Öhlins Fork Cartridges

Öhlins fork cartridges replace the internals of your bike's fork, the damping that controls how it compresses and how it extends again, and leave everything else as it is: tubes, sliders and yokes stay stock. It is the way to bring Öhlins behaviour to the front end without replacing the whole fork.

Kits by type of bike

Each kit is made for one specific fork, and the code you see at the end of the name (FKS 204, FKA 110, FGK 222…) is its part number. There are kits for:

• Superbikes: YZF-R1 and R1M, CBR 1000 RR and RR-R, ZX-6R, GSX-R, S 1000 RR, Panigale V4 or Daytona 660.
• Nakeds: MT-07, MT-09, Z 900, Z 650, SV 650, CB 1000 R, GSX-8S, Monster or Hornet.
• Adventure: Ténéré 700, Africa Twin, Transalp, Tuareg 660, DesertX, Pan America and CRF300L.
• Custom and neo-retro: Harley-Davidson Dyna, Softail and Touring, Indian, R nineT, Bonneville, Thruxton and Scrambler.
• Small bikes and dirt: MSX 125, Monkey, Dax and Z125, and 85 and 150 cc motocrossers.

What changes and how it is fitted

Depending on the kit, the cartridge is open or closed and pressurised; closed ones keep the oil separate from the air and hold their feel when the fork is working hard and heating up. You usually gain compression, rebound and preload adjustment that the stock fork lacked or only offered in part.

Fitting means stripping the fork, adding fresh oil at the correct level and sometimes changing the springs to suit your weight: it is a workshop job, with specific tools. Afterwards, set up the rear to match; if it is still the original, Öhlins shocks complete the balance. If your fork is damaged or cannot take a cartridge, the alternative is a complete Öhlins fork, and the rest of the brand is under Öhlins.