V7 III Ohlins rear shock

[guzzi771]

Has anyone installed a Ohlins rear shock on their V7 III ? I was wondering if they are worth the money .

[usedtobefast]

I have a V7 III Racer that comes with the Ohlins.  I'd say they aren't worth it.  I would be severely disappointed to spend the $$$$ on these.  I think the biggest problem is our bikes have limited rear wheel travel.  So you just can't do much with that.  I have read some guys love them and gush about them, but for me, it is the worse rear suspension on any bike I've had (going all the way back to my first street moto, a 1978 Honda Hawk 400).

So going from stock (non Ohlins) to a better system, the big question is how much to spend.  Are $400 shocks good enough?  $600 shocks?  In my opinion, somewhere in the lower dollar amounts you get just about as good as you can get with our limited travel ... my manual says 3.15" of travel.  So even the wizards at Ohlins can't do much with 3.15" of travel.  If you set it with about 1" of sag, you have a whopping 2.15" of travel left for bumps.   

A number of folks on here have tried other shocks and seem to be happy.  Icons.  Hagons.  Can't remember the others. 

[malik]

I had a test ride of the III Racer - 40-50km on a twisty, bumpy, section of the Old Highway, a road well known & ridden regularly, and was very impressed with the Ohlins. Admittedly the demo ride was organised by the Australian distributor and I suspect they had access to a specialist who set it up properly, but still the ride was sublime. Much, much better than the stock Bitubos on the II Racer ridden back to back. Much better too than the Gazi's on my V7C on the same road, which themselves are better than the Ikons on the Speciial. Proper set up may have something to do with the results. But even though I was very impressed, there's no way I'd pay the $AUD 4,500 they want for the Ohlins, not even half or a quarter of that. They are nice, but not that much nice.

Better, I think, to pay a professional specialist to set up what you have properly, get them to teach you how to do it yourself, and live with the limitations of the design.

[Roebling3]

Trying to decide between a Legnano and a racer I pondered the cost of a suspension upgrade to the Legnano; plus a better set of foot controls. Re-fitting the Legnano w/ decent after market parts was more costly than buying the racer - and I'd have the original stock parts to unload for what?

I chose the racer (ugly little bugger that it is), had the dealer put a K-Tech system in the fork and it all works nicely, after some fiddling.

All body work was repainted, including cast wheels from a Stone; swapped for the original wires & tubes. R3~ 

[kingoffleece]

It's hard to fathom that properly set up Ohlins wouldn't be anything less than outstanding.  It did take me quite a bit of adjusting to find the correct setting on mine-and a less than stellar front end makes it that much harder to get the right settings.  RaceTec Gold valves fixed that straight away.

[roadscum]

Ohlin offer a range of shock models, some great ones for big $$, and some models that are just OK.
I believe there are some good shocks out there that are a better value then Ohlin's. 
 
Paul

[usedtobefast]

I guess it depends on what you compare it to.  A Stone with stock shocks vs. a Stone with $1500 Ohlins vs. a Stone with $500 Hagon shocks. 

I am comparing my Racer to other motorcycles, and that is were the rear suspension is very poor.  If I compared it to a stock Stone on a rough road maybe it is worlds better, not sure ... I have only done a brief test ride on a Stone (~15 min) and the roads were pretty smooth. 

Also I think one problem is most guys buy some better shocks, put them on, it is an improvement, and then they just live with it.  I don't know of anyone that put on Icons, then Hagons, then Matris, then Ohlins and compared them all to one another.  So kind of hard to figure out which price point gets the best improvement per dollar. 

And hey, if I'm the only one saying the Ohlins on the Racer are nothing to get excited about, then maybe I'm just a picky SOB.      But, a stock Suzuki SV-650 has a dramatically better suspension package than the stock Racer V7 III.  And that rear shock on the SV is just a basic rear shock, nothing fancy ... but it does have linkage and the big deal is a bit over 5" of travel to work with.

[jas67]

Speaking of Öhlins shocks, I've got a pair for sale that'll work with the V7 and V7II (not V7III).
https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=101949.0#new

[twowheeladdict]

I guess it depends on what you compare it to.  A Stone with stock shocks vs. a Stone with $1500 Ohlins vs. a Stone with $500 Hagon shocks. 

