Help with Wilbers set up

blackbird160

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I've just bought a Wilbers rear shock on e bay:), I know that these are built to suit individual requirements but I don't know what was specified for this particular shock.:nenau

The details I do have are as follows:

The label on the box reads

208213869 / 38963 / Motor-Cycles
Bestellnr: 640-726-00
SAE: Luftkammer
Wilbers Federbein
BMW R 1200 GS (R12) rear '04>
Fahrergewicht: 72kg, mit Gepack

The marking on the spring is 59/59 - 150 -185 and there is "25.5" on the rubber underside of the damping adjuster.

I weigh 105kg (in normal clothes not bike gear), I use the bike 100% on road, most of the time solo with no luggage or just one box.

Can anyone tell me if this shock is OK for me and how I need to set it up please?

Also how would I need to change the set up if I added a pillion (about 70 kg) and a full set of luggage?
 
I've just bought a Wilbers rear shock on e bay:), I know that these are built to suit individual requirements but I don't know what was specified for this particular shock.:nenau

The details I do have are as follows:

The label on the box reads

208213869 / 38963 / Motor-Cycles
Bestellnr: 640-726-00
SAE: Luftkammer
Wilbers Federbein
BMW R 1200 GS (R12) rear '04>
Fahrergewicht: 72kg, mit Gepack

The marking on the spring is 59/59 - 150 -185 and there is "25.5" on the rubber underside of the damping adjuster.

I weigh 105kg (in normal clothes not bike gear), I use the bike 100% on road, most of the time solo with no luggage or just one box.

Can anyone tell me if this shock is OK for me and how I need to set it up please?

Also how would I need to change the set up if I added a pillion (about 70 kg) and a full set of luggage?

From what you've posted the shock is speced for a rider of 72kg with luggage so may be under sprung and damped for you.

Best thing I'd say is contact Every Accessory who are the UK distributors and see what they recommend.
 
Google translator says:

208213869 / 38963 / Motor-Cycles
Order No: 640-726-00
SAE: air chamber
Wilbers shock
BMW R 1200 GS (R12) rear '04>
Rider weight: 72kg, with luggage


So its set up for 72kg with luggage, so its not going to be too far off your weight solo.

Add a pillion and you need to wind on a bit more preload then possibly some more damping.

If I were you, I'd slap it on and see how it rides.
 
Hi, I have Wilbers (front/rear) on my R12GS since more than 30000km. I understand the basics so perhaps I can help out.
The most important part on the number combination on your spring is the '150' indicating the spring rate.
My Wilbers springs carry the same numbers, and I weigh 86kg, and the pillion weighs 70kg, and then there's the luggage. So you're allright as far as springrate goes. Springrate on these bikes is usually 140, 150, 160.

Now some basic info. Imagine a bike hanging in the air. As it comes down and sits on it's springs, it goes down a bit called the 'static' sag. As a rider mounts the bike, it goes down even more : the 'dynamic' sag. The 'dynamic' sag is supposed to remain equal, no matter how much weight is put on the bike; that's why there's a preload knob for adjustment. The trouble is that it's not easy to find out what the basic dynamic sag is, i.e. when riding solo.

That's where Wilbers are clever : in the factory they put the minimum preload according to weight of rider (as specified when ordered). This exact minimum preload means that the rider will have the correct dynamic sag when riding solo. From there on, he can adjust for more weight by increasing the preload.*

What some people don't realise, is that this factory installed minimum preload can be altered on the spring, for more or less solo weight. Otherwise Wilbers would have to produce hundreds of different springs for different riders' weights. And as a nice advantage to us customers Wilbers springs/dampers can be sold on to a rider with a different weight.

To be specific : you have bought a second hand Wilbers and can have the minimum preload changed so that it fits your weight (preferably by someone who knows how). But, since you are heavier than the specified weight you have this option : when riding solo you can simply adjust the preload above the minimum installed by the factory. This means trying out different preload positions and measuring dynamic sag 'till you get it right for riding solo.
(To make it clear : if you were lighter than the specified rider weight, you would imperatively have to get the factory installed minimum preload decreased, or accept to ride solo with slightly wrong dynamic sag).

