Anyone had their OE suspension re built?

[Big Lee]

With the OE kit being WP units & I assume quite good kit has anyone had them re built to suit them rather than splashing out on Ohlins & the like?
Can WP build them to a higher spec or one of the other suspension specialists do them?
I`ve no complaints about the standard kit, handled well enough on the 850 mile trip round Scotland but with people considering splashing out £800 on flash suspension I was wondering if it was worth it.

Lee

 

[Baz]

I asked the same question to a suspension specialist two weeks ago. He reckoned the OE was good enough and not to bother either rebuilding or upgrading.
Personal choice thing, personnaly I'll put the cash away so I can buy a new 12 in 18 months time.

Baz

 

[ag1s]

are you sure it is wp? Have you seen it written on them?

With the OE kit being WP units & I assume quite good kit has anyone had them re built to suit them rather than splashing out on Ohlins & the like?
Can WP build them to a higher spec or one of the other suspension specialists do them?
I`ve no complaints about the standard kit, handled well enough on the 850 mile trip round Scotland but with people considering splashing out £800 on flash suspension I was wondering if it was worth it.

Lee

 

[Big Lee]

Yup, they have "WP Suspension" on them front & rear. Here`s a best a pic I could take of the rear

 

[SQD8R]

I've contacted a suspension specialist and worked out a deal to send them off there for a revalve etc.. I'll post my results in time. However I remember reading an Aussie article someone posted here regarding a revavle done by a company in Austrailia. Anyone remember the link?

 

[Sergeant Pluck]

I'm sure a while ago someone on here posted the name of a company in glasgow that will do it .... Can't remember any more than that though ...

 

[stephenm]

I've contacted a suspension specialist and worked out a deal to send them off there for a revalve etc.. I'll post my results in time. However I remember reading an Aussie article someone posted here regarding a revavle done by a company in Austrailia. Anyone remember the link?

Frank Pons at Biketek did the work for SideTrack magazine.
Ph: 02 4620 9020; Fax: 02 4620 9022. Don't have a link.

Frank softened the high-compression damping stack to cure a perception that the rear shock was a little harsh on short, sharp hits. They claimed the bike rode a lot more smoothly over corrugations and potholes. They liked the rear unit and judged it to be a decent unit.

In the end, though, they fitted an Ohlins (with an Eibach spring). Waiting on the next issue to see what happens, as the unit hadn't been sorted in the last instalment.

There is a WP Netherlands and a WP USA.

Stephen

 

[SQD8R]

thx Stephen.

Any reason mentioned for the switch other than idle curiousity

 

[stephenm]

thx Stephen.

Any reason mentioned for the switch other than idle curiousity

The owner of the GS writes for SideTrack and has made the development of the bike a feature of each issue this year. The bike seems to get ridden hard on demanding roads, (like the Canning Stock Route) so they are keen to try stuff out.

While they declared the rear shock to be decent quality and admitted they almost decided to leave it alone, ("the rear shock's twin valves are very similar to a PDS system. It's actually a pretty good unit") once they decided to replace the more basic front shock, they couldn't help themselves. When the Ohlins went on, the supplied spring was so stiff the back end didn't move, so an Eibach spring went on temporarily.

Interestingly, they reckon the front shock doesn't hold much oil, (enough to lubricate a condom) so they recommend changing it every 10,000km if the bike gets pounded off road. They claimed that they had no fading problems with the original shocks over the Canning Stock Route ("despite the heavy load and rough going").

Stephen

 

[Mouse]

Interestingly, they reckon the front shock doesn't hold much oil, (enough to lubricate a condom) so they recommend changing it every 10,000km if the bike gets pounded off road.

Changing the oil or the whole shock? A new shock every 10,000 km would be pretty expensive! Mind you I suppose it depends on what "pounded off road" means

 

[stephenm]

Changing the oil or the whole shock? A new shock every 10,000 km would be pretty expensive! Mind you I suppose it depends on what "pounded off road" means

Just the oil.

SideTrack is a dirtbike adventure magazine and they ride the GS as a dirtbike racer-potholes, corrugations, creek crossings, wheelies.