I am comparing my Racer to other motorcycles, and that is were the rear suspension is very poor.  If I compared it to a stock Stone on a rough road maybe it is worlds better, not sure ... I have only done a brief test ride on a Stone (~15 min) and the roads were pretty smooth. 

Also I think one problem is most guys buy some better shocks, put them on, it is an improvement, and then they just live with it.  I don't know of anyone that put on Icons, then Hagons, then Matris, then Ohlins and compared them all to one another.  So kind of hard to figure out which price point gets the best improvement per dollar. 

And hey, if I'm the only one saying the Ohlins on the Racer are nothing to get excited about, then maybe I'm just a picky SOB.      But, a stock Suzuki SV-650 has a dramatically better suspension package than the stock Racer V7 III.  And that rear shock on the SV is just a basic rear shock, nothing fancy ... but it does have linkage and the big deal is a bit over 5" of travel to work with.

Comparing a multi-link mono-shock rear suspension with a dual shock setup is not really the point here.  The OP obviously wants a Moto Guzzi, not an SV-650.  Just like I traded my FZ-07 for my V7III Carbon.

I have Bitubo shocks with preload and rebound adjustment on the rear and Traxxion Dynamics Cartridges on the front.  Much more planted bike now. 

Remember that the goal of a properly set up suspension is to keep the tires in contact with the road so you have the best traction available. 

[blu guzz]

i had them front and back on a k1200rs.  a 600+ lb. sport tourer with maybe a 4 inch suspension.  When you buy them from Ohlins, they ask for your weight and riding style and they come predialed in for your bike.  you can fine tune them to suit your style.  i was very pleased with the result and thought it worth the money even though it was a lot.

[kingoffleece]

I've had both Ohlins and Hagon Nitros on my V7.  It came with BiTubo shocks (dealer wanted me to try them).  BiTubos were taken off at 500 miles.  i could never gel with them.  Ohlins went 9000 miles.  Worked a treat.  hagons have 2000 miles on them-they work well and value wise are fantastic.
Not quite as good IMO as the Ohlins buy only 1/3rd the $$.  A better value for sure if you are not chasing the last few % of performance.  Time will tell over the next 5K or so.

[s1120]

I've had both Ohlins and Hagon Nitros on my V7.  It came with BiTubo shocks (dealer wanted me to try them).  BiTubos were taken off at 500 miles.  i could never gel with them.  Ohlins went 9000 miles.  Worked a treat.  hagons have 2000 miles on them-they work well and value wise are fantastic.
Not quite as good IMO as the Ohlins buy only 1/3rd the $$.  A better value for sure if you are not chasing the last few % of performance.  Time will tell over the next 5K or so.

Did the Ohlins wear out at only 9K, or did you just want a change?

[kingoffleece]

I got a fair price for them as I had a line on the Hagons for next to nothing-someone's else's loss was my gain.  Both brands are rebuildable.  I'd have kept what I had except for the deal-and, I have an "in" when I need it.

[kingoffleece]

I hear good reports about K-Tec or something like that (I forget exactly) from a source I KNOW is very knowledgeable on these matters.

[roadscum]

I'm very happy with the Wilbers shock I pt on my V7 III. Ted porter at the Beemer shop can hook ya up.

Ohlin offers some very good shocks for BIG $$$ and other more reasonably price. I think there are others manufactures that offer a better value.  I think many folks buy the Ohlin label as a status symbol, not because of their performance.

Paul

[guzzi771]

I'm very happy with the Wilbers shock I pt on my V7 III. Ted porter at the Beemer shop can hook ya up.

Ohlin offers some very good shocks for BIG $$$ and other more reasonably price. I think there are others manufactures that offer a better value.  I think many folks buy the Ohlin label as a status symbol, not because of their performance.

Paul

  I just installed a pair of Ikon shocks I got from MG Cycle for my V7III Special at $364.50 you can't beat the price . I went for a short test ride and they work fine with both damping and preload . I also ordered a pair of Ohlins shocks for my V7III Carbon Shine I hope they're worth 3 times more than the Ikon's .....

[kingoffleece]

ohlins springs typically need a few miles to take their set.  After that, if you expect good results, you must take the time to set the sag correctly.  With all the adjustments it's not beyond reason to think that some percentage of owners get it wrong.  The golden rule is ONE change at a time-and measure what you did.  It'll pay off.

[guzzi771]

ohlins springs typically need a few miles to take their set.  After that, if you expect good results, you must take the time to set the sag correctly.  With all the adjustments it's not beyond reason to think that some percentage of owners get it wrong.  The golden rule is ONE change at a time-and measure what you did.  It'll pay off.

