Ohlins Blackline with FKC101 cartridge then Racetech

[woodreaux]

A few months ago I bought a pair of the Ohlins Blackline 772 rear shocks (13" length) and FKC101 cartridges for my 13  RGU.

Not to muddy the waters - I did write some notes about some Super Shocks that I bought this time last year strictly as substitute shocks for a pair of Ohlins (08 vintage) that I was considering to have reworked.  Brothers Gary and Bill are using them in their project and will report later.
I threw the Oem shocks away as soon as I bought the RG.

The BL's were configured  by Ohlins for my 160# in boxers.  Preload is set at 7 turns for 19mm sag and 25.4mm of ride height per Ohlins instruction manual and the rebound  is at 24 clicks to the left .

The shocks are firm and with the rebound adjusted a very compliant ride quality is achieved-no wobbling in curves and the take the breath out of you jarring from the stock shocks is gone.

The FKC101 cartridge were installed and I used the Ohlins 19 wt. fork oil with 300ml per fork which is approximately 75mm from top of fork to to top of oil . Initially the cartridges were awesome with the shocks however on really rough roads the cartridges  bottomed -metal to metal - clunk sounding.  After a call to Ohlins I decided to leave them in for another week and the bottoming out worsened and I so  I removed them from the forks due to an upcoming trip.

I suspect the Ohlins cartridge is fine on good roads meaning near track quality.  I will report my discussions with Ohlins later once I get back from my trip. 

I had purchased a Racetech Kit with 1.0 springs and gold valves in February that I had not installed yet in the RGU. After digging through some HTT threads I found a recipe by 04 Se Duece for baggers - Rick had helped me set up my Heritage so I was looking for recommended preload and found it. In short, I used 40mm of preload (total length of pvc spacer with washers =107mm) and 11 oz. of SE 20 wt fork oil.

The Racetech setup as prescribed by Rick absolutely smokes the Ohlins  cartridges for control and ride quality. No bottoming out - yet.

Two weeks ago I set out on a trip from Houston to Fairbanks and travelled the AlCAN last weekend. As many of you know the AlCAN -IMO- can be unforgiving and relentless. It was liquid mud when I went through coming and going. 

Anyhow the BL shocks and Rick's Racetech recipe is a great combination and has been awesome the last 8k miles - if I bottomed I didn't notice -  bridge approaches, road seams and surface irregularities in general are greatly smoothed out compared to the Oem shocks.

What I  remember thinking on the AlCAN is  how the front end absorbed the washboard ripples that were full of liquid mud and water and how the rear did not bottom.

The upper Cassiar highway was pretty rough but started to smooth out after Bell Lodge - again no issues.

Tire change in Smithers BC - on Saturday 9-3-16.  I stopped at the dealership (great shop) for a rear tire and discovered the rear wheel bearings were shot.  New tire and bearings were installed and

I am impressed with the Ohlins BL shocks and what they do for the FLH frame.  I am more impressed with Rick's recipes for Harley's using Racetech components. 

For me - this is a very good combination.

Note- I buy all of my parts and install them myself.

[Hilly13]

He is good like that is Rick, helped me out heaps in the past, Gold valves certainly work well if set up correctly.

[klammer76]

nice write up woodreaux, god to hear. Rick does know what he is talking about and has helped me also with my Works shocks. I want to try the racetech kit also.

To clarify, your black line shock are set up with approx 3/4" initial sag and a 1" overall sag with you on the bike for a total ride height of 12"?

Thanks,
klammer

[Templer]

Race Techs here also!! Dyna custom. The first item noted from OEM was massive front end dive!! Race Techs were advised. At first the valves were setup per the lead service tech with HD fork oil and what HE thought was the adjustments needed for my bike. NO dive and touch down was short and sweet BUT ride was rough. Then I had the fork seals start to leak? Had a certified/trained (I CHECKED) Race tech shop (uses and races dirt bikes WITH same valves in them) rebuild/readjust the tubes and valve setup and installed with the Race Tech oil they recommended. Valve setup with done AFTER questions from the installing tech. Using Race Tech oil and setup based on MY info made for a WAY better ride without loss of sweetness. The installing shop noted setup data and recorded pictures when front end was completed (At my request) just "in case" of "fine" adjustment needed. I would recommend the complete valve/correct spring package be use. Also used "American Made" WORKS rear shocks in OEM length as not to work around geometric changes in the suspension.
The shocks are the duel spring/adjustable by wrench units setup for my Dyna and two up. GREAT LOOKING ALSO!!! Cost of rebuild (had both show signs of leaking ALSO?) is cost of most other shocks NEW!!! The rebuild must also include the replacement of the decals attached to the shocks but as in my case only ONE shock magically COMPLETELY came off?? Still like the ALL "MADE IN USA UNITS"!!!!!!!!!!

