How long did your rear shock last?
- Thread starter Bones
- Start date
Shock Failure at 7600 miles !!!
My good mate John called me up today and told me that his bike started dripping a bit of shock oil yesterday and it came pouring out today. He took it to Steve Scriminger (well respected independent BMW fettler around these parts) who advised a new shock.
The bloody bike is mint with 7600 miles on, never been off road and the rider weighs 12 stone FFS!!!
He cant believe it and neither can I.
Will BMWUK entertain it??????????????
Any thoughts gratefully accepted.....
My good mate John called me up today and told me that his bike started dripping a bit of shock oil yesterday and it came pouring out today. He took it to Steve Scriminger (well respected independent BMW fettler around these parts) who advised a new shock.
The bloody bike is mint with 7600 miles on, never been off road and the rider weighs 12 stone FFS!!!
He cant believe it and neither can I.Will BMWUK entertain it??????????????
Any thoughts gratefully accepted.....
my OEM shocks have 450 miles on them & they are incapable of controlling the bike to my satisfaction. OKish when solo, disastrous when two up with luggage. riding back from the hograost on sunday, i felt i was in danger of getting whiplash.
my wilbers from the old bike have now gone back to Revs for a precautionary service (still performing fine after 4.5 years /23K miles), and i can't wait to get them installed on the new bike
my wilbers from the old bike have now gone back to Revs for a precautionary service (still performing fine after 4.5 years /23K miles), and i can't wait to get them installed on the new bike
He took it to Steve Scriminger (well respected independent BMW fettler around these parts) who advised a new shock.
The bloody bike is mint with 7600 miles on, never been off road and the rider weighs 12 stone FFS!!!
Will BMWUK entertain it??????????????
Any thoughts gratefully accepted.....
You would need to take it to a BMW dealer to pursue an out of warranty claim. I did this after the shock failed and led to change of holiday plan in France i.e. 1 week in an Avis hire car (covered by travel inurance) whilst bike with a French BMW dealer waiting for a new shock. Bike was a 4 year old R1100S with 38k; not BMW dealer serviced. After a couple of letters and a slight push from Motorrad Central, BMW UK refunded the full price of the rear shock (which I had paid in France) so it ultimately only cost me the labour fitting charge; result
You should have reasonable grounds to claim for failure at such a low mileage.Thanks
Thanks Wicker - good info
You would need to take it to a BMW dealer to pursue an out of warranty claim. I did this after the shock failed and led to change of holiday plan in France i.e. 1 week in an Avis hire car (covered by travel inurance) whilst bike with a French BMW dealer waiting for a new shock. Bike was a 4 year old R1100S with 38k; not BMW dealer serviced. After a couple of letters and a slight push from Motorrad Central, BMW UK refunded the full price of the rear shock (which I had paid in France) so it ultimately only cost me the labour fitting charge; result
Thanks Wicker - good info
Mine lasted for 29.650 miles and it started leaking oil.
2006 GSA
Was replaced in April this year under warranty. The warranty only covers it up till 30.000 miles. Just in time
2006 GSA
Was replaced in April this year under warranty. The warranty only covers it up till 30.000 miles. Just in time
I've heard some good things about these guys, plus one of them rides a beemer:
http://www.mctsuspension.com/about.htm
http://www.mctsuspension.com/about.htm
Keith (who more often than not answers the blower) has a 1200GS and they have sorted quite a few of them over the years, they supplied, fitted and setup the Wilburs on my GS and sorted the suspension on my last bike as well.
All top blokes.
My Ohlins is with them for a service at the moment. Really decent guys, and Darren is a real whizz with set-up (which is just as important as the shock itself).
I changed to Ohlins within a few thousand miles from new on my GS as I was not impressed with the 2-up performance. The Ohlins is just SO different, and makes the bike so much easier to ride. During a recent trip to Austria I was able to keep up a very respectable pace 2-up in the mountains compared to others who were solo, and I am a distinctly average rider.
I would go after-market every time, and don't forget you can get quite a chunk of the cost back when you sell the bike and put the OEM one back on.
