The facts.
| Brand | Öhlins |
|---|---|
| Part Number | 00281-18 |
| Spring Rate | 100 N/mm |
| Free Length | 180 mm |
| Inner Diameter | 46 mm |
| Stroke | 78 mm |
| Construction | Straight |
| Finish | Powder-coated yellow |
| Country of Origin | Sweden |
DescriptionThe whole story▼
Öhlins part number 00281-18 is a shock absorber spring rated at 100 N/mm, 180 mm long with a 46 mm inner diameter. The damper can only control the spring it is given; the wrong rate makes every click a compromise.
Key Features
- Powder-coated yellow
- Öhlins part number 00281-18
- Straight-wound, constant rate
- Free length 180 mm
- 78 mm of usable stroke
- Inner diameter 46 mm
- Measured spring rate 100 N/mm
Manufacture and Tolerance
The wire is progressively wound where the application calls for it and straight where it does not. Every unit is dyno-tested against the curve held for its part number, not sampled from a batch. Öhlins manufactures in Upplands Väsby, north of Stockholm, and assembles and tests every unit there before it ships.
Dimensions
The 46 mm bore and 180 mm length are the two figures that decide whether it physically fits; 100 N/mm decides whether it suits the rider.
Where This Rate Belongs
If the suspension bottoms out or the geometry collapses under load, this is the direction to go. This end of the range suits heavier riders, two-up use, or a machine ridden hard enough that fork dive becomes the limit. Heavier riders, two-up use and track days all push the choice towards this end. A road machine spends most of its life in the first third of the fork's travel — that is the part the rate governs.
What the Rear Spring Decides
Adding a pillion or luggage changes the rear load enough that the standard rate stops working properly. Progressive springs change rate through the stroke, which suits machines with little travel and a lot of load. The damper can only control the spring it is given; the wrong rate makes every setting a compromise.
Applications
This is a service part in the proper sense — it wears, it settles, and replacing it restores what the suspension was designed to do. The safest way to choose is by static sag: set the target figure, and the rate follows from whether you can reach it with preload. Ask us with the machine and rider weight and we will tell you which rate in this size to take.
What Fitting Involves
The springs come powder-coated and need no preparation before they go in. Fork oil should be replaced at the same time — it is already out of the leg. Set static sag after fitting; the rate is only right if the sag figure lands where Öhlins specifies.
Road Approval
Road approval: springs are not separately type-approved in Germany because they substitute a part that is already homologated with the fork. Model-specific documents, where they exist, are named above.
Fitting and Setup Service
We are an authorised Öhlins service centre, so the installation does not have to be your problem: we fit and set up Öhlins components in our own workshop. Ask us when you order and we will include the work.
Specifications
- Brand: Öhlins
- Part Number: 00281-18
- Spring Rate: 100 N/mm
- Free Length: 180 mm
- Inner Diameter: 46 mm
- Stroke: 78 mm
- Construction: Straight
- Finish: Powder-coated yellow
- Country of Origin: Sweden
FitmentWhich bikes this fits▼
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