Well people, after all my griping, moaning, snivelling and generally being a pain about the Tenere's terrible rear shock, I finally put my money where my whinging is and fitted an Ohlins yesterday.

I found the job easy but time-consuming thanks to the top shock bolt requiring a bit of meccano work. Preload adjustment once the shock's fitted is difficult to say the least, but I think it will improve when I shorten the C-spanner a fair bit.

Has anyone got any suggestions as to the preloaded spring length for a 100kg rider? I figured on 205mm, but any advice would be appreciated.

I won't get a chance to ride my bike for a few days, but that's good because I'm going to change the fork oil to 15W before I go out... The original stuff has lost any damping it might have had.

Btw, I noticed the original shock is showing the first signs of a leaking seal. Only 10,000km. Nasty. My experience with Ohlins (Husky 390, TT600R, both std fitment) suggests that it, too, will leak early-ish, but once the seal is replaced it should be fine for ages. In any case, the ride quality will be great to have!

Good luck with the shock...no doubt it'll be a great improvement....by coincidence my other moto (Gas Gas) has Ohlins front and rear with no leaks from the rear shock at all in the 6 yrs I've had it....(forks are a different story though!!)

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i had a bit of a nightmare setting mine up ithad the wrong spring for me

setting up the shock ..i ts best to concentrate on the stattic sag and preload the spring until you have reached the correct ride height

originally i went with a 80nm spring im about the same weight as you
hopfully you will have better advice than me and have the 90 already

the 80nm was too soft to set the sag on the bike i had to near crank it halfway on the preload which affected the stroke ..the ride was far to harsh and kicky
i had it resprung with a 90 and all was well ...the ride quality is great
nice and compliant off road too
the only downside to the ohlins is that when you set the static sag 15/20ml and rider sag around 70 it really does affect the rideheight
as in high ..the bike doesnt sit down anywhere like with the old shock when you get on which is as it should be of course but she sure makes for a tall perch

that said it really is lovley to ride on and im now content

ifound it easier to use the yamha spanner with a axle extendion from a old bike toolkit slipped over the end to set the preload
you will notice it im sure she sure sits proud at the rear on that spring

not sure about 15w oil in the front if you have not changed to stronger springs as it will slow down the return quite a bit
please forgive me if you have stronger springs in already but if not i think it will pack down with heavy oil in ..take another bump before they return to the top if you see what i mean
that said i could be wrong
it would be intersting to see how it goes as the ohlins springs are reccomended with 10w and hypro and hagon come with 15w

this is where the preload is at with the 90 fitted [2nd pic}it was well over twice as much with the 80nm to achieve the correct sag .the red arrow is where the collers were turned to first time around with the 80s fitted in order to get the correct sag ..so the 90 spring is supporting the bike so much more

the nm rating is printed on the spring as in the 80 in the middle
annoying but all is good now

By minkyhead at 2012-01-06

By minkyhead at 2012-01-06

By minkyhead at 2012-01-06


By minkyhead at 2011-09-29

Thanks heaps for your replies.

Hmmm. Minkyhead, you make a very good point about the 90k spring. I should have asked the question before ordering the shock, but the general consensus was that the 80k spring was heavier than the stock one at 70k. Methinks you are right and people were screwing it down so that the ride became harsh. However, it might be that most riders aren't as heavy as we are... Sigh. More expense. But money well spent in the long term, as the 80k spring clearly is not heavy enough, as you say.

I think I'll give the 15W fork oil a go, and if it all turns to ****e, I'll have to buy the new springs. Simple enough to throw them in without having to drain the oil again. Your point is very valid re excessive rebound control using stock springs, and will probably prove to be correct.

The tall perch might be a bit of an issue, as I use an Airhawk cushion as well. I'm about 6ft in the old measure, but even so the ground is a fair way off even now at times! But far better to have good suspension imo.

Thanks again for your comments. I'll order a 90 spring asap. The fork springs will have to wait a while, but no doubt will be fitted eventually.

sound like you have had the same problem its a bummer but
worth it in the end
i got mine cheaper after doing a favour for somone so i cant complain too much
off the road have a scale of weights when you order from them presumably to get the spring rate right {sic]
i should add that i ride off road with me buscuit tin fitted on the back so that doent help either
anyway if you a bigger boy and take luggage a 90 spring is the one to go for chaps

Minkyhead - Just out of curiosity... What happened to your Hagon shock??

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