Cheers,
Matt
Rear shock
05 1200gs 58,000 miles just gone through MOT, Failed on front discs as under spec, but no shock problems, ridden 2 up, off road with luggage, i think on the 05 they were Showa made shocks as stock, the front though has just started misting oil, is a refurb worth it? and any where recommended in the S.E. as they seemed to stand up quite well.
chris
05 1200gs 58,000 miles just gone through MOT, Failed on front discs as under spec, but no shock problems, ridden 2 up, off road with luggage, i think on the 05 they were Showa made shocks as stock, the front though has just started misting oil, is a refurb worth it? and any where recommended in the S.E. as they seemed to stand up quite well.
chris
2011, R1200 GSA non ESA suspension with now 2,700 miles on the clock, the standard suspension is nowhere near as good as the stuff on my previous 1999 R1150 GS was with 34,000 miles on the clock and after the shocks were refurbed by ABE and Hyperpro Springs put on they were vastly superior.
The Adventure is adequate solo (13 1/2 stones and 5'11" ), two up with a 12 1/2 stone passenger even with the preload jacked up it starts to lose it's composure very quickly BUT once luggage is added it is like a pissed camel.
Hit an undulation on the road and it starts to porpoises, the front and rear ends on act like you're onboard ship in a choppy sea . Also on cornering you can feel the suspension start to cause a weave if the surfaces are less than perfect .
All in all I would say it is built well down to a very low budget.
The Adventure is adequate solo (13 1/2 stones and 5'11" ), two up with a 12 1/2 stone passenger even with the preload jacked up it starts to lose it's composure very quickly BUT once luggage is added it is like a pissed camel.
Hit an undulation on the road and it starts to porpoises, the front and rear ends on act like you're onboard ship in a choppy sea . Also on cornering you can feel the suspension start to cause a weave if the surfaces are less than perfect .
All in all I would say it is built well down to a very low budget.
I've read this and other related threads with interest. I seem to have seen somewhere but cannot recall where, that Wilbers produce a suspension setup that retains ESA adjustment. Can anyone confirm this?
Alan R
Alan R
They are producing WESA suspension units for BMW's that retain the full ESA capabilities
My 08 was a shade vague two-up and started to handle more like a shopping trolley with the luggage thrown on.
Wilburs has transformed the bike.
It ain't just the GS that tends to suffer from cheap suspension, I have modded the suspension on most of my bikes, some have been pretty decent one-up, but none have been great when two-up - and if anything the GS was one of the best compared to all my sportsbikes.
As I do a lot of two-up I reckon it is money well spent, you will enjoy every solo mile a bit more and every two-up mile a lot more, and when riding to and from places with luggage you can actually enjoy the twisties rather than cursing the handling. My Euro trip of 3k probably includes 1500 miles when I will be fully loaded with the Mrs and a fortnights luggage, £1200 on Wilburs is money well spent.
Wilburs has transformed the bike.
It ain't just the GS that tends to suffer from cheap suspension, I have modded the suspension on most of my bikes, some have been pretty decent one-up, but none have been great when two-up - and if anything the GS was one of the best compared to all my sportsbikes.
As I do a lot of two-up I reckon it is money well spent, you will enjoy every solo mile a bit more and every two-up mile a lot more, and when riding to and from places with luggage you can actually enjoy the twisties rather than cursing the handling. My Euro trip of 3k probably includes 1500 miles when I will be fully loaded with the Mrs and a fortnights luggage, £1200 on Wilburs is money well spent.
My back shock is so knackered it has split the bump stop after 2700 miles, taking it back in today to get it sorted.
IMHO the problem is that the rear spring is too soft for someone over 10 stones and that the reboind damping is not firm enough. It is like a pogo stick on the rear with luggage and pillion.
I've actually spoken to MAXTON who will make bespoke units front and rear designed to cope with the bike being used solo or with pillion and with pillion and luggage .
They work out at £493 each end plus an extra £300 if I want a remote preload adjuster on the rear.
From the prices I've been getting this compares favourably with similar Wilbers set up and slightly cheaper than the Hyperpro and Wilbers options and slightly cheaper than one Ohlins option but £400 cheaper than the higher spec rear unit.
IMHO the problem is that the rear spring is too soft for someone over 10 stones and that the reboind damping is not firm enough. It is like a pogo stick on the rear with luggage and pillion.
I've actually spoken to MAXTON who will make bespoke units front and rear designed to cope with the bike being used solo or with pillion and with pillion and luggage .
