Ohlins Suspension makes a big difference??

[jjninja]

Hi there,

Everyone talk about Ohlins shoks, for most are the best quality suspension abailable today for our bikes (I own a standard mille), is it really true?, I mean is it completely necesary to change the standard suspension? and upgrade to the ohlins for the much better track perfomance?. I've been riding only a few times with the mille at the track, where is the most of time I've spent with this bike. I'm not so sure that if I'd change the standard schacs shock, It will improve my rider abilities, because nowadays I don't know much about suspension setup, one thing I've heard so many times is that Ohlins is very sensitive to changes with only two o three clicks, everything can go much better o worst.

What do u think?

[Scooter]

Better- yes. That is the easy answer.

Your standard front will perform outstanding if you spring it to match youre weight and maybe change to aftermarket valves.

There is no need to dump your standard front end. Properly tuned it will outperfrom most of the people on this forum, myself included. The Ohlins might be a little smoother and the radial brakes a little stronger, but this is a very small difference and only makes it easier to ride fast, not a guaranteed ticket to dropping lap times, if that makes sense.

If you have the 05 standard front with the radial brakes you have an awesome setup. The 04's and below are still great forks. Just get it sprung for your weight and you have an awesome suspension. Go to a knowledgeable suspension tuner and have him take your numbers and see how far off you are and get his advise.

Now the rear end would probably be worth a change. The Sachs rear is just to mushy for my taste. Great for street riding, though. If all you are doing is track days, hoowever- just keep it. It will perform fine. Save the money towards track fees and tires (or tyres as they say over there).

Enjoy the track.

[jjninja]

Thanks scooter for you reply, I own a 03 standard mille, just got supercorsa street tires, as an extra it's ohlins steering damper, I drooped the front suspension to 6 lines, I've found that with the standard 4 lines the bike just woulnt got in to turn, now It handles more like a 600cc. I haven't found stability problems jet, cause the tracks where I go there aren't big speed turns. For the money that is not plenty, I will try to save it for a good set of track tires and track fees. However to put a ohlins to replace the standard rear shock will be my choice

My next two step it's to put a leo vince aluminium tail, just to save some pounds, aswell as to keep the original tail safe of falls, do I need to change the air filter to get more fresh aire for the mix?.

My other steep It's to change the rear sproket to a 45?? which number is the standard?.

see guys at the track

[Jet City Racer]

Try putting the forks back to 4 lines showing and add 5-8mm of ride height to the rear shock instead. Less prone to tuck the front end that way as well as steepening the swingarm angle which will give you better traction on corner exit.

Works for me.

:peace:

[Scooter]

I totally agree with Don, here. It is always better to raise the rear than drop the front. Ditto what he said.

I have found a 44 rear sprocket will pretty much be a good starting point on all tracks. Most of the time I used a 43 or 44. Standard for your bike is a 42. Standard rear for the new bikes is a 40 I have learned the hard way.

[Aprilia94]

The new bikes ('04+) also have a different internal gear ratio, so you can throw all your old combo ideas out the window.

[20Hz]

Try putting the forks back to 4 lines showing and add 5-8mm of ride height to the rear shock instead. Less prone to tuck the front end that way as well as steepening the swingarm angle which will give you better traction on corner exit.

Works for me.

:peace:

Do you know why it's less prone to tuck this way? just curious.

I feel stupid asking this but how does it equate, dropping the front vs raising the rear? Is it a 1:1 thing? Like if you dropped your forks back down through the tripples 5mm you'd jack the rear ride height up 5mm?

[clarkie49]

The is a lot of different information out there but check this out for one version of it, they have a lot of good info on the GMD site

http://www.computracknyc.com/geometry.htm