The facts.
| Brand | Öhlins |
|---|---|
| Part Number | 60281-38 |
| Spring Rate | 45 N/mm |
| Free Length | 180 mm |
| Inner Diameter | 46 mm |
| Finish | Powder-coated black |
| Country of Origin | Sweden |
DescriptionThe whole story▼
Öhlins part number 60281-38 is a shock absorber spring rated at 45 N/mm, 180 mm long with a 46 mm inner diameter. Adding a pillion or luggage changes the load enough that the standard rate stops working.
Key Features
- Öhlins part number 60281-38
- Measured spring rate 45 N/mm
- Powder-coated black
- Inner diameter 46 mm
- Free length 180 mm
How Öhlins Makes Them
Production is Öhlins' own in Sweden, and the tolerance on the rate is what separates these from a generic replacement. Öhlins winds, heat-sets and then measures every spring individually — the rate on the label is the rate you get. Anodising is hard-coat rather than decorative, which matters on a component exposed to road salt and stone chips.
The Numbers That Matter
Free length 180 mm, inner diameter 46 mm, rate 45 N/mm — those three figures define the part completely.
What This Rate Does
This is the middle of Öhlins' range — the rate most riders of average weight end up on once sag is set properly. Mid rates suit a solo rider on a road-going machine with occasional spirited use. A mid rate balances support under braking against compliance over the surface, which is why it is the usual starting point. Road surfaces are the hardest test of a spring rate, because the fork has to cope with both a smooth stretch and a broken one.
How a Rear Spring Works
Öhlins supplies most of its shocks without a spring precisely so the rate can be matched to the rider rather than averaged. A shock absorber spring carries the whole rear of the machine through a linkage that multiplies its rate several times over — which is why the number on the spring looks so much larger than a fork rate. Öhlins sells rear springs separately precisely because rider weight varies more than machine weight does.
Applications
A workshop will pick this spring from its dimensions and the rider's weight, not from a fitment table. Selection is by measurement. If the diameter and free length match your fork, the remaining question is the rate. A spring is one of the few suspension parts that is genuinely interchangeable: same bore, same free length, and it goes in.
Fitting
Note the original oil level before draining — it is a useful reference even when Öhlins specifies its own. Öhlins part numbers are stamped on the packaging rather than the spring, so keep the label with the setup notes. Check the free length against the old springs before fitting — a sagged original often measures short.
Road Approval
Road approval: no separate certificate. The spring changes the rate, not the construction of the fork, and is treated as a service part.
Fitting and Setup Service
Öhlins recommends that its suspension is fitted by an authorised service centre. We are one, and we do the work here: installation, servicing and a proper setup. Ask us and we will include it with the order.
Specifications
- Brand: Öhlins
- Part Number: 60281-38
- Spring Rate: 45 N/mm
- Free Length: 180 mm
- Inner Diameter: 46 mm
- Finish: Powder-coated black
- Country of Origin: Sweden
FitmentWhich bikes this fits▼
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