1150GSA Suspension 1k(ish) to spend.

Qmouse

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Folks,

At the moment I am running a GSA with standard GS shocks, they are properly getting tired. So as the bike is a keeper, what should I replace them with? and where should I get them from?

My options look to be Hyperpro Telelever Streetbox from Motoworks, NTR from Rugged Roads. Which ones would suit my style of riding, which is 100% road.

So what is the wisdom from the GS collective.


ps Happy with good second hand ( if there are any out there)

Brian
 
You could have a chat with Jonathon @ Rugged Roads ref a bespoke set of Nitrons. You would probably have a good amount of change from 1k I'm sure. I had a set made for my 12GSA and was pretty pleased with them.

My current 1150GSA came fitted with a set of WP shocks front and rear which seem to be about the same height as standard shocks same as fitted to KTM bikes I think. I'm sure they are something like £1k+ new, but not 100% sure.

Not sure what a set of Wilbers or Ohlins new would cost but £500-600 might get you a second hand set.
 
So it looks like there is a choice at that price range

Are there any deals out there?
 
Jonathan @ Rugged roads is the man to talk to ref Nitrons and what's available and competive pricing. Did me a very good deal as I purchased the front & rear together. No harm in having a chat. Just needs riding style, solo or pillion and weights along with if luggage is used etc. Comes with or without all the preload options.

These are the ones I had made up http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showth...ers-required?p=3871099&viewfull=1#post3871099
 
I got Hyperpros from Motorworks, I'm a happy chap. Way better than the clapped out stock units, at least as good as I remember the bike being from new, maybe not quite as plush as I imagine the way more expensive Ohlins to be based on what people seem to say.

I don't have an A/B comparison between any of the options,, dunno who does?

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk
 
Jonathan @ Rugged roads is the man to talk to ref Nitrons and what's available and competive pricing. Did me a very good deal as I purchased the front & rear together. No harm in having a chat. Just needs riding style, solo or pillion and weights along with if luggage is used etc. Comes with or without all the preload options.

These are the ones I had made up http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showth...ers-required?p=3871099&viewfull=1#post3871099

What he said

Nitron shock on mine 12k miles now and it is a fantastic bit of kit



Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
 
Nitron / Rugged Roads chosen

Just put a contact me request via the RR web site, hoping for a tosser sized discount :-)
 
Ordered

All ordered up. It did confuse me, but they were already discounted in the RR site. So nothing extra :-(
 
Can you buy shocks that do everything ? People seem to say they're set up ( springs I think ? ) according to weight of rider , solo and or pillion and or solo/pillion with or without luggage for touring.

Can't you buy a set up where it works across all eventualities ?

I'd like some nice ones on my 5k miles GSA 1150 , I'd like to keep them at a reasonable budget though...
 
Can you buy shocks that do everything ? People seem to say they're set up ( springs I think ? ) according to weight of rider , solo and or pillion and or solo/pillion with or without luggage for touring.

Can't you buy a set up where it works across all eventualities ?

I'd like some nice ones on my 5k miles GSA 1150 , I'd like to keep them at a reasonable budget though...

Are you SERIOUS? You have covered only 5000 miles and you think you need new shocks...PLEASE. i will buy yours off you, as they are only scrap value because you think they are shagged.....but in all seriousness, let me know if you want ot sell them. I would happily buy them at a sensible price.

I have two GSAs (PROPER GSAs, not one of these 1200 pretend things :rob ) Bike 1 has 105,000 miles on it. It is still on the original clutch, which does not slip or grab. It is also still on the original shocks, wheel bearings main shaft etc etc......

Bike 2 was offered to me by a lovely chap on here, 25,000 from new. Also still on original shocks etc - it rides just the same as my long mileage one. My old nail still smooths out the bumps and keeps the wheel in contact with the road. people said, try a bike with new shocks and feel the difference - there is none I can tell. Admittedly, I don't grind the pegs or cyclinder heads because I am a crap rider with only 43 road years under my belt, so still learning LOTS. To be honest I have never had the incling to want to grind bits of metal off my bikes! I must be keeping up a reasonable average though, last year I did 1184 miles in 24 hours (less than 24 hours actually, but in one stint, ferry and fuel stops notwithstanding). I regularly do 500 mile round trips in the day to go and do a days work.

I am sure your old shocks would do me just fine. :beerjug:
 
I bought Nitrons and they have got better with time. They were set on the slight firm side of damping initially, but now they have a few miles on they are really plush.

A good choice imho.
 