As far as damping (rebound) goes, this is a Very Personal Matter. Damping influences roadholding AND comfort. The best way to find out what YOU like, is to testride the bike with different damping settings. If the damping is too open, the bike will start wallowing around, perhaps plushy, but not efficient in roadholding. With the rebound damping too closed the spring will not have the time to rebound before the next bump arrives, actually diminishing spring travel, diminishing roadholding... and the ride will get uncomfortably hard. It is false to think that a hard damping setup will result in better roadholding. In any case it's a compromise that you have to find out for yourself.

Here's what I did : I went on a calm stretch of road with different curves and changing 'bumpiness' (that's important), and tried out different settings, always driving the same stretch. I opened the damping completely to understand the consequences, then closed it completely for the same reason, and then worked with small adjustments till I got it right to my taste. It took me a couple of hours. I like technique so I had a blast. :D

For those who think this is all too complicated : it isn't, it's actually easy and a hoot ! And the reward is : an incredible improvement over the BMW stock solution.

I'm convinced you'll enjoy your Wilbers !
Have fun:thumb !

* And here's the big difference with preload on a standard BMW spring : since BMW don't know how heavy the rider is, preload is set somewhere in the middle. It's up to the rider to find out the exact amount of preload he has to install for riding solo. This means the rider has to know about dynamic sag, and measure this for himself. I don't know dealers who explain this, I know even less riders who ride with the right basic set up. BTW the same basic error (BMW not knowing how heavy the rider is, and thus possible wrong preload) exists with ESA.
 
GSBand,

That is probably the most informative post re suspension set up I have read. It confuses the heck out of me and to be honest due to this I have never taken the time to really adjust it properly. Interesting point about the stock settings and ESA - food for thought.
 
GSBand,

That is probably the most informative post re suspension set up I have read. It confuses the heck out of me and to be honest due to this I have never taken the time to really adjust it properly. Interesting point about the stock settings and ESA - food for thought.

What he said, Having just put a wilbers shock on my bike 2 days ago, this has been a great help. Many thanks.
 
Glad to be of help.

While you're waiting for a reply : when you're riding solo, just pretend you're a 72kg rider, then set preload as if you're carrying some 33kg luggage...
 
The shock I bought is for an 80kg rider with 30kg luggage. I'm 80kg but if I'm not riding with luggage, does this mean the shock is set effectively for someone who's 30kg heavier than me?

The small knob at the bottom is set at 14 clicks out, which I understand is the standard setting. Should I change this? I don't have instructions for the shock.

The preload is set at minimum, which I understand to be correct, only needing winding on when I add either luggage or a passenger. I'm guessing it's set just a little too firm at the present.

That said, the difference from the stock shock which had done 80k miles is astonishing!
 
Firmness has nothing to do with preload. Preload is adjusted to make sure the bike stays 'upright' under weight (the constant dynamic sag mentioned above). This way the geometrics don't change, and the way the bike steers doesn't change either.

The damping set at 14 clicks from open was my factory setting too. I found it a bit firm too, so I usually drive around solo with 11 clicks (counted from completely open). This choice is of course very personal, others may like the factory setting, or go for even firmer.
Anyhow, as the bike is charged with more weight (luggage/pillion), the damping needs to be 'closed' some more. More weight means the bike has more mass, and more mass tends to move slower, so you need more damping. Loaded with all possible luggage (3 cases and pillion seat bag) I up the damping to 16 clicks. I've never travelled fully loaded (pillion and luggage), but then I'd have to close damping even more.

As I said, you have to play around with the different settings a bit, to find out what the consequences are, and find out what you like. Consider it an investment in future fun. In the beginning it's handy to write your preferred settings down. After a while you'll know more or less by heart what charge needs what preload, and what damping you like to go with that. And then it's really easy.