Quote: "The 1200GS has been built to a spec that exceeds the requirements of the vast majority of owners, most of whom would not ride down a flooded Canning Stock Route carrying 70 litres of fuel, or cover 1200km of dirt in a normal day, or think that hammering through the limestone on the Nullabor was buckets of fun." And "We have to up the spec from street-trail to full race." That should give the clue as to where they are headed with the bike. The first mod was a full width, heavy duty bash plate.

Stephen

 

[Mouse]

Cheers for that clarification

Talking of bash plates, I think I could do with a heavy duty one, just noticed the other day that I had ripped off three of the four rubber mountings and the plate itself has a massive dent in the middle. Time to get my big hammer out to fix it!

 

[Big Lee]

BTT
So, in the time this thread has been out has anyone had their suspension re built?
I was in contact with Triple D in Kendal, a WP Susupension specialist http://www.d3-racing.com/wp suspension.htm , and he hasn`t done a set of oe WP stuff from BMW but reckons I might be too heavy for the standard stuff & them giving the shocks a service will be benificial the bikes done 9500 miles or so.

It might be worth a go, I`ll have to see if he needs the bike to take a look at it then I`d take the suspension off & send him it.

 

[Big Lee]

I`ve just been on the phone to Julian at D3 & for a sevice of both front & rear without new springs its £250, removing them myself. I suggested that it might be handy for me to go & see them to get a better idea of what I might need & he agreed. So I might just be having a bimble to Kendal before long!

 

[big simp]

Ohlins

Ride the Ohlins and then you shall find out the difference . Any standard shock is built to a price, the ohlins is built properly and will benifit anyone thats a tad heavier then normal weight, plus its miles better for two up touring with da missus ,or even better somebody elses missus then you can give her back..............

Steve

 

[cookiemonster]

All Bike's in Greenwich rebuilt the shock on my 1150 (and a couple of previous bikes also). I've always been happy with them, so if/when the day comes and I think the 1200 will benifit from a refresh then it'd be off to ABE.

That said, these guys are very much about rebuilding stock items to stock. IIRC they stuck in a heavier oil on a cbr6 shock for me, but they're not a Maxton or the like, in that if i was after a revalve they may not be the folk to talk to.

For 12 though, I still reckon some kind of variable ride height is in order at the backend. We're all riding around with the preload wound right up to get some height in the rear, but we end up with no static sag and poorer ride for it.

Anyway - for a straight rebuild I'd recommend all bikes.

cheers

jon

 

[pogo]

Hello,

I was wondering a time ago, if I dont want a better rear shock,but to be honest I shoud say a "better looking" shock Sure , ohlins or wilbers have this kind of finish that makes them "I want it on my bike" but truely,the stock shock is far good enough for what I do.

In the GS manual,they say the rear suspention has the WAD technology,wich means is progressive,and if you check the price for a replacement kit from BMW,its not cheep.I had many bikes in the past,and I must say that the stock suspention is one of the best I ever had ( as the bike itself though!) So for now,I have a good feeling when riding,they dont "pump", the handling is good,so I willl keep my money about the shocks.

A+ Pogo

 

[Big Lee]

Ride the Ohlins and then you shall find out the difference . Any standard shock is built to a price, the ohlins is built properly and will benifit anyone thats a tad heavier than normal weight

Steve

Thats true Steve but the internals & spring can be changed to suit , and cheaper too!, by a specialist & it looks like D3 are to guys to rebuild the WP oe stuff to a quality standard well above what came on the bike
I did ride a RSV Mille R a few years ago & was very impressed with the plushness of the Ohlins stuff on that

http://www.d3-racing.com/about.htm

 

[APE]

With the OE kit being WP units & I assume quite good kit has anyone had them re built to suit them rather than splashing out on Ohlins & the like?
Can WP build them to a higher spec or one of the other suspension specialists do them?
I`ve no complaints about the standard kit, handled well enough on the 850 mile trip round Scotland but with people considering splashing out £800 on flash suspension I was wondering if it was worth it.

Lee

I have Ohlins and believe it's the best modification I had done to the bike - far better than the original equipment. Remember you can sell them when you get rid of the bike and should be able to get a big chuck of that money back.