[Snowyone]

The Alcan can be brutal but also the best when the weather cooperates.  Been up and down it quite a few times and the best setup I ever had was a 84FLHTC with Race Tech emulaters and springs in the front and works shocks in the rear.  Wish I still had it some days because it was the best handling bike I've owned. I did have the air assist for the front forks to. Last year, while on my fatboy lo got caught in a hail storm near Pink Mountain on the Alcan that stopped me for an hour.  Was like riding on marbles and when I got stopped couldn't hold it upright.  Thunder and lighting banging all around me and me soaking wet and a bike sitting on a kickstand(after I got it back upright).  Was a bit of pucker factor till a pickup stopped and gave me some seat time till the hail stopped.  Anyway I'm always trying something new so tried the cartridges in the front end of my Fatboy.  Slowed up the dive under braking but pretty harsh on bumps.  Will be going back to Race Tech this winter.

[tommy g]

I also tried the RT stuff and sure like what it did, for an economical price as well.

[woodreaux]

The center to center dimension measured 13".   Thanks

[jty]

woodreaux, did you get the ohlins front springs with the fkc101 or did you use the stock springs? how long it took until the bottoming started? I just had fkc101 and ohlins road king springs installed (ohlins fork oil, 80mm) and so far ridden only few hundred miles (two-up, bike fully loaded) and the front works perfectly on very bad roads. Day and night difference on gravel with potholes. rk nose is much lighter than rgu, though. I have rk 773 blackline in the rear, not yet happy with the adjustment as with full load it's the back that bottoms out, plan to add more preload. thanks for your measurements.

[Smarty]

woodreaux, did you get the ohlins front springs with the fkc101 or did you use the stock springs? how long it took until the bottoming started? I just had fkc101 and ohlins road king springs installed (ohlins fork oil, 80mm) and so far ridden only few hundred miles (two-up, bike fully loaded) and the front works perfectly on very bad roads. Day and night difference on gravel with potholes. rk nose is much lighter than rgu, though. I have rk 773 blackline in the rear, not yet happy with the adjustment as with full load it's the back that bottoms out, plan to add more preload. thanks for your measurements.

I too have had nothing but great experiences since I went with Ohlins front and rear shock setup. Greg, give me a call and let me help you with this problem. This was the first I heard of it. Just got back off of a 7200 mile ride to Canada and never had a problem front or rear bottoming up two and loaded down with too much stuff. No front end dive and will carve a curve like no other Harley I've owned. We sell what we ride. We will make it right with backup from Ohlin.

[tommy g]

Woodreaux, on your trip to Alaska were you by chance travelling with a gent on a Sporty?

[woodreaux]

Hey Smarty, glad you guys had fun in Canada - I elected not to call you because I knew you were in Canada, the Ohlins folks was heading out to Sturgis and I was leaving for Alaska in 6 days. 

For clarity - I decided I would call you after I got back because I had the RT kit on the bench.  I am still going to call you when I get in and we can sort this out then. I look forward to finding out what's going on.

Folks when I installed the the Ohlins cartridges I went out to the Texas Hill country for a 2000 mile weekend test ride and the cartridges were excellent.  I estimate that I was in the area of 3k when I noticed the issue. 

I will report what's going on with the cartridges  and will take ownership if its owner error. 

BTW- I am not bashing Ohlins, thought I was reporting more on Rick's recipe for the RT setup.

I am still on the road and what still  impresses me is the ride quality of these Ohlins shocks.

For the record, to date I have had progressive, works, super and Ohlins (gen 1) shocks and I like these best for me.

Travel solo as my riding pal passed a few years ago.  We just rode well together and always had fun and knew what to do in situations.

The shop in Great Falls, Mt did me right by working me in for service on the way up.  I appreciate their efforts to minimize down time that day as I was racing to Lethbridge.

JTY, it took a while to get the Ohlins dialed in - preload and rebound adjustment then ride and make notes and compare notes and repeat til you get it. PIA and worth it.  Smarty and I agree that it's not they stole the bike it's they took the Ohlins.

[Smarty]

Hey Smarty, glad you guys had fun in Canada - I elected not to call you because I knew you were in Canada, the Ohlins folks was heading out to Sturgis and I was leaving for Alaska in 6 days. 

For clarity - I decided I would call you after I got back because I had the RT kit on the bench.  I am still going to call you when I get in and we can sort this out then. I look forward to finding out what's going on.

Folks when I installed the the Ohlins cartridges I went out to the Texas Hill country for a 2000 mile weekend test ride and the cartridges were excellent.  I estimate that I was in the area of 3k when I noticed the issue. 

I will report what's going on with the cartridges  and will take ownership if its owner error. 

