30 mm fork cartridges in a 2010 Fat Bob 49 mm

I have been working closely with Öhlins USA to bring home some of the technology we learn from Sport Bikes and cross over and develop them for Harleys.  The reason why I wish to do this with a heavier and less performance oriented bike:

1. The bike will track much better and provide enhanced traction.
2. Extreme comfort for longer distance riding.
3. Increased Safety
4. Road Performance

As we all know that the Harley is argumentatively the best road bike for longer distance riding than the local bar.  The Harley does this really well depending on the model.  The bike can be made to ride much more comfortable by spending a few sheckles on some premium suspension.  Add as much horsepower as you like but if you do not have the suspension to control your bike at speed, just what do we have?  I personally have chosen to do something about it myself.  Defending Daytona Sportbike champion Danny Eslick took of his $13,500 Ohlins Gas Shock Forks and gave the new 30 mm cartridges a try HERE LINKY  He choose to keep them on and he is doing really well in our little corner of the world with them. DANNY ESLICK did say while cruising under 150 MPH (don't know the KPH)  the bike was very comfortable and supple.  

I just received the parts and here are the results a set of 30 mm cartridges in a Fat Bob.  My V-Rod 49 mm conversion forks with dual disk 320 mm MMC rotors & real Brembo are going to be put on my 2005 FXD

and tested by me next week (I hope).   (Check oput the Ohlins #6 shocks I just developed)

 

I purchased a professional video camera and will show how to re-spring, re-valve, and install the cartridges as well as how to properly re-build your forks and other helpful hints and tips.

with these calipers and my 320 mm MMC rotors (>2 lbs each) the MMC rotors are not shown here

but they are on my FXR here

What is to see?  Riders

Danny Eslick (Superbike 600cc),

 

Elena Myers, First Female to Win in AMA Pro Racing (Supersport),

Tommy Hayden/ Yoshimura Suzuki (Superbike 1000cc),

& Blake Young/ Yoshimura Suzuki (Superbike 1000cc) are all running them. 

Ohlins 30 mm cartridges are the hottest ticket out there today.

 

 

mate very interesed in this topic i have a 09 fatbob with a true track and a little tune, i do realy like the bike handles great but the front and rear schocks are absolute crap and need to improve for safety and comfort.
i know one guy on this site installed upside down forks made for a harley shit they were about 2 grand i thought about a suzuki front end second hand but most wrecked bikes cop it in the front end.the rear shoud'nt be to hard but iam confused about 30 mm cartridges do they fit in the 49mm forks or do you have to change them.the front end of my rocket 3 was one of the best suspensions i have ever experianced on a big bike theres no reason the harley cant be just as good.
i would appreciate a bit more info and costs i think a lot of people might be interested.
regards
swinks

swinks, To answer your questions one at a time:

 

1. Öhlins rear shocks are in most cases from the USA less expensive than the inferior aftermarket shock you are forced to buy such as YSS.  I purchased every YSS shock they had and tested them all prior to applying for a YSS dealership.  It was apparent I chose to sell the best quality & performance and not concern myself with those who wished to compromise performance for “saving” some money.  I passed up this opportunity.
2. Which inverted forks for a Harley?  There is a huge difference in technology and performance between brands.  You can get an Ultima for $600 and it only looks inverted for instance, no advantage as they even weigh more than OEM.  Just because the fork is inverted does not mean it is any better than what you have.  Know what you are buying.
3. Depending on which model Suzuki front end, here are the problems you must overcome:
   1. The triple trees have a different steering stem offset so the trail must be calculated due to the increased steering stem rake of a HD.  21* ~ 22* on a Suzuki V/S 28* ~ 30* on different year Dynas. 
   2. Now the length problem, the Suzuki (depending on models and years) range from 720 ~ 735 mm.  Your forks are 800 mm approximately to center of axle. 
   3. The center of triple tree fork mounting clamps determines which size hub you would use in order to center the calipers in the rotors. 
   4. The Suzuki uses a 17” wheel and the Dyna in most cases uses a 19” wheel.  Depending on the tire choice of the 17” the nearest you can get to the 19” is 1 ½” smaller which means your fork than lost ¾”. 
   5. The steering stem on the Suzuki is much thicker than the Harley 1” steering stem.  You need to fabricate a new steering stem.
   6. The springs on a Suzuki are made for a much lighter bike.
   7. The fork tube thickness on a Suzuki is made for a much lighter bike.
   8. The shims in the cartridges on a Suzuki are made for a much lighter bike.
   9. Outside of overcoming those problems the conversion is a piece of cake.
4. These special 30 mm Öhlins cartridges are designed to drop right into the 49 forks, weather it be V-Rod,  Dyna Lowrider et al., Fat Bob, or dual disk conversion (ya, we do that also including selling triple trees, fork tubes, sliders, and hub conversions for pre- 2006 Dynas to the new style (Mid glide).  You must use either a 25 mm or 1” sealed axle bearing wheel so no Timken Tapered bearings will work.
   1. There is no spring compressor needed for any Öhlins, it can be re-shimmed without too many special tools, and can be installed with very few tools, the same type used to take the OEM fork apart and a few metric open end wrenches (nothing special).
   2. I purchased a professional video camera and will shoot a segment of a girl completely installing them into a stock Dyna, how to rebuild your front forks, and a bonus including how to custom re-shim them.  All can be done on the kitchen table providing if you are bigger than your wife.

 

These cartridges have been developed for this application (HD) by me only.  They are not available anywhere else.  All 30 mm Öhlins fork cartridges are externally adjustable for spring pre-load, compression, and dampening.  Springs are sold separately for the customer’s application requirements.

 

I am a HDForums Sponsor (USA) and it in not correct for me to advertize here as I am not a sponsor (I tried contacting the powers who be with no answer) on this forum so no pricing or contact information can be provided.

 

mate thanks for that. angry posted a link to something similar but i dont think it is the same product as you mention bummer about the politics thought this site wouldnt give a rats arse.some one else could post a link prefer to deal with someone who has the knowlege and has taken the time to explain it to the rest of us monkeys.30 mm cartridges sound the go i never even heard of them and i have been whinging in peoples ears for 12 months that my shocks are crap.
send me a private email and i will fix it for you.

The reason why there is no other persons talking about it is because I am the one (along with Mike "Thermosman" Fitzgerald & Eric/Ohlins USA) who developed this for Harleys.  The very first set was finished on this past week.  The 30 mm cartridges are only out for a few monthis.  Can not figure out how to send a PM or e-Mail.  I play by the rules and always pay my own way.

Mike got his name by being in an establishment when it was being robbed at gun point.  Everything was cool until one of the robbers started beating the woman casher, so Mike inched over and started beating with his thermos the (both robbbers were smaller than the huge Redneck countryboy Mike) wouldbe robbers until they had experienced a severly bad day.  Needless to say no one wanted to get envolved but this was an exception with the woman getting beat down.  The end.  Mike is the Öhlins USA Road Racing Manager.

 

you would think he would just get a larger disk?