Cheapest suspension upgrade.. 2004 bike

[KP100]

A few things are nagging me about my new to me GS. One is the crap suspension. I thinks its way past its best . After a spirited ride the other day on the back roads, the bike even bottomed out going over a bridge at around 60mph.
I dont feel connected to the road with it. In town small pot holes rattle the hell our of the linkages . I had a KTM 950sm before this and the difference is night and day with regard feedback even comfort.

The bike has 32k miles on her. And I am on a bus mans wages so I cant afford to splash 1500 quid on new shocks.

What are the options .. It does not have to be the best , just better than the crap tired suspension I have now.

Thanks

 

[stick]

Any up grade will not be cheap . May be worth trying breakers for a low mileage set of shocks , Wilburs are my shock of choice , you may get a second hand set on ebay etc , but bear in mind you may need to set these up for rider weight etc which will involve a Wilbers dealer (Revs Suspension Halesowen who I use ) ,but they are very good.
Is it ESA or standard not sure what was fitted in 04 .Hope this helps

 

[Sgt Bilco]

The rear will be shot at 32k. Cheapest option is a rebuild which will set you back around £150.

You will see second hand aftermarket shocks come up in the FS&W section at a pretty reasonable price so keep your eyes peeled. You may even pick up a decent standard shock for a sensible price which will make a massive difference.

There is really no need to change both shocks especially if you are short of the readies. The front does very little in reality and you would barely notice if it was gone. The rear is the most important and changing that will make a massive difference.

The adventure shock won't fit if you do get offered one.

I suspect someone will be along shortly with something which has sat on the shelf for a while.

 

[Bendy toy]

Get your shock rebuilt then when a Wilbers / Maxton / Hagon comes along, just swap it out and sell your OEM shock.


Sent somehow.

 

[Tractors are go]

If, you can do without the bike for around a week, most K tech dealers will do a rebuild and weight appropriate spring for around £200 per shock. Mct are another company to try as well, although there maybe someone else local to you.

You could do as you can afford it, or buy a secondhand standard pair here and then get them rebuilt, that route should cost around £500ish.

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk

 

[Pukmeister]

As Bilco says, the front is way less critical. My front shock had virtually no damping and it turns out an internal bush had collapsed, MCT refurbished it for £109 + VAT and said it was on its last legs. I hardly noticed. The refurb was an improvement but not a massive one.

The previous rear shock refurb however was like night and day.

 

[Neil W]

ABE or similar rebuild with Hyperpro Springs

 

[younger06]

YSS from firefox racing, I think the basic shock without remote preload should be between 250 and 300 of your fine british pounds. I recently had one specced to my weight and it's like riding a new bike.

 

[Greenman14]

Most decent aftermarket shocks are rebuildable so if you get a cheap rear it could probably be brought back to as new condition when funds allow, and this would be better than a new BMW unit.

 

[peepingtom]

All of the above plus you could put a wanted advert up. Someone will have one I'm sure.

 

[younger06]

http://firefoxracing.co.uk/product/...2003-2011-yss-adjustable-mono-shock-absorber/

 

[Bendy toy]

I'm using a pair of non ESA GS shocks in the GSA. They have stiffer springs so there is less static sag and less nodding on gear shifts. I was going to get the OEMs rebuilt but TBH don't miss the ESA. I'll go straight to Wilbers when funds allow.

My front shock had done 62,000 so had to be knackered but the only thing I've noticed is stiffer ride. The ESA back had done 35000 so of course the GS is like night and day.

 

[stick]

The rear will be shot at 32k. Cheapest option is a rebuild which will set you back around £150.

You will see second hand aftermarket shocks come up in the FS&W section at a pretty reasonable price so keep your eyes peeled. You may even pick up a decent standard shock for a sensible price which will make a massive difference.

There is really no need to change both shocks especially if you are short of the readies. The front does very little in reality and you would barely notice if it was gone. The rear is the most important and changing that will make a massive difference.

The adventure shock won't fit if you do get offered one.

I suspect someone will be along shortly with something which has sat on the shelf for a while.

Maybe , but after 32 K the rear being rebuilt will only show how bad the worn front is , best advice would be , rebuild both as they are similar units , why scimp

 

[Pukmeister]

Maybe , but after 32 K the rear being rebuilt will only show how bad the worn front is , best advice would be , change both .

Total agreement from me. I did my rear first through necessity as the seal blew (I commute on it daily). This then showed up the front, which needed the internal bushing sorting as it was well fecked. In hindsight I could have saved time and postage by getting both done at the same time.

£140 each inc vat and return postage from MCT (£109 ex-vat) plus a tenner initial postage, so £300 all in for a full shock refurbishment. The lowest cost way to sort your bikes worn suspension as far as I know.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Maybe , but after 32 K the rear being rebuilt will only show how bad the worn front is , best advice would be , rebuild both as they are similar units , why scimp

True enough but if the OP is on a budget, the rear is the most important and it would improve the handling by a massive amount.

 

[KP100]

would a GSA set fit a GS ok?

would the r1200r fit?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-R1200...030adbd&pid=100290&rk=2&rkt=4&sd=232164802050

 

[Sgt Bilco]

would a GSA set fit a GS ok?

No, they are different lengths.

 

[stick]

True enough but if the OP is on a budget, the rear is the most important and it would improve the handling by a massive amount.

I would say that safety has no real budget , doing things half way is no solution. The front is as important as the rear , period . This advice I would give to anyone .

 

[stick]

Total agreement from me. I did my rear first through necessity as the seal blew (I commute on it daily). This then showed up the front, which needed the internal bushing sorting as it was well fecked. In hindsight I could have saved time and postage by getting both done at the same time.

£140 each inc vat and return postage from MCT (£109 ex-vat) plus a tenner initial postage, so £300 all in for a full shock refurbishment. The lowest cost way to sort your bikes worn suspension as far as I know.

Good advice , and a good solution without the high cost of upgrade aftermarket shocks.

 

[Bendy toy]

No, they are different lengths.

I thought this but recently bought some low miles OEM GS shocks so I can send my GSA ESA units away. They are all the same length. The GS type feels taller because there is less spring sag.
My rear had done 35K having been replaced at 27K under warranty. The front had done 62K. No leaks but was well past it's best.

Wilbers say their shocks should be serviced every 15K so it's likely any others would last better if we didn't run them to death.


Sent somehow.