BTW- I am not bashing Ohlins, thought I was reporting more on Rick's recipe for the RT setup.

I am still on the road and what still  impresses me is the ride quality of these Ohlins shocks.

For the record, to date I have had progressive, works, super and Ohlins (gen 1) shocks and I like these best for me.

Travel solo as my riding pal passed a few years ago.  We just rode well together and always had fun and knew what to do in situations.

The shop in Great Falls, Mt did me right by working me in for service on the way up.  I appreciate their efforts to minimize down time that day as I was racing to Lethbridge.

JTY, it took a while to get the Ohlins dialed in - preload and rebound adjustment then ride and make notes and compare notes and repeat til you get it. PIA and worth it.  Smarty and I agree that it's not they stole the bike it's they took the Ohlins.

I feel better now Greg, thought I might have let you down and didn't know why. Damn, what a guy that thinks about me and my trip over the problems he was having. I've gotten to know Greg really well and he is a stand up guy! Glad we didn't have a communication issue. Ride safe my friend. You have a room on your way back to Houston if needed! Cold beer too.

[woodreaux]

A few weeks ago I reported that my Ohlins FKC-101 cartridges had failed just a few days before leaving for Alaska.  After returning from Alaska I contacted forum member Smarty to coordinate returning the cartridges for inspection.  HTT member Smarty is set up as a Ohlins dealer here in Texas.

This week Ohlins sent the attached photo that shows a piece of debris that was trapped in the rebound circuit valve.  The screw driver is pointing to the debris.

The debris was described by Ohlins as a metallic foil similar to the foil seal found on bottles.

The Source of the debris is a mystery to all of us as the Ohlins fork oil bottle does not use the foil to provide a seal.

I was very meticulous in cleaning the fork tubes and sliders prior to installing the cartridges.

Ohlins indicated the debris could have originated in their assembly process.

The upshot is Ohlins did not assign blame and is replacing the cartridges with a bottle of their fork oil .  Note - Ohlins fork oil is 19wt.  They will be here next week.

Smarty and Ohlins did a stand up job in resolving this issue and I look forward to reinstalling them. 

[Hossamania]

Good on them.

[Smarty]

Thanks for the good words Greg. It's been a pleasure working with you and becoming friends as a bonus. Let me know if there is anything more that you need or questions that might come up. Thanks again!

[ShiftyCapone]

Any updates?  I'm really interested in going with Ohlins both up front and in the back.  I had Progressive 970s on the back of my Wide Glide and Traxxion straight rate springs with Intiminators in the front.  Loved the way the back of the bike felt but the front left a little to be desired.  I'd imagine that the little 80/90 tire up front didn't help...

[ThumperDeuce]

I run the Traxxion cartridges on my Deuce.  Not a dramatic change from my Racetech emulator setup but it is noticeable.  The biggest difference I've seen is going over a cobblestone or brick surface.  Kind of a pricey mod.

[04 SE Deuce]

Any updates?  I'm really interested in going with Ohlins both up front and in the back.  I had Progressive 970s on the back of my Wide Glide and Traxxion straight rate springs with Intiminators in the front.  Loved the way the back of the bike felt but the front left a little to be desired.  I'd imagine that the little 80/90 tire up front didn't help...

Traxxion sells Emulators not Intiminators.  I'm guessing you went out of your way to pair Ricor Intiminators with a set of straight rate springs that are an appropriate spring rate for your application.

Unless you modify/re-shim the Intiminators it will be firm/harsh.  The Ricor valves were originally designed/meant to work best a with a soft/mushy spring,  like stock springs.
Other than liability reasons I don't know why Ricor doesn't send extra shims and tuning instructions etc.  Some of their Intimidators even use hardware that requires a special tool to disassemble the valve.

Race Tech emulators are adjustable.  Kit comes with multiple valve springs of different rates that can be set at desired preload amount.  Extra slow speed compression bleed holes are partially drilled in the valve so the end user can finish drill if desired.

In short when using firmer fork springs than stock,  that are best paired with speed sensitive valves,  the emulators are more compatible than the intiminators.   -Rick

[ShiftyCapone]

You are correct.  I said the springs were from Traxxion but figured I didn't need to name the company for the Intiminators as it's a fairly unique name.

My experience was similar to that which you detailed.  I went one spring rate lower from the recommended rate spring for my weight, cut my spacers to accommodate proper sag with my preload adjusters halfway down and it was still a bit stiff.  I ended up selling the bike before playing around with other weight oils and/or configurations.

[woodreaux]

Shifty - no updates as I have been assigned to a project in North Dakota. I get a weekend pass back to Texas once a month and there's so much to do like ride when I'm in Texas.   It looks like next summer will be the soonest when I will be able to re-install the Ohlins.

I like it up here - wish I had brought the RG.