Lowering my 800 GS
Hi
At last it was time to get my bike lowered,took off from Oslo Norway on 0500 in the morning to get the ferry across to Denmark at Larvik.
Took the new Speed Ferry cost 47 pounds including the bike , took 3,5 hr.
Super ferry,something to consider for crossing to Norway,when the Newcastle to Bergen ferry packs up.
Arrived at Nordhorn Germany at 20:30 and cheched in at the Inside Hotel.
Early up the next morning and drove to Wilbers Suspension at Alfred Mozer Straze.
Met up with a nice women,who told me that I had to go further down the street to the workshop.
They had me in the books and my bike was taken in straight away,and work started.
When you order they would like to have all your spesifics like weight,type of riding,street\offroad\passenger or not\luggage weight you usually carry on longer trips i.e to prefabricate the aft shock absorber to suite you riding style.
Coffy was served,and later lunch which they bought from outside.
I had coosen to go for the 60mm lowering after consulting with the forman in the shop,was afraid my bike would look like a chopper,but if so I could always revert to the normal hight or go for a 30mm lowering Wilbers do both.
Things took a little longer than expexted due to the fact that I came one day early,and this was only the second bike they have lowred,was told tthat the bike could be picked up the next morning at 10:00
They got a driver to take me back to the hotel.
Early up next morning after some beers and food in the hotel in the evening.
Bike almost ready when I came,had to cut the sidestand and reweld the bottom plate.
After the bike was on the floor,they adjusted the preload,and checked that everyting was 100%.
Took off for Oslo Norway at 12:30 arrived in Oslo the next morning at 04:00
1300 km distance.
And the bike:
I was very suprized when passing the first lorries,at high speed when there was no turbulens at all,can not compair with how it was like before ,when your bike and head was trown around like a rag doll,amazing.
No wind pressure on upper body,no stiff neck and the handling was superb.
Let go of the handlebars at 140km\hr and the bike just carried on as nothing had happend,absolutely amazed again.
How this come about I cant fully explain ,but air lower to the ground might be quieter or that the center of gravity has any influence,or is it the supurb Wilbers racing suspension that does the job on its own.Prabbely a comination off all factors.
As the trip home was done on motorways only, I took it out this morning to
test it on the twisted roads in my area,did 200km today all twisty roads,and
the bike handles like a raceing machine very confidence inspiering,did sharp left\right handers at speed I never usualy drive at,and the bike was rock steady.
I am a very satiesfied customer,the bike suite my needs\handles perfect and the best at last I can get both my feet planted on the ground
But can it go offroad?
Took the bike to a gravel road close to my house,no problems at all,as long as you stay on the gravel,and dont go off road with big rocks and boulders,which I personaly never do.
The road handling of the bike more than compensate for the upper echelon of the offroad capabilety i might have lost due to the fact that the bike is lower to the ground.
It has been said befor that if you want to better the bikes handling ,any bike,put the money in better suspension parts,I might say that I have never done a better investment in improving my bike,for my kind of riding.
The whole job took a day and ahalf and the cost was 1000 euro,including wrencing ,new shock absorber and new progressive springs up front.
Including hydraulic pre load adjuster.
I highly recommend Wilbers Suspension if you consider lowering your bike,not at all like other suspension companies that never answers the phone,or
e-mails.
ps my bike seatheight is now 790mm with the low seat.
Cheers
Fishburger
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