Look what came in the post ....

[Greggers]

Yessss.... Bitubo fork cartridges!

First impressions are excellent, the cartridges look well manufactured, and have a good 'feel' to them. Good so far!

Installation - a piece of cake, so easy that I didn't stop to take photos other than these:

<a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o292/Greggynormous/?action=view&current=IMG_3863.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o292/Greggynormous/IMG_3863.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


Once the forks are out, disassembly is simple, release the allen bolt on the fork bottom, loosen the fork cap on the top and you're halfway done. Once the fork cap is properly loose drain the old oil into a suitable container (and don't forget to recycle it at a proper facility ) and then remove the allen bolt completely. The old cartridge will slide out - still dripping oil - leaving the fork tube and slider. Be careful not to let the slider drop out completely...
The fiddliest bit was removing the cap from the damper rod - you need a thin 13mm spanner to get between the coils of the spring. Once it's off you can slide the spring off the damper, remove the 13mm lock-nut and slide off the plastic rocket shaped spacer which you'll need to re-fit on the new damper assembly.

Assembly is as simple as reversing the disassembly. Drop the new inserts into the fork-legs and secure with the 8mm allen bolt. Install the black plastic rocket spacer, the 13mm lock bolt then fill with the supplied 2.5wt oil. Once the tube has been properly purged, you can fit the new fork cap and lift the slider to screw it all up ... Torque up to BMW specs, install the forks into the yokes, bung the wheel back in and you're good to go.

First ride impressions ... well, despite them seeming a lot stiffer than the OE units, all the harshness has gone, it almost feels like the tyres are half flat - none of the rippling little bouncing over small imperfections in the road, just smooth flowing contact with the road. The ride quality is vastly improved, much better damping and a greater sense of 'connection' ...

Verdict 10/10 !

Greg

 

[kalli]

You.....#@#$

If I am correct my kit also ended up at your place.. And my Easter project with it..

 

[Greggers]

Ahhh yes, well .. hmmmm those Italians!

If it's any consolation, they should be with you by next weekend, if they arrive Friday you'll be riding on saturday morning - if you get a good run at it and don;t have any interruptions, you'll be done in about an hour and a half... two hours tops...

Great improvement !

Greg

 

[v8legend]

Yessss.... Bitubo fork cartridges!

First impressions are excellent, the cartridges look well manufactured, and have a good 'feel' to them. Good so far!

Installation - a piece of cake, so easy that I didn't stop to take photos other than these:

<a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o292/Greggynormous/?action=view&current=IMG_3863.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o292/Greggynormous/IMG_3863.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


Once the forks are out, disassembly is simple, release the allen bolt on the fork bottom, loosen the fork cap on the top and you're halfway done. Once the fork cap is properly loose drain the old oil into a suitable container (and don't forget to recycle it at a proper facility ) and then remove the allen bolt completely. The old cartridge will slide out - still dripping oil - leaving the fork tube and slider. Be careful not to let the slider drop out completely...
The fiddliest bit was removing the cap from the damper rod - you need a thin 13mm spanner to get between the coils of the spring. Once it's off you can slide the spring off the damper, remove the 13mm lock-nut and slide off the plastic rocket shaped spacer which you'll need to re-fit on the new damper assembly.

Assembly is as simple as reversing the disassembly. Drop the new inserts into the fork-legs and secure with the 8mm allen bolt. Install the black plastic rocket spacer, the 13mm lock bolt then fill with the supplied 2.5wt oil. Once the tube has been properly purged, you can fit the new fork cap and lift the slider to screw it all up ... Torque up to BMW specs, install the forks into the yokes, bung the wheel back in and you're good to go.

First ride impressions ... well, despite them seeming a lot stiffer than the OE units, all the harshness has gone, it almost feels like the tyres are half flat - none of the rippling little bouncing over small imperfections in the road, just smooth flowing contact with the road. The ride quality is vastly improved, much better damping and a greater sense of 'connection' ...

Verdict 10/10 !

Greg

Hi Greg

Have you put any more miles on them yet?

There are many things I think about on my bike whilst riding. Rear brake - crap. Heated grips - great. Fuel consumption - great. But, I don't really think about the suspension, which leads me to think it is OK (not great, not crap, but OK).

Has this really transformed the bike (10/10)?

Cheers
Gregg

 

[kalli]

Ahhh yes, well .. hmmmm those Italians!

If it's any consolation, they should be with you by next weekend, if they arrive Friday you'll be riding on saturday morning - if you get a good run at it and don;t have any interruptions, you'll be done in about an hour and a half... two hours tops...

Great improvement !

Greg

Thank you for that Greg.
I can´t wait to try them out. You know how harsh the mountain roads can be around here.

Karl

 

[Greggers]

Kalli - with luck I'll see you in September, but before then Eythor's staying with us for a few days prior to his Scotland trip...

Gregg - well, I'm off for a short wobble with Cookie and Springer tomorrow so I'll be able to say more then, but yes, on asphalt the difference is subtle but very noticeable ... a bit like shagging with a condom - it's only when you take it off that you realise just how good it is ...! You can feel more, it's smoother, better all round... you get the drift?

Greg