Hyperpro rear shock - custom spring?...

[MattW]

I about to bite the bullet and order a new Hyperpro rear shock for my 1100.

As quite a lot of my riding is either solo with loaded panniers or two up with / without panniers, I'm going to go for the uprated spring option. I've also got a couple of big, fully loaded two up trips this summer, which is the catalyst for finally retiring my 19 year old rear shock.

In order to work out the spring weight, Hyperpro need to know rider and pillion weights and weight of luggage. The weights of me and the missus are easy to provide but I'm not sure what to allow for luggage? I've (unsurprisingly!) never bothered to weigh my loaded panniers / other strapped on stuff and I'm unsure what weight to allow - I don't want to overdo it and end up with a rock hard shock that's unusable for solo, unloaded but id like the benefit of a slightly uprated spring...

Anyone been down this route and have any thoughts?

 

[Magwych]

Not intending to throw any insults, but I would hazard a guess that your wife will weigh more than the luggage and so her weight will be the more significant?

I don't know what luggage you have or what its maximum load is, but why not aim for the max payload ? e.g. my GSA cases say that the max payload is 15Kg. That makes a total of 30Kg. or 4Stone 10lb in olden money. If you exceed the max payload dramatically, you will probably have more to worry about than whether the rear feels a bit unforgiving.

Hyperpro use progressive springs, which mean that as the load increases the spring rate gets higher. They can adapt the progressive spring rates to provide lighter or heavier rates at each part of the stroke, allegedly.

 

[Flipfly]

If you are 20kg out it's not going to really matter too much as it's not a sportsbike and the spring will be too hard for solo, too soft for all up touring. It's all a compromise so guess on around 20kg and I'm sure you'll be there or there abouts

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

The numbers I gave them for luggage was also based the max capacity of my panniers and topbox plus, a 5kg rollbag load which usually ends up empty and the mass of my tent.

 

[MattW]

Thanks all.
As suggested I think I'll aim lowish on the luggage weight at about 20kg.

Calsport have just replied to an email I sent them and apparently they also adjust the valving of the shock to match the increased spring rate. With the £200 charge for the remote preload and £80 for the custom springing / valving it amounts to a decent spend so I want to get it right

 

[Flipfly]

Thanks all.
As suggested I think I'll aim lowish on the luggage weight at about 20kg.

Calsport have just replied to an email I sent them and apparently they also adjust the valving of the shock to match the increased spring rate. With the £200 charge for the remote preload and £80 for the custom springing / valving it amounts to a decent spend so I want to get it right

But you can't ever get it right as you will be riding it solo, with passenger and with passenger and luggage, who knows, maybe even solo with luggage. All options will require different springing, valve rates. The best you can hope for is a compromise where it's either too stiff solo or to soggy fully loaded. Work out how you ride the bike mostly and set it around there. At least that way it's going to be good say 80% of the time.
You can up the preload, but it won't make it right, just a little better.

 

[MattW]

But you can't ever get it right as you will be riding it solo, with passenger and with passenger and luggage, who knows, maybe even solo with luggage. All options will require different springing, valve rates. The best you can hope for is a compromise where it's either too stiff solo or to soggy fully loaded. Work out how you ride the bike mostly and set it around there. At least that way it's going to be good say 80% of the time.
You can up the preload, but it won't make it right, just a little better.

True enough.

I might ask for it to be setup for just me and the missus without luggage to move the compromise in the right direction. Apparently the progressive spring helps with the lower weight 'over-stiffness'. I'll have to think about it today as its getting ordered after work

Decisions, decisions...

 

[Flipfly]

True enough.

I might ask for it to be setup for just me and the missus without luggage to move the compromise in the right direction. Apparently the progressive spring helps with the lower weight 'over-stiffness'. I'll have to think about it today as its getting ordered after work

Decisions, decisions...

I have progressive springs front and back. TBH I'm not sure they are any better than the originals except for not bottoming out as much off road.

I'm not a super fast rider and I've never been good enough to notice the subtle differences in suspension. I know WP suspension on the Berg is brilliant, but only at speed, it feels a bit hard at slow speed. I guess as a race bike it's designed for faster riders.
My assumption would be that your road suspension set up is also speed sensitive so you could have the perfect set up for a big bump at 60mph, which then isn't as good at 90mph.

Personally I think too many people mess around with suspension without really knowing what they are doing. On a race track it is easy to get a set up that works for 90% of the track compared to a road bike where you're never on the same road, nevermind on the same line.

I've ridden bikes with Ohlins, WP, Wilbers, they were all very nice even though they weren't set up for my substantial weight.

I run standard shocks with the hyperpro springs because they are more reliable off road imho. Not as good on road, but then I'm not a wannabe racer, so being 5-10mph slower in a bend doesn't worry me, I'm fast enough to scare myself.

If I was touring alot though and not off roading, I think I'd look at an upgrade. I'm sure you'll be happy with the results even if you guestimate

 

[Beagood]

True enough.

I might ask for it to be setup for just me and the missus without luggage to move the compromise in the right direction. Apparently the progressive spring helps with the lower weight 'over-stiffness'. I'll have to think about it today as its getting ordered after work

Decisions, decisions...

Please keep us posted on how you get on. I'm considering a Hyperpro setup to replace my sagging rear...

 

[MattW]

Well, the bullet has been bitten

Just ordered a shock built for me + missus + 20kg luggage, we'll see what it's like when it arrives - hopefully it won't turn the bike into a hard tail for solo use

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

I Had one and it was great.

 

[MattW]

Well, my new shock arrived today and I fitted it in my mate Phil's (Gundog on here) spangly new workshop.

Old and new:

Fitted:

A couple of minor issues with the fitting:

It wouldn't fit with the banjo bolt for the preload hose facing forward on the shock body (as per the instructions) but it went in fine with it pointing backwards.

The preload adjuster wouldn't fit with the supplied bracket due to me having hard parts fitted. We made a little extension piece (just visible in the picture above) to move it back 20mm or so and it went in fine subsequently.


As I noted earlier in this thread, I agonised on whether to get it built to suit me + pillion + luggage or get a standard spring. I eventually ordered the uprated spring and spent the next three weeks worrying about whether it would be rock hard for solo use

Well after fitting it and going for a quick spin, I'm delighted - I added a touch of preload over minimum to reduce the sag slightly and left the damping as factory set. The difference over my old shock is night and day - it feels completely supple and the ride is transformed. Minor road irregularities are unnoticeable now (I used to feel every ripple in the road surface) and it feels just so much more controlled.

The increased spring rate and damping appear to be no problem for solo use and I'm sure with a bit of time spent tweaking the preload and damping, I can improve it further.

The only problem is that (predictably) it shows up the front end I've bought a second hand 1150 front shock which I'm going to get rebuilt - hopefully this will be an improvement over my stock 19 year old front.

Thanks for all the advice