Can the Showa shock be repaired?

[diversion74]

Ah I see.
Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Greg Masters]

(and not Showa but WP my mistake).

Then you could do worse than asking White Power to repair it.



Greg

 

[Snoopy]

Not ignoring the advice Wapping, I'll ring 'em during the week. I'll also email WP and see what they say.

 

[Wapping]

Not ignoring the advice Wapping, I'll ring 'em during the week. I'll also email WP and see what they say.

Jolly good

Loads of people rebuild WP shocks, or you can probably buy a kit and have a go yourself.

Was laughing at a couple of your film clips a few days ago. The river crossing is a classic and the camping on the motorway pull off area.

 

[Mr K]

So it's not really the second failure in six months, which makes it sound like new units that have been failing.

But it is the failure of a second hand suspension unit (age and mileage unknown) which was itself the replacement for a suspension kit of unknown age or mileage.

But feel free to berate the telephone man.

2nd shock was 35,000 miles and 4 years old when I sold it.

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

2nd shock was 35,000 miles and 4 years old when I sold it.

Sold the boy a dud... you should be ashamed of yoursel

 

[Snoopy]

Be nice to CK now, it was a stop gap until I found something else.

 

[Wapping]

I'm on rear shock #2 in 6 months, the dampening adjuster at the bottom has seized again (rotates freely). The ride is horrible, the bikes wallows around and when going over cattle grid style surfaces the whole effect comes up my backside.

Can these things be rebuilt?

I could go for a Wilbers but from what I've heard and from experience with mine on the 650 I'm unimpressed by reliability.

Ohlins ... gold bling too expensive.

2nd shock was 35,000 miles and 4 years old when I sold it.

Be nice to CK now, it was a stop gap until I found something else.

So there we have it. It's quite a different picture than the one painted originally.

It is the failure of a secondhand WP (not a Showa) shock's damping adjuster - after at least four and a half years and 35,000 miles - that you are trying to get fixed. That it failed six months after fitting it, as a replacement for another shock (age, make and mileage unknown) is irrelevant.

Why not ask from the beginning quite simply whether anyone knows of anywhere good and reliable that will service WP shocks? I guess you could even narrow your search down to anywhere in a specific area of the UK. You could throw the question to a wider audience than just the very narrow 1200 section, as the bike the shock is fitted to is probably irrelevant, too.

You could even dive into a Google search for WP shock service and see what came up. Summat like this The first link gives you much of the information you need.

As a really wild thought, you could have considered getting it serviced when you made the purchase from the good Mr Kelley of this parish. Thereby quite possibly relieving yourself (and maybe us, too) of the trouble now.

WP are a reliable and popular make of shock absorber. I am sure you will be fine. Good luck.

 

[luckylucian]

GSpot has a few threads on home refilling of the oil reservoir on the rear shock, seems the oil level drops over time resulting in poor damping,may be worth a go.

Also apologies for not joining in on the banter

 

[Greg Masters]

Then you could do worse than asking White Power to repair it.



Greg

Oops.



Apparently WP stands for 'Wim Peters’ - the originator of WP shocks.

Greg

 

[cookie]

Oops.



Apparently WP stands for 'Wim Peters’ - the originator of WP shocks.

Greg

but until fairly recently were called White Power anyway

 

[Snoopy]

GSpot has a few threads on home refilling of the oil reservoir on the rear shock, seems the oil level drops over time resulting in poor damping,may be worth a go.

Also apologies for not joining in on the banter

Got any further info, I tried searching gspot for such threads but with no luck.

WP says they can service the shock but doesn't know if they can get the replacement dampener adjustment screws for the bottom.

 

[MikeP]

WP says they can service the shock but doesn't know if they can get the replacement dampener adjustment screws for the bottom.

Just buy Ohlins. They seem much less complicated.

Mine don't have any adjustment screws that make them wet, damp or even moist.

Mmm. Moist.

 

[Snoopy]

Been speaking to WP suspension, given the uncertainty of repairing the damping adjuster, and that they don't have springs to fit (I wanted to stiffen it up), I've decided to go aftermarket.

As I quite like the front shock I'd prefer to stick with a WP unit on the rear. The cheapest is £367+vat (no external preload adjuster but I can live without that). Somebody indicate if I'm sain or not before handing over the VISA...

4014 Emulsion (http://www.wpsuspension.co.uk/product_road.php)

Thank you for your email.

£367.20 + VAT is the best price we can do I'm afraid but I should be able to waiver the carriage charge (£13.95 + VAT). This is because this will be a production order from the WP factory and the shock comes ready set-up to your weight with the correct spring and settings. It is personally built to your spec.

I appreciate your discounted price from Wilburs but in our opinion this shock has nowhere near the performance or adjustment range of a WP unit. We are of course bias but WP's reputation does rather speak for itself! It's a little strange that Wilburs feel they have to discount their product in order to sell it. The R1200GS is one of our most popular bikes and our customers are more than happy.

I have attached the details again for you to have another look over.

Kind regards,
Will Thomas
WP UK

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

I still can't believe you were trying to get a deal off WP by email

if you ever want a good deal you need to talk to People face to face or on the phone at least... build a bit of rapport

 

[Snoopy]

Found a cheaper site, though the UK distributor isn't happy!

http://www.bmwbikebits.co.uk/produc...hnitzer-WP_Suspension_Emulsion_Rear_Shock.htm

 

[MattW]

Found a cheaper site, though the UK distributor isn't happy!

http://www.bmwbikebits.co.uk/produc...hnitzer-WP_Suspension_Emulsion_Rear_Shock.htm

Thet shock in your link is for an F800...

 

[Snoopy]

Yup, I was hoping they'd do the same for the 1200. Unfrotunately they don't answer the telephone.

I'm negotiating 10% off with the WP distributor, but he's playing hardball. I found out he's offering 10% off to another BMW bikers site so I'm playing that card.