So the 1x98S/SP/R all come with the Swedish gold up front with 7.5wt oil as standard. They are good, but not really that great tbh. Today I spent the day at Steve Jordans (Sarah races the 848) where my front forks needed new fork seals after one of them let go. So instead of just changing the seals, I decided to have the entire front end rebuilt :biggrin: It turns out that the factory Ohlins really aren't all that - specifically the piston valves and needles regulating the oil flow are of a lower factory quality than you might expect with the Swedish golden brand name. The cartridges themselves are good, so Steve's recommendation was to go with the KTech 25mm race piston kit (25SSRK) combined with lighter weight 5wt oil which would bring it up to about as good as you could get without going for full on FGRs. Here's the kit - up close the detail finish is fantastic Watching Steve slowly rebuild the forks today was an awesome lesson in simply taking the time to carefully do it right. After giving my feedback on how the bike rode before the seals went pop, Steve suggested altering a few things. Forks were dropped 0.25", ride height increased a couple mm, low and high speed compression and rebound were all readjusted front and rear. Front end feel has multiplied 10 fold - now you can really feel the tyre working and mashing itself into the asphalt with amazing clarity. Sharp ridges and road edges that previously pinged back have been completely ironed out: the forks are far more responsive, and you can feel them working as they ought to - an effect of the lighter weight 5wt oil. The rear is also working with a damped control previously missing (I think the settings were all out before). All in all, a highly recommended tuneup for your front forks that gets the Ohlins working, imho, as they should.
I have K-Tech 25mm cartridge kit in my 749R Ohlins. They are fantastic - really great feel and super "plush". They feel too soft at low speed but on the track they really are just brilliant. Great choice.
Sure no problem - they were £220 + vat + fitting. That's what I like about them - on the road they feel very plush when just cruising, ironing out all the nasty sharp edges. But put the hammer down, and they responded with immense control and well judged damping. Just what you want from suspension really.
Sorry, only just catching up with the thread again. Yes, this is not a cartridge replacement. I am not using the bike as a dedicated track bike - it is used mostly on the road at more modest speeds, and the 25SSRK feels like a good upgrade for reasonable cost. If the bike were used as a dedicated track bike, a full cartridge kit would provide more control and precision when loading up the bike under track conditions... but then again, I'd probably just go the whole hog and spring for FGRs combined with carbon wheels.
Slightly off the topic , apologies, but is the K-tech kit suitable for the less sophisticated forks in the ST4S ? I have recently had my rear Ohlins rebuilt by MCT and its soo much better that i might ask them if they can do something with the front and wondered if this is a place to start.
I'd change fork springs for a set of Wilbers......£96 +£19.90 for the oil.......and what a transformation....ask Dr Duke about his 900ss and his ST4S......
Good thread mate, and great choice of people to take your bike to. The ktech stuff is held to be every bit as good as Ohlins according to most people these days.
Hi Nog Thanks, i do remember you recommending the Wilbers option before. Is there value in wilbers and K-tech do you think ? Whatever i go for next winter it will be the Stowmarket boys that i go to.
