Long Way Down - Rear Shocks Failure

[Loiq]

which is the nice sanders / sandars / saunders / saundars again I still confused between the two

 

[wilbjr21]

And Nick Sanders didn't carry any luggage (well . . toothbrush and Credit Card).

I think we agree ? Nick Saunders

 

[daj]

All this talk of BMW OE shocks (not worried about Ohlins for the time being) giving up the ghost after VERY low mileage is bothering me. Has anyone done a decent amount of miles on a set? Surely someone must have.

I've done 35k and as far as I can tell mine are still OK.

 

[alimey4u2]

I don't think that 35,000 miles of lightly laden motorway riding will compare with heavily laden washboard riding. It's all a matter of stress & work done, unless age becomes an issue, in which case seals

break down.

 

[IanC]

Stock Shocks

I returned in February from a 28,500-mile trans-Americas on my GSA, with STOCK shocks, and they performed flawlessly. In fact the whole bike did until 2000 miles from the end when the input bearing started breaking up in the rear axle, after an un-noticed oil leak. I phoned my UK dealer, who advised me to take it to the nearest BM dealer. Unfortunately this was 1900 miles away, so I pegged along very steady (successfully) to the end.

I reckon 15% of my trip was off-road, some pretty punishing but admittedly not much washboard which I think may be more commonplace in Africa. And I was carrying 6 months worth of luggage/spares/tools, so they were carrying plenty of weight even before my 17st climbed aboard!:

Anyway, I thought the big advantage with Ohlins was that they were re-buildable?? Maybe they didn't have time.

 

[theEnglishman]

I've just been quoted £800 for the full monty rear Ohlins shock

If everyaccessory will answer their phone I suspect I'll be going the Wilbers route...

 

[SpyInTheCamp]

All this talk of BMW OE shocks (not worried about Ohlins for the time being) giving up the ghost after VERY low mileage is bothering me. Has anyone done a decent amount of miles on a set? Surely someone must have.

I've done 35k and as far as I can tell mine are still OK.

My rear shock went at around 25k miles. Strangely enough when I had a VFR800 it was around 22k or thereabouts.

I will be asking BWM for a price for a replacement OE shock as I can't really see why I need a fancy aftermarket one. I reckon on keeping the bike for another two and a half years which probably amounts to 25k to 30k miles.

The earlier comment about a 10k industry norm or standard seems to be a bit far fetched. I've certainly never heard of it before.

Kai

 

[luckylucian]

Brace yourself for a shock! You may find the fancy aftermarket ones are cheaper.

 

[Dee Tee]

Just back from the Dirt Bike Show. Mark Hammond at MH Racing www.mhracing.com quoted me for Ohlins;
Front £395 + VAT
Rear £440 + VAT or £625 + VAT for Fully Adjustable

 

[IanC]

Maybe they don't fetch top dollar anymore after so much embarassment on the TV!

 

[Kong]

Oh f*ckadoodledo

Guess who just yesterday spent AUD $3075 on a new pair of Ohlins.

(Why do I always read about these things the day after I spend my money.)


Anywho - The standards are not handling what I'm throwing the bike at so I'll reserve judgement until I've spent a bit of time on them.

Happy days

 

[davegs]

Rear shocks

On our long way down trip from Alaska to ushya (argentina) a 1200 under warrenty got through 3 shocks! (BMW) these were used over some very demanding terrain and we were then told as these work on a gas /oil combination they must be kept in the upright position during transit(BMW info) as these were sent out by dhl this might not have helped. The last one was kept upright for a pereiod before fitting and I belive so far no probs.
Bike new in January with approx 26000 miles up, also battery failed at about 10000. Not goo for the mony charged for the bike.
y old heap 1150 no probs (touch wood!, still got to drive it to the docks and then around the M25 for 30 miles!)
dave (hopfully suspended ) gs.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Do you know, I`m always amazed at the way we think our bikes should be utterly indestructable!!

The LWD bikes faced more bad roads in a day than most of our molly coddled, highly polished GS`s get in a lifetime. Unless someone is pretty unlucky, a shock should last a long time with no issues. Also, the weight was a big factor and who in reality would choose a fully freighted 1200ADV to do those roads over an XT, Transalp or 650GS!!

I think most people ought to get real and not worry about issues which won`t affect our babies in the REAL world. Haven`t seen many washboards on my normal routes that`s for sure. Most GS owners buy into the enduro thing, buy the twat suit, an Arai TourX and dream a lot but have no intention of moving off smooth tarmac.

