHRCI...now more than ever being Ohlins-equipped, catch me if you can!


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[SDCVO]

SDCVO: will do. I'm planning on riding it hard all weekend.
FWIW, I'd recommend a refresh  of those fully-rebuildable Ohlins rears when you do the fronts. You'll love them, IMHO.

Rotarywing: Ohlins isn't claiming you'll get a Gixxer when you upgrade to their suspension. They've concentrated on control, stability and ride quality. You're simply buying the best suspension available for your H-D at any price and your bike is going to handle as good as is possible. You've got a boxer that I'd venture you use when you really want to carve corners, just as I do with my Ducati. Having said that, I've embarrassed many riders riding superior-handling machines on my flexi-flyer FLHRCI...now more than ever now that it's Ohlins-equipped, catch me if you can!


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i am going to have him rebuild my rears when i send him my forks. run that baby hard so we can get a good report!!!