Unless you're on tar-only and riding on only on Sundays I'd steer clear from Öhlins & Wilbers. I've learned this in a hard way (with both of those names combined it was a loss in £££ that makes me puke every time I think about it)...
Anything offroad or heavy duty I'd say Hyperpro. They have progressive springs at stock and I highly recommend to pay that little extra and get the "piggyback" (or remote reservoir) version on the shock where the gas and oil are separated (it's called "3D" model in the Hyperpro line), it's a more reliable and better working solution compared to the single "emulsion" (oil and gas are mixed) shocks.
Front shock on the telelever rigs isn't that critical since forks themselves work as additional shockabsorbers and keep the overall mechanics tight (although a good shock is still a big improvement over original), yet the simple rear linkless paralever swingarm takes a lot of abuse on offroad so get the best you can afford and it makes day/nigh difference.
And if you're weight varies a lot (2up/solo/gear) then a remote preloader is a must indeed, also if you're heavy bloke yourself or ride often 2up full gear then get a harder spring (Hyperpro installs it w/o additional cost), 150-220Nm/mm is a good choice (it's 150Nm/mm in longest position - just like the stock setting) yet when it's on maximum compressed it's a whopping 220Nm/mm - it's more than Öhlin's hard version of spring you normally pay extra £££ to get it and yet it's stiff without load and still bottoms out with load since it's a simple linear spring - it doesn't have the "stopping" counter-acceleration that only the progressive springs offer, progressives offer the best of both worlds IMO - they're soft as magic carpet on normal riding conditions and work like proper stiff racing-shocks when put into extremes).
Margus
and while I love my old bus, it seems semi ridiculous to have to spend a half (or more) of its value on shocks...
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