Fork springs options vs cartridges

Hello guys

I need some advice here. I looked around the forum before posting, did some research, and the info is a bit outdated, and there's not much on the Ohlins fork springs so... here's a new thread. I'm also in for some owner information about your setup, why you opted for it, and if it's good or not!

I ride off road and I try to push the limits (my own and the bike's) when I can. Last year I swapped the front wheel for an Excel because I bent the stock one. I also did the Best Rest mod for the rear suspension. The forks are up next.

I have to swap the oil anyways (2013 and 40000 km and still the original oil, I think it's done for). I want to do something about the poor quality of the ride and setup. I want to correct the dive as much as I can, but also improve the ride off road. I looked at my options:

• Cartridges from Touratech = too $$$$$$$, probably worth it in the long run... but I can't afford this...
• Ohlins cartridges = less $$$$$$ than Touratech but still too much for my current budget... probably totally worth it though
• Andreani cartridges = less $$$$ but not suited for off road
• Hyperpro progressive springs = easy to get, cheap, but not suited for off road
• Hyperpro heavy duty = can't find them for 2013+, do they even exist??
• Ohlins fork springs = 10% harder than stock, but it is enough/worth it? Are they any good off road?
• others options??

Thanks for any advice!

I don't I don't think ohlins is touratech.
The touratech are tractive cartridges.

Ho yeah sorry, you're right. I don't know why I thought they were Ohlins. Anyways, they sell theirs for 2500$ CAD, basically I would have to sell a kidney to get them, not even sure it would be enough...

Traxxion Dynamics AK20s were good ( and a piece of cake to fit )but I ended up with Ohlins.

In price order

You can buy the ohlins a fair cheaper then the Touratech, they are great for someone who wants to ride hard, and harder you ride the better they get

Rider101 mentions the Traxxions and they have good wraps

Matris also make some and although they dont get mentioned with the F8 ofyen they have a good reputation in the early tiger 800

The bottom one you are proably thinking is Andreani, these are actually very good, work way better than their price, for the price i cant pick a lot of difference to the Ohlins, a lot of Africa Twins are actually have this same cartridge installed now



If i was setting up another F8 from scratch for road and dirt road riding i would buy the Andreanis again

Thanks guys... BTW I updated the original post with the correct information...

Well the Ohlins cartridges go for 1150$ USD. That's a fair chunk of cash. They're probably worth it... But... Yeah... the price. One thing that could convince me to do this is if I decide to keep the bike for a very long time... I'm not totally convinced...

AK20s are about the same price...

Andreani, as I understand, are not the best for off road, mainly because we loose 50mm of travel. Not good. Unless I misunderstood.

springs and dampeners although they work together are not the same. thinking that you can correct a suspension problem by changing one or the other is a mistake without first identifying what it is your trying to correct.

I put the Ohlins cartridges in last year. Had them set-up by Konflict motorsports in Kent, WA. More money than I wanted to spend on a suspension upgrade, but it was an absolute game changer. Fork dive is gone. Bike now handles better, is more responsive, and handled the COBDR just fine on the last trip.

BTW- I tried different springs and oil viscosities before going with the Ohlins kit. I also shimmed the stock springs about 8mm. Neither of these mods helped in any appreciable way.

I wasn't going to keep my 2013 F800GS if the Ohlins fork kit didn't fix it. I'm in love with the bike now. Call Alex at Konflict- you won't regret it. In fact, guess what showed up just the other day from him?

$1150USD is cheap! I paid $2800 AUD for installation, spring and setup to my weight from Technik in Sydney. Best front end I have ever owned.

I put the Traxxion AK 20's in . A lot better than stock . I was in fear of potholes with the stock setup. (factory lowered). I seek them out now . I did not replace the seeping seals when installing the cartridges instead electing to clean them . I will be putting in skf seals and raising my oil level to 100 mm from top, compressed , springs out . I think they were $ 1099. Left side is compression and spring preload and Right side is rebound and spring preload . Make sure you indicate what brand of Fork it is as the year 2013 is vague on who supplied it to what country . I thought this was the best value for an adjustable front end .

Easy way to remember is right red rebound.

This is the exact setup that I have. I hated paying for them, but it is a completely different bike now. I previously had a 2004 R1200GS with top of the range Yacugar shocks front and rear and it handled beautifully. When I purchased the F800GS I knew the suspension in stock form wasn't going to be as good, but it really didn't give me any confidence at all when riding on road, let alone when off road. I had considered the Touratech cartridges for the front and also their shock for the rear, but I thought that the Ohlins would be a good compromise price-wise and I am more than happy with it. I am no expert rider, so I really like the fact that I pretty much know how the bike will react in any given circumstance. That gives me the confidence to know what I can and can't do with the bike. In my opinion, the stock suspension lacked predictability, which I personally hate, whereas I have a lot of confidence in the Ohlins suspension.

My experience exactly Trekka. I too was coming off the 1200GS. Really liked the 800 when I switched, but yikes, the suspension was ruining an otherwise great machine. My fix took too long only because I tried every inexpensive old trick I could think of before going to the Ohlins cartridges. This forum directed me to Konflict- wish I had done it sooner.

The weather here in Indiana is miserable, so it'll be some time before I can share how the new shock completes the package. However, I'm confident it's going to be really nice. Plus, the yellow spring just has to add a few horsepower!

Great info above. I'm looking at a F800GS tomorrow and may be moving from a R1200GS to the 800. I've talked to Ted Porter at the Bemmer shop (ideally, I would lower the bike some also). He is knowledgeable and willing to spend time explaining everything. Has anyone used them before? By the way, I've ran Ohlins on my vintage race bikes and was impressed with the way they worked.

can't get any better then ted porter and the crew at the bemmer shop.

i swapped ohlins onto my R1150RS and it became a different bike.

i only have 4K miles on the F800 and not sure if i'll be keeping it long term or not, but once i make the decision to do so ohlins will be the first purchase i make.

I've talked to Ted , informative and a nice guy. Good selection of products.

Ted's the best!

Has anyone fitted the Matris Fork Cartridges v keen to know the result? and whether standard springs or upgraded were used

I put a TFX 141 HPA shock from Beemer shop on my '14 F8GSA and Yacugar progressive springs in the forks. I might end up upgrading to proper adjustable cartridges later on, but the cost is just too damn high. I have yet to test the set up, still snowing here in Alberta.

Any of you fellas know the the torque value for the lower shock bolt? I can't seem to find it anywhere.

both of the shock bolts are 100nm, the bottom one calls for loctite 243