Are you SERIOUS? You have covered only 5000 miles and you think you need new shocks...PLEASE. i will buy yours off you, as they are only scrap value because you think they are shagged.....but in all seriousness, let me know if you want ot sell them. I would happily buy them at a sensible price.

I have two GSAs (PROPER GSAs, not one of these 1200 pretend things :rob ) Bike 1 has 105,000 miles on it. It is still on the original clutch, which does not slip or grab. It is also still on the original shocks, wheel bearings main shaft etc etc......

Bike 2 was offered to me by a lovely chap on here, 25,000 from new. Also still on original shocks etc - it rides just the same as my long mileage one. My old nail still smooths out the bumps and keeps the wheel in contact with the road. people said, try a bike with new shocks and feel the difference - there is none I can tell. Admittedly, I don't grind the pegs or cyclinder heads because I am a crap rider with only 43 road years under my belt, so still learning LOTS. To be honest I have never had the incling to want to grind bits of metal off my bikes! I must be keeping up a reasonable average though, last year I did 1184 miles in 24 hours (less than 24 hours actually, but in one stint, ferry and fuel stops notwithstanding). I regularly do 500 mile round trips in the day to go and do a days work.

I am sure your old shocks would do me just fine. :beerjug:

Ha Ha... I understand your points .

I'm lucky to run a few bikes so I tend to ride different ones year to to year. I have the low miles 1150 GSA, a standard GS 1150 from new ( 2002 ) with higher miles, but my lads GSA 1150 gets used by both of us. I'm thinking I will farkle up the low miler, then switch those shocks to my ads GSA ( spares ) in the future.

Got my airheads to play with as well. But this year I'm wanting to run the Honda AT a bit. It's a low miles bike ( 2.5k) so i can see how it looks as an almost brand new bike next to one of those new fangled AT's :D

I just fancied a step up in suspension as I know good spring and shocks make the world of difference from stock stuff. My GS 80 Kalahari has the " white power " rear shock, that was standard I believe ? And the bike is a very low miles bike and rides lovely on that set up.
Same with old cars , people tune engines for more power but neglect the fact that it counts for nothing without a good suspension set up.

All subjective of course ...:D
 
Can you buy shocks that do everything ? People seem to say they're set up ( springs I think ? ) according to weight of rider , solo and or pillion and or solo/pillion with or without luggage for touring.

Can't you buy a set up where it works across all eventualities ?

I'm by no means a suspension expert but the answer is yes to a degree.

You're right, when a shock is initially set up and even built, it's with an idea of the sort of weight they will carry most of the time, and the type of riding they'll do. They'll get the right spring and broadly set it up to how you use it most. For example for me, I'm on the lighter side of things so used a softer spring than standard. That said, you can adjust your base settings to suit other conditions so if I take my wife and some luggage on the back, I'll adjust the preload to suit the extra weight. You're best off defining what you tend to ride most of the time, and then get shocks with enough adjustability to change when necessary - that's where all the options like having remote preload adjustment, etc. pay off. If you don't have remote preload adjustment and need to change it once a week you'll find it very frustrating! I went with preload adjustment for the rear but not on the front because realistically I don't need to change that much (it's 90% solo riding for me) and when I do carry extra weight it's not much because my wife is tiny and I don't carry much luggage (rarely both together too) so being able to adjust the rear quickly is great but not necessary for me on the front.

The best thing you can do once you get your shocks is to find a suspension expert who can set them up for you and provide additional settings / adjustments for you to use in different circumstances.
 
Ha Ha... I understand your points .

I'm lucky to run a few bikes so I tend to ride different ones year to to year. I have the low miles 1150 GSA, a standard GS 1150 from new ( 2002 ) with higher miles, but my lads GSA 1150 gets used by both of us. I'm thinking I will farkle up the low miler, then switch those shocks to my ads GSA ( spares ) in the future.

Got my airheads to play with as well. But this year I'm wanting to run the Honda AT a bit. It's a low miles bike ( 2.5k) so i can see how it looks as an almost brand new bike next to one of those new fangled AT's :D

I just fancied a step up in suspension as I know good spring and shocks make the world of difference from stock stuff. My GS 80 Kalahari has the " white power " rear shock, that was standard I believe ? And the bike is a very low miles bike and rides lovely on that set up.
Same with old cars , people tune engines for more power but neglect the fact that it counts for nothing without a good suspension set up.

All subjective of course ...:D


That's not very charitable of you...I have a greater need! :D

A good set of brakes are worth 20hp. :rob
 
Speak to Hagon and get something built to your requirements. You will have plenty of change from £1k.
 
Ohlins for me, better control and poise

(I have both Wilbers on one and Ohlins on the other)
 


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