OHLINS REVALVE from JC

[MikeS]

I had a set of Ohlins Frt/Rear done By MX Tech's East Coast. 03 TM125

We had our first 2 hour offroad event this past weekend. It was mainly a 4 mile MX style course.

We found the bike tracked straight but seemed a tad soft and blew through the stroke quickly at both ends when flat landing 15-25 foot jumps and rolling (big whoop) terrain, also braking into a gully or dip had the front tire scraping the fender. Bike was stable at speed and smooth as silk in the rocky and braking bumps.

I tried to call John about 4-5 times but no answer.


I am curious if I should add oil to the front and maybe add more rear preload. Maybe just turn the clickers in a bit.

I just don't want to make changes and have Junior get hurt. (did that once and felt real bad)

This week is some riding in South Jersey (fast sand whoops etc) then off to Florida/Georgia for the GNCCs.

Thanks

Mike

 

[NO HAND]

...the bike tracked straight but seemed a tad soft and blew through the stroke quickly at both ends when flat landing 15-25 foot jumps and rolling (big whoop) terrain, also braking into a gully or dip had the front tire scraping the fender. Bike was stable at speed and smooth as silk in the rocky and braking bumps...

It may be none of my business but I hear the subtank is a good way to add some bottoming resistance while keeping the plush feel over braking bumps. If you like the way it handles the rocks and braking bumps and don't want to lose that. Flat landings are always hard on a bike though. Mx-tech has subtanks and would give you the settings to go along. Just a thought.

 

[russ17]

Mike,
JC is in Indy this weekend. Just thought you might want to know!

 

[MikeS]

Thanks, I guess JC and Jer had a busy week. I forgot about Indy.

 

[MikeS]

John gave me a holler today. I am going to try the increase of compression first. We rode some rock gardens (with still some snow) and Junior was impressed. He was running a gear higher than last year even with the snow. We will try the NJ sand asap as we get ready for the Florida GNCC.

THANKS MXTech JC

Sorry for the panic.

Mike

 

[MikeS]

Long Term Follow up

Well this story went on for a few weeks. :ohmy:

I have to say MXTech will go the extra mile for their customers.

You hear bad storys about a suspension shop from time to time and I now see how this can happen. Patience (lack of)and communication is the cause.

John did our Ohlins for Junior who was still riding GNCC's on the 100 and locally winning the B offroad classes locally in 2003. We talked alot and our suspension was never serviced but they did have pre load set by a dealer. New Years week off they went to MXTech. Our first race was Feb 8 so we had time. Well my first post summed up the first race on the suspension :| . We clicked some as suggested and off to New Jersey to practice for florida GNCC. They bike was still soft but we clicked everything very stiff and got it better. Junior went off on a High speed loop and hung with a few AA riders with a smile on his face, after about a half hour there is no Junior. Oh here he comes laughing. Dad you have to call John..... the forks were collapsed. Junior was a good sport and no one got hurt. Well I tore them down and the springs got stuck by the pre load shims. John said there was funky PVC shims in there that had the forks goofed up before. He used other shims but one set was a tad large in diameter and stuck. Well we got another set and I put them in, reset the oil and off to florida.

We rode a full day of practice tweeking and got them fair. Junior was not real happy. We raced that Florida mud fest and finished. We skipped Georgia. I called John and said they are like a marshmellow. By then we had 15 hours or so on them. We added some oil and reset them plus we went from stock 40 springs to 44s. Off to the same local course from February. Still over plush but turned better but bottomed alot. MX style course and very fast.

Called John Monday and said they are boxed up plus the rear shock has lost the rebound adjustment. The UPS man was now beginning to smirk and see $$$. John had our forks Tuesday afternoon.

My phone rang. Hey Mike just tore them down. WOW. The fluid is toast, 17 hours or so um... Junior must be hammering this thing. Yep he tried. The shock seal let go, why, no clue, crap happens IMO. Those suspect spring shims had frayed in the beginning and slivers of metal and plastic got hung up in the base valve. Can we say too much bleed. John and I talked, he discussed this with his peers and called back. I also did research on the Ohlins and found 20 hours is the max they want between fork services and the Euro set up is negative preload up front as shipped.
John did his home work and we discussed notes. He said yep those shims got you once and now me. I found springs that are 10mm longer and add the 6mm preload we need without shims. :) John added, Since Junior is very agreesive and has given such excellant feedback to us. I made alot of adjustments to the front mid valave and overall valving front and rear.

Got them back Friday and threw them on and it was off to the NC GNCC. We did not test. Well Junior was cautious in running. He got settled and started to get moving. He clipped a root in the whoops and got crossed up. Well that took the wind from the sails. We still had concerns. Monday came and I rechecked every thing to find I never verified the front clickers being in a big hurry. We ended up being way stiff and to fast up front. That root just deflected the front.
John again was very good on the phone. He said he and I were both lucky to be working with a rider that can give us good info. He said I tweeked everything back into the proper direction. This past weekend we spent it just practicing and having fun. Junior said the bike is now better than last year, 100% better than in February and 90%+ to where he wants it.

Thanks John for your time and professionalism.

Our Smiles are back :thumb:

This post is very long but most guys would have bashed the tuner and moved on.

Mike Soudas
Mikey Soudas aka Junior

 

[DEANSFASTWAY]

JC does good work Ive heard that from some local woodsies as well . HEY JC HEY MIKE: Are you guys going to the Cowtown Hare Scrambles this weekend in New Jersey??

 

[MikeS]

JC does good work Ive heard that from some local woodsies as well . HEY JC HEY MIKE: Are you guys going to the Cowtown Hare Scrambles this weekend in New Jersey??

Yes JC does great work. :yeehaw:

Cowtown??? Heading to the wildwest city if that is where you mean :aj:

 

[DEANSFASTWAY]

Yeah Mike ill look for you there if i go , we might head up to Dutchmen for the PA/HS series race. But I might go to Wildwest im not sure .

 

[MikeS]

If you go to the wild west we will be there. Mikey has a TM #55, A200 class.

We did 2 runs at Dutchmen so far in 04, Mikey needs a brake from those 2 hour Moto's..LOL