bikemad
Registered user
Actually if people lost a bit of weight not ony would it have the obvious health benefits,also be cheaper to eat so you can save on expensive bike repairs or put more money to proper shocks 
1200GSA Front Shock Absorber leaking oil.
- Thread starter Jetstar
- Start date
Jetstar
Registered user
I have been riding for 25 Years and never experienced a suspension unit failure! - All my previous bikes have been 'JAP' bikes as well as MZ and KTM. Have been a BMW customer for a few years now and have loved my experiences to date. Think the GS is a great bike and probably one of the best bikes I have owned, however, this failure has resulted in me loosing confidence in the brand especially considering what the GS Adventure is designed for........... I weigh 75 KG and the bike has had light use and ridden mainly solo!!! Also very well looked after and has a FBMW service history. Don't believe it should have failed!
You're right, it shouldn't have failed but bikes are machines and machines break. Sometimes it's just a random failure with little or no precedent, sometimes it's a known weak point. It's undoubtedly a real pisser when the failure happens to your bike but in the end there's little you can do but suck it up and carry on. If you repair or replace the shock there's every likelihood that it'll outlast your ownership of the bike and you can use the opportunity to upgrade. In my experience BMW shocks seem to be more 'reliable' than many others (although I've not owned an ESA bike before my new to me TC) - I think you've just been unlucky.
And 'shock failure' doesn't just mean that it's burst a seal - I've ridden plenty of Japanese bikes only a few (say up to five) years old that while they looked fine and weren't leaking, have had appalling suspension with little or no damping...
Bendy toy
Registered user
My Diversion 900 rear shock lasted 40K but it was a basic sealed unit with no adjustment other than preload. The rising rate knuckle bearings and swing arm bearings were also shot.
Front forks were still working fine at 70K when I sold the bike. But again very basic stuff and the bike handled accordingly.
I did about 10K on a (Dutch made) WP rear shock which had about 10K when I bought it. Big mistake - by the time I got it rebuilt the internal damage was too great and it was never the same again.
It's real life between service rebuilds was probably 15K so Wilbers asking for 12K looks fair to me.
Jetstar
Registered user
Thought I would just give an update. Had front shock absorber replaced last Friday with a new unit supplied by BMW under goodwill gesture at my local dealer Wollaston at Northampton. Not free but 50% off the cost of parts. I'm the second owner and purchased the bike privately, however serviced at Wollaston. Just wanted to say the customer service and assistance received by Wollaston service staff was first class.
Rocketman
Registered user
Sounds like you did alright there,
Wilburs for me first test ride today and I've got to say wow ,even with my Newly acquired bad back .....
If you have taken out the extended warranty it's covered up to 30.000 miles, if not go whimpering to your dealer as said above to see if they may replace it.
Though wollastons seem to be getting a bit tight as of late
I'm glad to see you proved me wrong on that one, nice result.
Bendy toy
Registered user
A good result but even allowing for the genuine generosity at BMW Wollaston, I would rather have had a Wilbers.
I'm off to RevsRacing on 26 March for upgrade to Wilber's (WESA) on my GSA, after a Hilltop remap the day before. I ride all year and the Bike's a keeper for me so I'm looking forward to these changes. Good to hear your early endorsement of "wow", Rocketman.
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