You don't need to remove the silencer to get the rear shock out, it can be done with everything in situ.
Front shock
- Thread starter Slipperyeel
- Start date
Pretty much straight-forward.
This is how I did it (1150R but I guess it’s the same for a GS):
Wheel off, stubby off, pre-load reservoir off. Put jack under final drive, start loosening the lower bolt by 3-4 turns. Then adjust the jack until the weight is off the bolt and then remove bolt completely Remove the shock's top bolt & nut and feed the shock down and out, the hose just needs a pull out from between the two plastic units.
If you’re going to DIY the spring you’ll need a compressor for it, I used the Hyperpro on hire from Motorworks. Put the shock into it, place the large castellation over the banjo connector:
and tension down until you can see the split ring, then work that out of the groove:
And up off the top of the shock:
The pre-load unit is held in position by a grub screw, you can slacken that now or wait until the shock is out of the compressor: but either way note the position of it relative to the top mounting tube as it has to go back in the same position:
On re-assembly I put the top bolt in first then adjusted the jack to line up the drive to the lower bolt.
If the pre-load unit is working ok then leave it alone, but if you want to refill it I can talk you through how I did it.
R
Right. Bloody hiccup with ABE. They didn't do the shock yesterday (they always service them on Wednesdays). The main man doing the work is sick. Just my luck.
Mspenz, are you also affected by this. I guess you must be if your shock is with ABE right now?
This means i have to wait for err...not sure how long. Which means at least another week without the bike
I really want to get the rear shock done as well asap. So i'm thinking i should get the rear to ABE pronto. So, here's my question. can i take both shocks off at the same time? Thinking about it i would have said no, not without giving myself a big headache. The bike is currently all wrapped up and on the centre stand with help from a jack while the front shock is off.
Anyone had them off at the same time?
Thanks
Yeah, but I'm not quite sure what's going on! They have had the unit since 10th Feb and I had a message recently to call them as it had been serviced and they wanted to discuss the spring?
Tried calling and have been promised 3 times that they'd call back as every time I called the guy didn't have the information in front of him.
Spoke with someone today who said that they didn't know that I wanted a Hyperpro progressive fitted but they are happy to fit one supplied by me but don't normally supply, even though this was all pretty clear during my initial contact and the letter I sent with the shock
If it's going to be much longer I'll just get the shock back serviced and then fit a spring myself from Motorworks or wherever.
I'm running a CCM at the moment so am in no real hurry but I'd be pretty frustrated if I was relying on the GSA for transport.
Hope you get sorted out ok Slippery..
Thanks for the feedback Mspenz. I'm wondering if they have mixed up people? I gave them my shock complete with a new Hyperpro spring. I might just pop down there tomorrow lunch time and get my gear back then at least put the spring on myself. I need the bloody bike on the road!
Ralphy. Thanks for the info. It's useful. The way things are going with ABE I think I'll do the rear myself. I can't re-gas it but it's not leaking so can it be so bad? And a new spring with the preload adjuster working must be an improvement?!
Big Jets
Registered user
ABE Must have done my mine first had them back in 8 days .I did tell them my good friend Steptoe told me to phone .I even got a discount 
You can tell - to a degree - if the shock is working: when it’s off the bike reduce the rebound, then press it down and watch it rise, then max the rebound, press it down again and note the difference in time for it to rise again. (At least that’ll show if there’s some gas in it). ;-)
R
Think I've decided. I'm going back to ABE tomorrow....I bit of a pain but at least I can get it all sorted and back on the road asap
Would be nice if I got my shock back serviced and fitted with a Hyperpro supplied by Slippery free of charge
Grim Rider
Registered user
I am slightly confused by this - in that when I looked at getting my shocks ( 2001 R1150GS) serviced a few years ago I was told that it was not possible to service the front shock because of the way it is put together, only the rear? Ended up buying new front from BMW (cost about £130 then). have since replaced both springs with Hyperpro; easily done with the Hyperpro spring compressor kit you can hire when you buy the springs (cheap when they forget to charge you!). Wrote about it here.
For an extortionate fee, is all yours 
Gear still with ABE. Holding out for better news next week ref return for the rebuild. The rate I'm going it'll be a month with the bike off the road, and that assumes things go smoothly from here. That was definitely not part of the plan :-/
Gear still with ABE. Holding out for better news next week ref return for the rebuild. The rate I'm going it'll be a month with the bike off the road, and that assumes things go smoothly from here. That was definitely not part of the plan :-/
Pretty pointless just fitting a new spring to an old shock & not having the oil/gas and seals changed imo - you're unlikely to notice much difference unless you've changed the spring rate...
Mike. I agree (though I am actually changing the spring). So I'm hoping I'm not flogging a dead horse with the front shock (which I understand is less serviceable compared to the rear - but that's supposed to be one of ABE's advantages, they'll tackle a full service of the front shock).
This is an interesting exercise as I suspect lots of other people out there with aging GSs that would benefit from sorting out their shocks. But the way I've worked it out (and this doesn't inc my additional travel costs as a result of not having the bike) it should be around 250 to rebuild both of the standard shocks. I decided to splash out and add new springs (170). So 380-400 in total, which roughly equals a good, new front shock only. I rather thought this was a sound plan and my shocks were due some tlc.
The alternative, on a budget, is about a grand for new shocks, which is a significant difference. Yes, suspect that grand will give a better result.
