Rear shock needed - yay or neigh

[colesyboy]

Hi all,

I´d like some advice on some real world experience out there.... Planning a trip to India through Europe and would like to know what people think about using the standard shocks with a 2000 standard 1150GS.

It will be 2 up -about 146kg combined weight + luggage....

I was talking to an owner of the same bike last weekend, he did a similar trip and reckond the standard shocks would be up to it. Not sure about that, but considering how skint I am in saving up for this trip, spending 500 - 800 quid on upgrading the rear shock might turn out to be an unnecessary expense and could give me another month of travel!

Also - anyone had experience of the Hepco and Becker exclusiv panniers, I just got a very good price for them from ebay, noticed that they had dropped in price from motobins & then read a review saying that they were thin and not up to much punishment.....dammit.

Cheers,

Brian

 

[Ming]

Obviously dependant on how much luggage your taking I would guess it would be ok .

I bought an ohlins and they make a big difference but i weigh 118 kilos and the wife is about 75 (travelling light is not in her dictionary)

why dont you load up and try it???

 

[colesyboy]

good idea

....to load her up and give it a go Ming, agreed.

I'll be doing that in the future...I'm still newish to the bike and not sure how strong the shocks really are. In doing a longer trip with an Africa Twin, the standard shocks held up v well, but then I only had a passenger for 3 out of the 12 months that I did the trip.

I'll be packing as light as I can, 2 x 40 litre bags and a 50 litre rucksack on the back, mostly clothes I guess.

Only one real way to find out I know, but would like to know what people have experienced.

Cheers,

Brian

 

[Fanum]

The rear subframe might well be the weak spot in what you describe....might be worth looking into getting a spot of strengthening done their first, particularly if using a top box or having anything on the rear rack.

 

[JohnC]

Fanum, do you know if the rear subframe a weak spot on the 1100's as well?

I have been using the bike regularly, two up (170kg) with 40 and 35ltr boxes, a tent and 50ltr ortlieb bag (sleeping bags and clothes) on the rack. I doubt the tent and ortlieb weigh much more than 10 kilos but you've got me worried now