The facts.
| Brand | Öhlins |
|---|---|
| Part Number | 00281-80 |
| Spring Rate | 40 N/mm |
| Free Length | 280 mm |
| Inner Diameter | 46 mm |
| Stroke | 159.4 mm |
| Construction | Straight |
| Finish | Powder-coated yellow |
| Country of Origin | Sweden |
DescriptionThe whole story▼
Öhlins part number 00281-80 is a shock absorber spring rated at 40 N/mm, 280 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
- Free length 280 mm
- Öhlins part number 00281-80
- Measured spring rate 40 N/mm
- 159.4 mm of usable stroke
- Straight-wound, constant rate
- Powder-coated yellow
- Inner diameter 46 mm
Manufacture and Tolerance
Öhlins sets a baseline for each part number on the machine it was developed on, so it works before anything is adjusted. Anodising is hard-coat rather than decorative, which matters on a component exposed to road salt and stone chips. Öhlins publishes recommended sag figures for its springs, so the setup has a reference rather than a feel.
The Numbers That Matter
Free length 280 mm, inner diameter 46 mm, rate 40 N/mm — those three figures define the part completely.
Choosing 40 N/mm
This is where most riders of average weight land once static sag has been set to specification. From here it is easy to move one step in either direction once you have ridden it. A mid rate balances support under braking against compliance over the surface, which is why it is the usual starting point. Ride quality on the road is decided by rate first and damping second.
Rate and the Linkage
Two riders 20 kg apart on the same motorcycle genuinely need different rates, not different clicks. 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. Because the linkage is progressive on most modern machines, a small change in rate moves the sag more than riders expect.
Applications
Any workshop with the fork or shock in front of it can answer whether this spring fits — the three figures above are all it needs. A workshop will pick this spring from its dimensions and the rider's weight, not from a fitment table. Nothing about the installation changes across a rate range: the mounting, the length and the bore stay the same.
Fitting
If the fork has not been serviced recently, bushes and seals are worth replacing while it is apart. Öhlins states the oil and the air-gap for this application — both are part of the setting, not a detail. Once fitted, ride the machine before making damping changes: the new rate alters what the clicks do.
Road Approval
Road approval: none is issued for springs as such — they replace an existing component of the same function. Any model-specific approval is listed under Applications.
Fitting and Setup Service
Fitting matters as much as the part. We are an authorised Öhlins service centre and carry out installation, servicing and setup ourselves — get in touch and we will arrange it alongside your order.
Specifications
- Brand: Öhlins
- Part Number: 00281-80
- Spring Rate: 40 N/mm
- Free Length: 280 mm
- Inner Diameter: 46 mm
- Stroke: 159.4 mm
- Construction: Straight
- Finish: Powder-coated yellow
- Country of Origin: Sweden
FitmentWhich bikes this fits▼
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