These Swedish made, race build quality shock absorbers will substantially improve the handling of your bike. They can be fine tuned to individual requirements for weight, riding style and road conditions. With the hydraulic spring preload adjuster you can compensate for extra load or a passenger quickly and easily and by changing the length of the shock absorber you can effect the sensitivity of the steering without effecting anything else. Your own internal setup is also possible. The Ohlins shock absorber is not a disposable unit but one that can be taken apart, reshimmed, readjusted and overhauled.

Ohlins Type system

36,46: Piston diameter in mm

E: Emulsion shock absorber.

-Oil and gas mixed in the main body

-Used on small and light bikes and when space is too limited for a type P

D: De Carbon shock absorber with internal reservoir and dividing piston built into the main body

-Based on Ohlins successful application of the de Carbon concept

-The damping oil is placed under pressure by gas and separated from the gas by a floating piston

-Improved cooling gives more consistent damping and longer damper life

P: De Carbon shock absorber with external piggy-back reservoir and dividing piston

-Ohlins original trend setting piggy back

-The reservoir is in fact an extension of the shock absorber

-More oil and larger cooling area improve performance and durability

H: De Carbon shock absorber with hose mounted reservoir and dividing piston.

-Based on Ohlins successful application of the de Carbon concept

-More oil and larger cooling areas improve performance and durability

Adjustments

C: Adjustable compression damping

R: Adjustable rebound damping

S: Hose mounted hydraulic spring preload adjustment

B: Integral hydraulic spring preload adjustment

L: Adjustable length

36D............................... 36P ...................... 36PR

46ER/DR ............ 46DRS.......... 46PRC ......... 46PRCS

To show you what is happening in a Öhlins shock absorber when you are riding we have chosen a shock with a double-acting, rebound/compression damping adjuster in the piston shaft and an independent compression damping adjuster in the external reservoir. The principle illustrated here is the same for all types of Öhlins shock absorbers. Just disregard the adjusters that your shock absorber does not have and you can still understand how it works! On a smooth road When you are riding on a smooth road and the shock absorber is compressed slowly and only a small amount (low shaft speed and short stroke), the damping oil is forced through the double-acting rebound/compression adjuster in the piston shaft, fig 1 flow 3.

The oil displaced by the piston shaft is forced through the independent compression damping adjuster out into the external reservoir, fig 2 flow 3.

The floating piston in the reservoir is forced to move, compressing the gas behind it. When the shock absorber extends the gas pressure behind the floating piston will force the oil through a one-way valve, past the compression adjuster and back into the shock absorber body, fig 3 flow 1 and 2. The oil under the piston returns through the double-acting rebound/compression adjuster in the piston shaft, fig 4 flow 3. Hitting a big bump When you hit a big bump the shock absorber is compressed quickly and almost totally (high shaft speed and long stroke). The oil can not be forced " fast enough" through just the valve in the piston shaft. The pressure in the shock absorber increases and force open the shim stack (thin steel washers stacked as a pyramid) covering the compression orifices in the piston, fig 1 flow 2. Also, oil displaced by the piston shaft can not be forced " fast enough" through just the valve in the reservoir. The pressure increases and a shim stack, parallel to the valve, opens, fig 2 flow 1 and 2. The floating piston is forced to move compressing the gas. When the shock absorber extends, the floating piston will force the oil through the one-way valve back into the shock absorber body, fig 3 flow 1 and 2. The pressure is still high in the shock absorber and the flow can not be forced through just the valve in the piston shaft. The shim stack covering the rebound orifices in the piston opens and the oil returns, fig 4 flow 1. All are tailor made By changing the number, diameter, and thickness of the shims in the stacks and by using different jets in the valves, your Öhlins shock absorber is tailor-made for your bike. The set-ups are not guesswork but the results of true tests with a bike exactly like yours!

Compression stroke 1. The oil flow in the shock absorber body and… 2. In the reservoir during a compression stroke. Rebound stroke 3. The oil flow in the reservoir and... 4. In the shock absorber body during a rebound stroke.

Compression stroke

1. The oil flow in the shock absorber and

2. In the reservoir during a compression stroke

Rebound stroke

3. The oil flow in the reservoir and

4. In the shock absorber body during a rebound stroke.

All Öhlins shock absorbers are based on Öhlins successful application of the "de Carbon" concept. The de Carbon concept means that the damping oil is placed under pressure by gas and separated from the gas by a floating piston. This concept has many advantages. It prevents the chance of cavitation, which happens when the oil can not move fast enough and becomes hard as a rock (compare with an unsuccessful dive into water). It offers better cooling, especially if the shock absorber has an external reservoir (the external reservoir is in fact an extension of the shock absorber and more oil, larger cooling areas improve performance and durability). Gives more consistent damping, regardless of the shock absorber's working temperature. And it makes the shock absorber last longer. But there are two exceptions, some extremely short models of Öhlins Type 36 and 46 are emulsion type of shock absorbers (oil and gas mixed in the shock absorber), see "Two concepts, three types" below.

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