hmm decisions decisions

[TwinNut]

Blue = pile of poo
Ohlins = controlled rear suspension

Sorry to be a Johnny-come-lately but I've just noticed the thread and DR's comments made me laugh. Gotta agree too, Blue Sachs is utter chod and the Ohlins I fitted was simply amazing........a picture tells a thousand words



Blue =

Ohlins =

[TwinNut]

hmm - what was the shock you took off m8?

just thinking it may be cheaper than getting my white one serviced :)

BTW, if your in no hurry I'm going to have a Falco specific Ohlins (3K miles only) and also a Yellow Spring Mille Sachs in excellent nick for sale in the not to distant (yeah, i know I've said this before but I'm waiting to get my garage back so I can get fettling)....and they'll both be up for grabs once Reactive (cheers Rich ) have rebuilt that Mille Ohlins.

[D-Rider]

Hey Aladinasneuk - watch out for the scouse second hand shock salesman - that Falco-specific Ohlins won't fit with your Mille swinger (the Yellow spring sachs will (with the correct linkages))



And TN ..... this is going to be a long day waiting for this evening's broadcast from Athens .....
BTW .... I like your graphical interpretation of my comments on the shocks.

[danowat]

Nah, blue is fine, me thinks some people are using a "bad shock" excuse for their shoddy riding skills

Blue =

[D-Rider]

Yep, I'm sure it'll cope well with that billiard table.

[TwinNut]

Nah, blue is fine, me thinks some people are using a "bad shock" excuse for their shoddy riding skills

You make a fair point but I've definitely never heard Rossi say 'that Ohlins on my M1 is utter shite, anyone got a spare Blue Spring Sachs"........and there's a reason for this. It's like this, if you give a Chav standard equipment such as a Nova he'll go fast but if you give him much better equipment for the job, such as a Ferrari, he'll got quite a bit faster, badly.

[D-Rider]

..... and along a similar theme, I never noticed Aprilia moving over to commonise the suspension of the RSV/RSVR with the Falco by using the cheaper blue springer.
I think the decision may have been more technically based than just considering the colour scheme.

[HowardQ]

Sorry to interupt the old shock argument, but did anybody have any thoughts on my earlier question?

Just a question for other people, do you need to adjust the ride height when you use the Mille swinger on a Falco, or does the ride height come out the same as with the Falco arm??

Just a thought, but it was Pete's original question re temporary fitting of the Blue spring shock.
The non ride height adjustable Blue spring is approx the same length as the White spring when the latter is wound down to its minimum length.
If you guys with Mille swingers have adjusted the White spring way higher when using on a Falco, Pete may find his ride height a bit low when fits the Blue spring unit back on, but probably should still get away with it for a couple of weeks.
Any thoughts?

[danowat]

I am not going to say that Ohlins isn't good, because it is, but I think too many people, without even some knowledge of what they are talking about, turn round and say the blue spring shock is "shit", it isn't shit, it's not as good as an Ohlins, or other aftermarket shock, but it still isn't shit, it's (once setup PROPERLY) a perfectly usable shock, and it works well enough for the Falco both on road and on track.

How many people, who have changed there shock, even got the original shock setup properly?, how many people now with Ohlins, or other aftermarket shocks, have them setup properly?, how many people have their forks setup properly?, how many people are still running the original fork oil?.

IMO,proper setup and change of fork oil (to a heavier grade) is MUCH more important than slinging another shock on.

Realistically, there is 2 things wrong with the blue spring shock, 1, lack of compression adjustment, this doesn't mean there isn't any, its just tied to the rebound, and, 2, the proximity of the exhaust, which will be an issue on ANY shock you put on.

I am more than happy to pit my properly setup blue spring Falco against anyones, road, track, ploughed field, whatever, wherever, however.

[HowardQ]

Realistically, there is 2 things wrong with the blue spring shock, 1, lack of compression adjustment, this doesn't mean there isn't any, its just tied to the rebound, and, 2, the proximity of the exhaust, which will be an issue on ANY shock you put on.

I am more than happy to pit my properly setup blue spring Falco against anyones, road, track, ploughed field, whatever, wherever, however.

I agree Blue aint bad, specially after they were revised with improved insulation, for what became known as the "2000.5 model", (I ran one for 15K and was quite happy), and most mags have found the suspension good or better than average for a cheapish set up.
But you miss the main issue, the Blue spring is always going to overheat worse as it does not have a remote reservoir, all the other uprated shocks mentioned/considered, (e.g. White, Yellow, Ohlins, Maxton, Nitron etc.), do have this and it is much further from the exhaust so don't overheat as much.

[D-Rider]

Danowat
TBH Although I've enjoyed putting the opposite view, there's a lot of what you're saying I agree with - especially about the number of people that haven't got the blue spring shock set up correctly for themselves.
I've not spent a lot of time on it myself.
Nevertheless, it does seem that the "better" shocks normally make an immediate improvevement when they are fitted and again when they are set up. Of course, some of this may be perception .... but if that improves confidence, there's an argument to say that it's (partly) done the job. However I'm confident it's not all perception.

The other concern I have is the number of reports I've heard of the blue spring shock being replaced under warranty - which suggests they are not of the same quality as some of the alternatives. Although failure is an indicator of lack of robustness, it also points to cheapness and a lack of refinement.

[falcomunky]

If you took one rider with one Falco and had the Blue spring setup perfectly he would be slower round the track/field/ice rink than if he had the Ohlins, (Falco version), fitted and setup perfectly.
Simple.
The Ohlins can be more precisely tuned and lengthened to suit the rider than any of the Sachs units, resulting in greater control and feedback fer the pilot. Surely that would make the same rider/same bike quicker?
Otherwise, whats the point in Ohlins/WP/Maxton etc.?
As fer tuning the blue spring. I personally felt that there was little point due to the high miles mine had done and the condition it was in. Cant turn a cows purse into a silk ear or summat like that.
However, I can fully accept that a great rider on a shit bike will always whup a shit rider on a great bike.
Happens to me a lot...
I really only put the yellow spring on cos it looks a bit like the Ohlins, (only cheaper)... At least it will once I get that Ohlins sticker on the resevoir...

[D-Rider]

...... than if he had the Ohlins, (Falco version), fitted and setup perfectly.
Simple.
The Ohlins can be more precisely tuned and lengthened

Pedantic point time:
The Falco-specific Ohlins is not length-adjustable.

(but the Mille ones are - so I'm with your main point)

[sabestian]

However, I can fully accept that a great rider on a shit bike will always whup a shit rider on a great bike.
Happens to me a lot...

Are you suggesting that your Falco's shit?

And... Danowat, come on... Isn't it obvious that a better quality stuff is better than the worse quality stuff? Blue -> White/Yellow -> Ohlins etc... I'm not saying that I'm faster because I changed to yellow sachs, I'm just saying that it feels much more planted on the road. And it's absolutely out of question. Period.

[DavShill]

He He