All of the above should be applied to the standard BMW shock too : preload should be changed according to weight, and damping to damping preference at a specific weight.
The springrate on the standard BMW shock is 130 or 140, which means it can carry less weight. But the big difference between standard BMW and Wilbers is the damping. On the BMW it's a small screw on the bottom of the shock, hard to reach/adjust, and when I turned it from open to closed and vv, nothing much happened damping wise. The Wilbers has an outstanding damping adjustment, you can really feel the difference.

You could of course not change the settings at all, ever.
But changing weight without changing preload means different geometrics, and thus changed steering. More weight without adapting damping means that the bike'll start to wallow (a ship in high seas). When I travel fully loaded with adapted settings, I now hardly notice the extra weight through the bike's behaviour. When doing twisties the improved handling was even noticed by my pillion, something I did not expect.

I have to admit : at first I didn't bother with the settings on my standard BMW shock (preload and damping), and of course I survived. It's only when I started reading up that I got interested in the possibilities. And the way my bike behaves now is so much better, and the fun it gives me is so much more ... it's a shame I didn't do this earlier.

Cheers,
GSband
 
Firmness has nothing to do with preload. Preload is adjusted to make sure the bike stays 'upright' under weight (the constant dynamic sag mentioned above). This way the geometrics don't change, and the way the bike steers doesn't change either.

The damping set at 14 clicks from open was my factory setting too. I found it a bit firm too, so I usually drive around solo with 11 clicks (counted from completely open). This choice is of course very personal, others may like the factory setting, or go for even firmer.
Anyhow, as the bike is charged with more weight (luggage/pillion), the damping needs to be 'closed' some more. More weight means the bike has more mass, and more mass tends to move slower, so you need more damping. Loaded with all possible luggage (3 cases and pillion seat bag) I up the damping to 16 clicks. I've never travelled fully loaded (pillion and luggage), but then I'd have to close damping even more.

As I said, you have to play around with the different settings a bit, to find out what the consequences are, and find out what you like. Consider it an investment in future fun. In the beginning it's handy to write your preferred settings down. After a while you'll know more or less by heart what charge needs what preload, and what damping you like to go with that. And then it's really easy.

All of the above should be applied to the standard BMW shock too : preload should be changed according to weight, and damping to damping preference at a specific weight.
The springrate on the standard BMW shock is 130 or 140, which means it can carry less weight. But the big difference between standard BMW and Wilbers is the damping. On the BMW it's a small screw on the bottom of the shock, hard to reach/adjust, and when I turned it from open to closed and vv, nothing much happened damping wise. The Wilbers has an outstanding damping adjustment, you can really feel the difference.

You could of course not change the settings at all, ever.
But changing weight without changing preload means different geometrics, and thus changed steering. More weight without adapting damping means that the bike'll start to wallow (a ship in high seas). When I travel fully loaded with adapted settings, I now hardly notice the extra weight through the bike's behaviour. When doing twisties the improved handling was even noticed by my pillion, something I did not expect.

I have to admit : at first I didn't bother with the settings on my standard BMW shock (preload and damping), and of course I survived. It's only when I started reading up that I got interested in the possibilities. And the way my bike behaves now is so much better, and the fun it gives me is so much more ... it's a shame I didn't do this earlier.

Cheers,
GSband

I'm glad someone mentioned this. Does that damping screw actually do anything? Mine does not even 'click' and its so loose that its hard to believe it adjusts any damper. :nenau
 
The damping screw on the BMW shock IS supposed to do something all right, but I didn't get much out of it either.

Anyway, it does not have 'clicks' on it, so that's normal.
 
UPDATE

Today I spoke to Everyaccessory; what a great guy, very helpful (and patient!) and he didn't try to talk me into spending money with him:eek:
I'm now off to adjust a few things and have a play :)
 


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