Those who do walk the walk like davegs and ianc, have every reason to ask the question about standard shocks but I`m afraid the rest of us should maybe just ride and enjoy!!

I love my GS`s and wouldn`t have anything else now but understand that`s it`s only a lump of metal.

 

[scotty42]

Shocks

Price Tax Qty Total
R1200GS 2004-05 - Ohlins Shock Type 46ER
0431-0088 $588.00 0% 1 $588.00
R1200GS 2004-05 - Ohlins Shock Type 46DRS
1310-0179 $648.00 0% 1 $648.00

http://www.morepoweracing.com

This seems like a pretty good price, have them on the way!

Scotty

 

[kiwiAdventure]

Do you know, I`m always amazed at the way we think our bikes should be utterly indestructable!!

The LWD bikes faced more bad roads in a day than most of our molly coddled, highly polished GS`s get in a lifetime. Unless someone is pretty unlucky, a shock should last a long time with no issues. Also, the weight was a big factor and who in reality would choose a fully freighted 1200ADV to do those roads over an XT, Transalp or 650GS!!

I think most people ought to get real and not worry about issues which won`t affect our babies in the REAL world. Haven`t seen many washboards on my normal routes that`s for sure. Most GS owners buy into the enduro thing, buy the twat suit, an Arai TourX and dream a lot but have no intention of moving off smooth tarmac.

Those who do walk the walk like davegs and ianc, have every reason to ask the question about standard shocks but I`m afraid the rest of us should maybe just ride and enjoy!!

I love my GS`s and wouldn`t have anything else now but understand that`s it`s only a lump of metal.

I agree fully. No one goes and races a standard BMW car and expects it to last with out up grades to most of the car. We expect the bikes to crash there way around the world with standard shocks etc and complain when they don't perform. It's like a 4x4 rig your have to build on what you buy.

 

[camel_landy]

Do you know, I`m always amazed at the way we think our bikes should be utterly indestructable!!

The LWD bikes faced more bad roads in a day than most of our molly coddled, highly polished GS`s get in a lifetime. Unless someone is pretty unlucky, a shock should last a long time with no issues. Also, the weight was a big factor and who in reality would choose a fully freighted 1200ADV to do those roads over an XT, Transalp or 650GS!!

I think most people ought to get real and not worry about issues which won`t affect our babies in the REAL world. Haven`t seen many washboards on my normal routes that`s for sure. Most GS owners buy into the enduro thing, buy the twat suit, an Arai TourX and dream a lot but have no intention of moving off smooth tarmac.

Those who do walk the walk like davegs and ianc, have every reason to ask the question about standard shocks but I`m afraid the rest of us should maybe just ride and enjoy!!

I love my GS`s and wouldn`t have anything else now but understand that`s it`s only a lump of metal.

Once again... +1.

M

 

[camel_landy]

...we were then told as these work on a gas /oil combination they must be kept in the upright position during transit(BMW info) as these were sent out by dhl this might not have helped. The last one was kept upright for a pereiod before fitting and I belive so far no probs.

Hmmm.... Interesting point.

M

 

[Jon P]

Do you know, I`m always amazed at the way we think our bikes should be utterly indestructable!!

The LWD bikes faced more bad roads in a day than most of our molly coddled, highly polished GS`s get in a lifetime. Unless someone is pretty unlucky, a shock should last a long time with no issues. Also, the weight was a big factor and who in reality would choose a fully freighted 1200ADV to do those roads over an XT, Transalp or 650GS!!

I think most people ought to get real and not worry about issues which won`t affect our babies in the REAL world. Haven`t seen many washboards on my normal routes that`s for sure. Most GS owners buy into the enduro thing, buy the twat suit, an Arai TourX and dream a lot but have no intention of moving off smooth tarmac.

Those who do walk the walk like davegs and ianc, have every reason to ask the question about standard shocks but I`m afraid the rest of us should maybe just ride and enjoy!!

I love my GS`s and wouldn`t have anything else now but understand that`s it`s only a lump of metal.

BINGO

 

[Decster]

We expect the bikes to crash there way around the world with standard shocks etc and complain when they don't perform.

Well if the catalogues don't show them in some of the most inhospitable bike places in the world and B*W sponsor two luvvies travelling through Africa on the standard shocks we might accept that they are not 'fit' for the purpose....

 

[WindyChuffer]

Well said Decster.