Ohlins #6 install pics
#1
Ohlins #6 install pics
Thought I'd post a few pictures of my Ohlins #6's installed on my 2011 Ultra. I know when I was considering the Ohlins with the remote reservoir, I was trying to find as many install pictures as possible. I ordered these over one year ago from Howard at MotorcycleMetal and finally got around to installing them yesterday. When I ordered these, I had a conversation with Howard explaining what I was looking for and explaining my riding characteristics, for example I occasionally ride two-up and I sometimes pull either a cargo trailer or a pop-up camping trailer (ie additional tongue weight). You'll notice in my pictures that I have a Bushtec hitch installed on my bike.
During the initial installation of the shocks, I was a bit frustrated since I did not have the appropriate tool to adjust the length of the shocks. One needs a thin (low torque) 17mm wrench to grab the shaft to loosen the 19mm anodized nut. Howard actually took time out of his day to call me after I sent an email to him, and he explained other ways of adjusting the length of the shocks. He also answered a few questions I had in regards to mounting the remote reservoir. I ended up using my dremel on a 17mm Harbor Freight wrench grinding it down till it fit.
To mount the reservoir under the tour-pak, I loosened the four bolts in the tour-pak and lifted it up and inserted a shim (in my case I used a Home Depot five gallon paint bucket stirring stick) under the front and back of the tour-pak.
I probably could have tucked the reservoirs further under the tour-pak, but I thought slightly angling them out would make it easier to reach the compression damping adjuster.
Installing the reservoirs just by myself is a bit of a pain in the *** and a second person probably would have sped up the install.
According to the Ohlins Owner's Manual, they recommend servicing the shocks every 3 years or 18,000 miles. I've been riding almost 20,000 miles per years the last 8 years or so and I'm really not looking forward to removing and installing the reservoirs every year. If it turns out that I'll need to constantly remove and install these, I'm going to come up with a different bracketing system and I'll purchase one of the different clamping systems that Howard has.
I'll follow-up with a review after I put some mileage on the shocks.
During the initial installation of the shocks, I was a bit frustrated since I did not have the appropriate tool to adjust the length of the shocks. One needs a thin (low torque) 17mm wrench to grab the shaft to loosen the 19mm anodized nut. Howard actually took time out of his day to call me after I sent an email to him, and he explained other ways of adjusting the length of the shocks. He also answered a few questions I had in regards to mounting the remote reservoir. I ended up using my dremel on a 17mm Harbor Freight wrench grinding it down till it fit.
To mount the reservoir under the tour-pak, I loosened the four bolts in the tour-pak and lifted it up and inserted a shim (in my case I used a Home Depot five gallon paint bucket stirring stick) under the front and back of the tour-pak.
I probably could have tucked the reservoirs further under the tour-pak, but I thought slightly angling them out would make it easier to reach the compression damping adjuster.
Installing the reservoirs just by myself is a bit of a pain in the *** and a second person probably would have sped up the install.
According to the Ohlins Owner's Manual, they recommend servicing the shocks every 3 years or 18,000 miles. I've been riding almost 20,000 miles per years the last 8 years or so and I'm really not looking forward to removing and installing the reservoirs every year. If it turns out that I'll need to constantly remove and install these, I'm going to come up with a different bracketing system and I'll purchase one of the different clamping systems that Howard has.
I'll follow-up with a review after I put some mileage on the shocks.
Last edited by LQQK_OUT; 08-05-2015 at 05:13 PM. Reason: fixed spelling mistake
The following users liked this post:
firebat (07-18-2016)
#4
#7
Trending Topics
#9
Hmmm.... you're right, the hose does hit my bag lid. How did you adjust yours?
I'm actually considering having Howard convert these and remove the reservoir. I'm thinking plain standalone shocks make more sense for me due to the ease of maintenance, removal and installation.
I'm actually considering having Howard convert these and remove the reservoir. I'm thinking plain standalone shocks make more sense for me due to the ease of maintenance, removal and installation.