2012 1200 GS ESA Suspension

[rossman999]

Well after 22K miles both front and rear shocks have given up the ghost and are now misting badly.

I have used the search functions and it would appear I can get the BMW shocks rebuilt or spend a small fortune on Wilbers or BMW ones.

I am not exactly light and often carry my partner as a pillion so the ESA is great and don't really want to lose it.

If I go for the Wilbers what sort of £ am I looking at? am I silly considering this amount and should just get the OE rebuilt.

Kevin

 

[AustinW]

I did mine earlier this year.

Wilber's at Revs Racing ride-in ride-out will be about £1300. The shocks themselves are about £1000, but sometimes appear on eBay from Germany for around £800. You specify your and your pillions weight (in riding gear) plus typical luggage load. They are good but £1300 good? I am not convinced, but I do enjoy riding my bike a lot better with the Wilber's than before.

Rebuilds around £150 per shock I think, but the guys at Revs Racing showed me a rebuilt GS shock - it isn't really rebuildable so the base of the shock has to be cut into and a valve brazed in place. Then it can be filled with oil. The one they showed me was right mess of braze and heat damage. Could have just been bollocks of course to make me believe the £1300 I was about to spend was worth it

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

I have had Wilburs ESA on mine for just under a year, much better than original. However a few on here have had repairs/rebuilds I think through MCT and all seem confident about their service.

 

[Bendy toy]

I've seen a Honda Showa shock rebuilt. The outer case was drilled letting the nitrogen out. The shock was stripped, cleaned and a filling valve fitted to the drilled hole. There was no brazing or even soft soldering. Shock rebuilt with new oil and then pressurised via the new filling valve.

A Hagon rear shock with hydraulic preload costs £425. The front is also monoshock type so likely to be the same cost. Add the features needed to take the ESA mechanism and it could easily go to £1000. Add the labour to strip the shocks from the bike (the front is well buried), swap the ESA mechanisms and rebuild the bike. £1300 isn't unreasonable.

 

[kyrano]

I used MCT a short while back as my ESA front shock was leaking, quick turnaround and not too pricey either

 

[BOBAD]

...... I can get the BMW shocks rebuilt or spend a small fortune on Wilbers or BMW ones.

If I go for the Wilbers what sort of £ am I looking at?......

Is your 1200GS an LC model?

If so, there is currently a tremendous bargain on the "for sale" forum as we speak.....

A pair of Ohlins TTX (top spec) shocks which have only done 500 miles for £750. New price over £2k.

If they fit your bike you should snap them up although you would lose your ESA.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/435381-Ohlins-TTX-for-sale




.

 

[rossman999]

Many thanks for the info, I was a bit concerned about the Wilbur's when you google them but I have made contact with Revs and very impressed with a reply on a sat evening. I wont be getting the bike back until Wednesday as they are awaiting a telelever ball joint as the boot is damaged - its been a very expensive weekend

Thanks for this but I don't think they will fit as its a Rallye which is the last of the TC's

Is your 1200GS an LC model?

If so, there is currently a tremendous bargain on the "for sale" forum as we speak.....

A pair of Ohlins TTX (top spec) shocks which have only done 500 miles for £750. New price over £2k.

If they fit your bike you should snap them up although you would lose your ESA.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/435381-Ohlins-TTX-for-sale




.

 

[UturnTony]

Many thanks for the info, I was a bit concerned about the Wilbur's when you google them but I have made contact with Revs and very impressed with a reply on a sat evening. I wont be getting the bike back until Wednesday as they are awaiting a telelever ball joint as the boot is damaged - its been a very expensive weekend

Thanks for this but I don't think they will fit as its a Rallye which is the last of the TC's

Why replace the joint for a damaged boot? The boots are available separately, i have fitted them.

 

[Pukmeister]

I've had both my front and rear shocks rebuilt by MCT with excellent service. I would highly recommend them for ESA shock rebuilds.

My front shock had a badly worn internal bushing which MCT removed, fitted an insert and reamed to size to repair. I suspect the bikes original owner may have caused the shock damage when he had a light front end bump during offroading which was enough to bend/crease a fork slider tube.

I believe that my 2008 bike has Showa suspension whereas later bikes like yours have WP. Either way, I believe MCT can accommodate both types but perhaps you should call them first and ask the question.

 

[Bendy toy]

I've had both my front and rear shocks rebuilt by MCT with excellent service. I would highly recommend them for ESA shock rebuilds.

My front shock had a badly worn internal bushing which MCT removed, fitted an insert and reamed to size to repair. I suspect the bikes original owner may have caused the shock damage when he had a light front end bump during offroading which was enough to bend/crease a fork slider tube.

I believe that my 2008 bike has Showa suspension whereas later bikes like yours have WP. Either way, I believe MCT can accommodate both types but perhaps you should call them first and ask the question.

What did MCT charge for the pair including the additional work? My front shock is the original with over 60K miles so its got to be worn internally. My rear has about 33K.

 

[Pukmeister]

I had the rear done first at 36,500 miles as it blew its seal. Front was noticeably badly damped in comparison, so got that done at 38,000.

Hang on a minute and I'll pop in the garage and find my receipts.

 

[Pukmeister]

Rear shock was on 1/10/15 and was £109 plus £10 P&P plus £23 vat, total charge £142.80

I can't locate the front shock repair receipt at present but IIRC the bush repair cost about another tenner plus vat, ISTR total price was £158.40 from memory or close to that figure.

I must add that having the front shock overhauled made a massive difference to the front end feel, that bush was totally shot according to MCT.

 

[Bendy toy]

Impressive prices. I need to get mine done so to keep the bike on the road, i've got a pair of non ESA winging their way from another inmate. Thanks Scott.

 

[kyrano]

http://mctsuspension.co.uk/Home.html

 

[Greenman14]

I'm assuming your ESA mechanisms are working OK on damping and preload? Wilbers shocks re-use the ESA mechanisms and the preload in particular is not, according to Revs, repairable. I replaced my GS Rallye shocks at 20k miles though they were still working ok-ish. The WIlburs make a big difference and although they're expensive compared to a rebuild I'm happy with the cost as I expecting to keep the bike for another 3-4 years.

 

[Pukmeister]

When I fitted Hyperpro lowering springs to my ESA suspension (which I later changed back to stock), the ESA preload unit is separate to the actual shock absorber unit and is retained with a metal wire retaining ring in a shallow groove. By undoing a small allen key and compressing the spring/preload unit, the ring can be removed and the preload unit simply lifted off.

I'd be surprised if anyone repairs them as its basically a big fat short stroke hydraulic piston sat atop the shock with its own small electric hydraulic pump/valve unit, although if anyone could do it I would wager MCT could find a way.

 

[Bendy toy]

I took my ESA units off the bike when I had the frames repainted. They are not simple and seem to be pressurised - the braided hose from the motor was very stiff as are the brake hoses when pressure is applied. Swapping them from shock to shock looks simple enough but for repair to the ESA kit - think again.

If you really want ESA and yours is failing the only option will be Wilbers WESA X or the Touratech version that looks very similar.

 

[Deleted account 240118001]

Impressive prices. I need to get mine done so to keep the bike on the road, i've got a pair of non ESA winging their way from another inmate. Thanks Scott.

Glad I could help!

 

[UturnTony]

Another thumbs up for MCT here. Rear shock leaking so sent it in. Posted Thursday got it back following Wednesday
£160 all in including carriage both ways and i sent it Parcelforce for about £16 ish.
Seems to be working fine and certainly better than it was.

 

[spm0912]

Seems to be working fine and certainly better than it was.

Says the man who rode around Alaska with a fecked shock and didn't notice