Ohlins - is it worth it??

Hi all - glad to be a member of this forum after some months lurking!

I've got a K4 SV650S (yellow, but that's the wife's choice) on which I'm doing at least 12,000 miles a year. All weather rider, trackdays looming in the summer, Goodwood in June and a trip to Berlin in August all planned. Love the bike to bits and my 15 month daughter does a great impression of opening up the throttle!!

Being a big bloke (15.5 stone and 6 ft 2,), my dealer has recommended Ohlins shock on the rear and Ohlins springs up front. I've been complaining to the dealer for some time about the poor suspension for a fat knacker, and he claims this will sort my problems (a diet has also been mentioned, but let's not go there).

Wanted to know - is this mod worth the money (which will be about 700 GBP all in, at least a grand including 7.5 K service)? Are the resale values on the springs and shock good - cannot seem to find any on ebay.

Also getting Conti Attack tyres put on to improve the feel.

Anyone got any ideas?

Cheers

Hello!

Ohlins springs for the front are £80 + £10 for heavier fork oil - not a bad price.

However for a replacement rear shock, I think spending £600 is unnessecary. For £50 you can get a good GSX-R (K1 onwards) shock from ebay

Hello and welcome to the site...

As Flaming squirrel said.. save your money and get a Gixxer shock....

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

Hello!

However for a replacement rear shock, I think spending £600 is unnessecary. For £50 you can get a good GSX-R (K1 onwards) shock from ebay

Hmm, did consider that. However, both dealers told me that doing so would invalidate the warranty - which I'm very keen to maintain. The money is not really the issue (good bonus this month ) - it's more a question of would the Ohlins shock make enough of an improvement to make it worthwhile?

Why would a GSX-R shock invalidate the warranty, but an Ohlins wouldn't?

I've not tried an Ohlins shock, but the GSX-R makes a big improvement. I can't imagine paying ten times the price on an Ohlins will be ten times better.

Because, apparently, the Ohlins shock is an approved upgrade, whereas the GSX-R shock is a "botch", to quote Suzuki.

Hey, I'm new here - what do I know!

Well a dealer would have a hard time convincing me that say, my engines blown up because I've changed the rear shock, so Suzuki GB would recieve a snotty letter!

But the SV is such a cheap bike, I don't consider the warranty being worth very much. The very worst that could happen is the engine dies, and you can get a replacement for £300 anyway - less than an Ohlins shock!

Suspension mods are always a tricky one when it comes to warranties as they affect how the bike handles - I would think that the dealer probably has a valid point. Maybe suzuki are worried that the bike will vibrate itself to bits with the (harder) gsxr shocker on it?

You will notice a big difference with the ohlins kit, although there are cheaper manufacturers (e.g. maxton) which will offer similar changes.

Why don't you take it to Steve Jordan Motorcycles in Great Bookham, Surrey?

Not only are they a Suzuki dealer, Steve is an Ohlins suspension technician.

If Steve sets up your GSXR shock you've got to be fairly well covered if Suzuki try to be awkward later...

[quote="Mike1234"]Why don't you take it to Steve Jordan Motorcycles in Great Bookham, Surrey?"..[/quote
Please read post further down for follow-up to this....