Thanks for the tips I've heard both good and bad reviews about ohlins . I guess the front forks will be next ...

[roadscum]

  I just installed a pair of Ikon shocks I got from MG Cycle for my V7III Special at $364.50 you can't beat the price . I went for a short test ride and they work fine with both damping and preload . I also ordered a pair of Ohlins shocks for my V7III Carbon Shine I hope they're worth 3 times more than the Ikon's .....

Isn't it great the we have choices!! 

Paul

[kingoffleece]

That's interesting.  I got a set of cheap Icons from them when I was rehabbing the new to me 2001 Jackal.  Really just to return home from Hamlin's shop with some misplaced hope they would be acceptable.  They were anything but.  Damping was non existent with any adjustment.  In short, one of the worst products I've ever purchased for a motorcycle.  They were replaced with Hagon Nitros-much much better.

Nice to hear the V7 offering is better than the EV product.  In fairness, I KNEW I was buying bottom end-and I got what I deserved.

[guzzi771]

That's interesting.  I got a set of cheap Icons from them when I was rehabbing the new to me 2001 Jackal.  Really just to return home from Hamlin's shop with some misplaced hope they would be acceptable.  They were anything but.  Damping was non existent with any adjustment.  In short, one of the worst products I've ever purchased for a motorcycle.  They were replaced with Hagon Nitros-much much better.

Nice to hear the V7 offering is better than the EV product.  In fairness, I KNEW I was buying bottom end-and I got what I deserved.

I agree you get what you pay for the ohlins are Amazing !

[Muzz]

there's no way I'd pay the $AUD 4,500 they want for the Ohlins,

 

[guzzi771]

I paid $1400 USD and it's not worth it if you ride slowly on a curvey road

[kirkemon]

I don't own a V7, but if I did, I would consider Ikon shocks.
I've had them on a couple bikes and they are very high quality made in Australia.
Tell them the weights you carry and they can recommend a proper spring. Adjustable.
https://www.ikonsuspensionusa.com/
 

[kingoffleece]

Shocks must be set up correctly.  The more adjustments the greater the chance to get it wrong for the unaware.
I remember assisting Hamlin one time on a Tiger 1050.  The owner had gone to the "experts" in Toronto for a racetech front end job.  When the front end was refreshed at his shop we discovered that they were installed ALL wrong, which accounted for the owner's statement that the upgrade was not worth the money.  After corrected, the new ride report was 180 degrees removed from the initial report.

High performance rear shocks, when not set correctly, will provide a similar experience.  Getting the spring rate is only the start-and, the question is where did the recommendation come from?  Again, assisting at Jim's shop I've seen several shocks delivered with the "correct" rate, when set up with the rider to set sag, be outside the adjustment parameters.

[guzzi771]

upload image

I don't own a V7, but if I did, I would consider Ikon shocks.
I've had them on a couple bikes and they are very high quality made in Australia.
Tell them the weights you carry and they can recommend a proper spring. Adjustable.
https://www.ikonsuspensionusa.com/

I got a pair  of ikon's for my V7III Special they're good shocks for the money $365 usd

[TexMexStrada]

Has anyone installed a Ohlins rear shock on their V7 III ? I was wondering if they are worth the money .

I just adapted some Ohlins off of a ZXR 1100 to my V7III and it was a screaming success. $520 all in, worth every penny. Here is the link to the thread with the details: https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=105992.0
I hope this is helpful to you!

[lsnovermg]

I agree you get what you pay for the ohlins are Amazing !

Hi Guzzi771:

I'm new here.  New to MG.  I just upgraded my rear shocks to Ohlins similar to your pics, on a 2020 V7iii Rough.  Were those longer than stock?  Any issues?  The ones the dealer put together for me were almost an inch longer than stock.

I got them on, and they seem to be riding fine, but the bike is sitting a bit higher now.   

Any input is appreciated.

Happy New Year!
Lee

[kingoffleece]

Take the time and effort needed to correctly set them up.  This cannot be overemphasized.

[lsnovermg]

Take the time and effort needed to correctly set them up.  This cannot be overemphasized.

Yes, working my way through a couple of books on suspension setup and attended Total Control course last summer.

Do you have any experience with the Ohlins being configured longer than stock?

Thanks!