But nothing has been done yet! Which is half, if not all, of my current problem
Bendy toy
Registered user
Do Wilbers shocks ever appear in used adverts? Eminently rebuildable at reasonable costs.
Hagons are not bad less cost but not as good as Wilbers.
Hagons are not bad less cost but not as good as Wilbers.
I've been looking for a second hand shock but nothing has come up. 
Tomorrow I'm going to call ABE and get a full description of what they intend doing (in view of the fact the front isn't rebuildable, apparently). I understood it ABE had some method of doing it. But if it turns out they're just going to put the new spring on then I may just bit the bullet... As Mike said, not much point putting a good spring onto a poor shock even if their costs are excellent.
Tomorrow I'm going to call ABE and get a full description of what they intend doing (in view of the fact the front isn't rebuildable, apparently). I understood it ABE had some method of doing it. But if it turns out they're just going to put the new spring on then I may just bit the bullet... As Mike said, not much point putting a good spring onto a poor shock even if their costs are excellent.
I have been looking on ebay at the options for new shocks for my 96. YSS and Wilbers basic models can be bought cheaply. Surely a better option than overhauling our ageing originals. Has anyone a recommendation
314Euros or about 230£
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Wilbers-Stos...29686?pt=DE_Motorradteile&hash=item4ae4023496
YSS from 288Euros
http://www.ebay.de/itm/FEDERBEIN-ST...80570?pt=DE_Motorradteile&hash=item35df92675a
314Euros or about 230£
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Wilbers-Stos...29686?pt=DE_Motorradteile&hash=item4ae4023496
YSS from 288Euros
http://www.ebay.de/itm/FEDERBEIN-ST...80570?pt=DE_Motorradteile&hash=item35df92675a
I replaced both shocks last year. I'd check that preload at front can adjusted when shock is at its place. In Wilbers it cant be done unless youll get hydraulic preload adjustment.
However I ended to Italian Bitubos, been happy with them.
However I ended to Italian Bitubos, been happy with them.
Puffin, I share your thinking and that's what I'm doing now. And thanks for the links too.
Antti. Thanks for the tip. Good point and actually I'd noticed just that detail... But I want completely sure I was right, but you've confirmed!
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Antti. Thanks for the tip. Good point and actually I'd noticed just that detail... But I want completely sure I was right, but you've confirmed!
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Update:
It's taken what feels like a flippin age, but the bike is back on the road, complete with a fresh MOT! It now has a Wilbers 630 on the front and the standard rear shock rebuilt/serviced and fitted with a Hyperpro Spring. I also replaced the spacer assembly on top of the front shock (cos the missus threw the old ones out!!!).
So, can safely say it has transformed the bike. Wow. The old items must have been more tired than I thought. There's no rear end squat when I open it
up hard. It tracks beautifully and just follows the line I'm looking at even in bumpy bends, even when the power is added mid corner. By the end of the ride I was treating it more like a sports bike. The dive has gone and I think I might just be experiencing the telelever as it was intended! Combined with the new boots (PR4s) the love affair is back
I think if you're thinking of sorting your suspension, just get it serviced. Especially if you're on the originals and no service!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
It's taken what feels like a flippin age, but the bike is back on the road, complete with a fresh MOT! It now has a Wilbers 630 on the front and the standard rear shock rebuilt/serviced and fitted with a Hyperpro Spring. I also replaced the spacer assembly on top of the front shock (cos the missus threw the old ones out!!!).
So, can safely say it has transformed the bike. Wow. The old items must have been more tired than I thought. There's no rear end squat when I open it
up hard. It tracks beautifully and just follows the line I'm looking at even in bumpy bends, even when the power is added mid corner. By the end of the ride I was treating it more like a sports bike. The dive has gone and I think I might just be experiencing the telelever as it was intended! Combined with the new boots (PR4s) the love affair is back
I think if you're thinking of sorting your suspension, just get it serviced. Especially if you're on the originals and no service!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
+ 1 for getting older shocks serviced 
I have just got round to fitting both of mine back onto my GSA but I won't get it back on the road to try for a couple of weeks yet as there's some rubbing down and painting to do.
Both shocks have been serviced and are now fitted up with a Hyperpro progressive front and rear and I'm pretty glad that I have long legs (33")!!, I can just touch the ground at full tiptoe now whereas before I could virtually flat foot while sat on the bike so the shocks must have been totally shagged.
ABE tell me that the front unit only holds a very small amount of oil so they get 'tired' pretty quickly, when they service them they also add a little bit of gas to give them some extra boost. The rear unit has had a full service and the preload now works as smooth as and without the need for a strongman type grip on the adjuster.
Looking forward to getting it back on the road again.
If your thinking about it don't hesitate and just get them refurbished...
I have just got round to fitting both of mine back onto my GSA but I won't get it back on the road to try for a couple of weeks yet as there's some rubbing down and painting to do.
Both shocks have been serviced and are now fitted up with a Hyperpro progressive front and rear and I'm pretty glad that I have long legs (33")!!, I can just touch the ground at full tiptoe now whereas before I could virtually flat foot while sat on the bike so the shocks must have been totally shagged.
ABE tell me that the front unit only holds a very small amount of oil so they get 'tired' pretty quickly, when they service them they also add a little bit of gas to give them some extra boost. The rear unit has had a full service and the preload now works as smooth as and without the need for a strongman type grip on the adjuster.
Looking forward to getting it back on the road again.
If your thinking about it don't hesitate and just get them refurbished...
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