They work out at £493 each end plus an extra £300 if I want a remote preload adjuster on the rear.
From the prices I've been getting this compares favourably with similar Wilbers set up and slightly cheaper than the Hyperpro and Wilbers options and slightly cheaper than one Ohlins option but £400 cheaper than the higher spec rear unit.
All Wilburs are custom made so they spring for your weight / use, the stock GS spring is a 140, for me (twelve stone + 9 stone pillion) they upped it to a 150, they will also valve the internals to suit the use / spring
The highest spec Wilburs cost about £1200 but that is with 3-way damping on the rear (Hi and Low speed Compression Damping + Rebound Damsping) and the remote pre-load.
With the lower spec rear (single damping adjuster) the cost is around £1000 (inlcuding remote pre-load)
Both Wilburs and Ohlins have a lot of BMW experience, but Ohlins only offer two aprings (a 140 or a 160) but if you may need anything different some dealers will exchange it FOC for a better suited spring.
Maxton will also build to spec and spring / valve accordingly, but I do not know what their track record is with GS models
All of these options will be much better than the OEM units are even when new and I bet you wil be overjoyed with whatever you fit.
If you switch between one-up and two-up make sure you get the remote preload adjuster
they do seem expensive, but without them adjusting the bike is a bastard of a job.
The highest spec Wilburs cost about £1200 but that is with 3-way damping on the rear (Hi and Low speed Compression Damping + Rebound Damsping) and the remote pre-load.
With the lower spec rear (single damping adjuster) the cost is around £1000 (inlcuding remote pre-load)
Both Wilburs and Ohlins have a lot of BMW experience, but Ohlins only offer two aprings (a 140 or a 160) but if you may need anything different some dealers will exchange it FOC for a better suited spring.
Maxton will also build to spec and spring / valve accordingly, but I do not know what their track record is with GS models
All of these options will be much better than the OEM units are even when new and I bet you wil be overjoyed with whatever you fit.
If you switch between one-up and two-up make sure you get the remote preload adjuster
they do seem expensive, but without them adjusting the bike is a bastard of a job.
Why change the whole unit
I have Hyperpro compression springs on my stock suspension units. I found the original suspension on my ADV to be a little soggy and these springs harden the ride beautifully and the bike is more composed. I have been told many times, it's the spring which is s little weak and there is nowt wrong with the actual unit and at £70 odd quid a unit, it's a massive saving.Saying all that, I've put an original ADV unit back on the bike whilst my Hyperpro unit is being serviced and I really can't tell the difference
The bike will be a keeper and to be honest I'm so disappointed with the suspension in comparison to my standard 1150 (which I had for 9 years) I will probably change the whole lot.
When I had the 1150, after thirty odd thousand I had the standard shocks overhauled by ABE and added Hyperpro springs and it was noticably better but I believe that the 1200 is going to be more very touchy regarding the suspension and handling as have all the 12's I have ridden - none have felt as planted on the road as the 1150's.
I've had mine looked at today by BMW but the main problem is that static it has no leaks and the adjusters (preload and Rebound ) work to a fashion BUT when the unit gets hot and two up especially with luggage at Continental speeds it loses its damping something that the local dealers can't replicate . They are putting a report into BMW but to be honest even if i got a standard replacement it is a compromise and I'm not having the suspension spoil another holiday in the Alps next year.
I actually have a written report from Maxton on the problems they and owners encounter with the standard units and I can concur with all their comments .
When I had the 1150, after thirty odd thousand I had the standard shocks overhauled by ABE and added Hyperpro springs and it was noticably better but I believe that the 1200 is going to be more very touchy regarding the suspension and handling as have all the 12's I have ridden - none have felt as planted on the road as the 1150's.
I've had mine looked at today by BMW but the main problem is that static it has no leaks and the adjusters (preload and Rebound ) work to a fashion BUT when the unit gets hot and two up especially with luggage at Continental speeds it loses its damping something that the local dealers can't replicate . They are putting a report into BMW but to be honest even if i got a standard replacement it is a compromise and I'm not having the suspension spoil another holiday in the Alps next year.
I actually have a written report from Maxton on the problems they and owners encounter with the standard units and I can concur with all their comments .
Similar threads
