Rear suspension - and brakes

Wow! Thanks guys for all your input. I have just e-mailed for a quote on a Wilbers rear shock and will let you know what comes back. Although I don't have limitless funds as someone noticed, I don't mind spending good money once. I spent years doing rallying and always fitted Bilstein dampers as nothing else came close - they were usually just harder.

Good forum - keep it up!

Dick
 
Wow! Thanks guys for all your input. I have just e-mailed for a quote on a Wilbers rear shock and will let you know what comes back. Although I don't have limitless funds as someone noticed, I don't mind spending good money once. I spent years doing rallying and always fitted Bilstein dampers as nothing else came close - they were usually just harder.

Good forum - keep it up!

Dick

I think we get some sort of discount on Wilbers from this site, look here http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143710
 
One of the nice things about the fancier Wilbers rear is that there is adjustment for high and low speed compression damping. I backed off the high speed comp by two notches after getting used to the feel of the factory settings and it made an incredible difference to the ride- up here in the Highlands of Bonnie Scotland your suspension gets a real work out on fast but bumpy roads so having multiple adjustments can pay off, never mind hammering across some washboard with the kitchen sink strapped on the back...

As the remote reservoir attaches near the rear offside footpeg it's easy to adjust back for two up riding

I found the o/e damping goes AWOL too quickly (certainly on the 1200GS I used in Namibia in January where we bounced along like we were in a boat), esp. two up and reckon my Wilbers were money well spent (although I wish I knew when I ordered that they would do the springs in any colour :D)

Three Dawg
 
Big improvment for only £170!

I've just replaced both shocks on my 46,000 mile R1100GS 1998.
I bought a newer R1150GS shock of a nice chap from this site for the front and had the rear re-built by ABE for mainly 2 up touring. The improvement is quite staggering ..... and all for only £170 :thumb2
Very glad I saved my money on not getting the bling things :clap
Now I might be able to afford a weekend away with my lovely lady :hug
 
To dispel a myth

Rear Wilbers. New
614802370_bfMaL-XL.jpg


Front Wilbers, New, same bike and both 'uprated':augie
662777310_3UXMp-XL.jpg



Yes they have a five year guarantee..'if you have them serviced by them every year'

Ohlins cost no more to have them built to your own spec.
 
Rear Wilbers. New
614802370_bfMaL-XL.jpg


Front Wilbers, New, same bike and both 'uprated':augie
662777310_3UXMp-XL.jpg



Yes they have a five year guarantee..'if you have them serviced by them every year'

Ohlins cost no more to have them built to your own spec.

When i bought wilbers earlier this year the agrement is you send them in for servicing after two years at this point you get the other three years warranty, looking at those pictures are you off roading your moto? i suppose the amount of damage is in proportion with the amount of punishment you give it mine gets used on road with luggage as i am too old and too fat :rob and IMO the bike is too heavy for for off road apart from light tracks ect.
 
When i bought wilbers earlier this year the agrement is you send them in for servicing after two years at this point you get the other three years warranty.

Spot on:thumb
 
i am too old and too fat :rob and IMO the bike is too heavy for for off road apart from light tracks ect.

Thanks for your opinion, I was only giving mine:augie

I do love it when you say something negative about a product and everyone jumps to it's defence:D
 
I do love it when you say something negative about a product and everyone jumps to it's defence:D

Probably because there are loads of people around who are very pleased with their Wilbers and have never had a problem with them.

The fact that both of yours failed (although in different ways) suggests that it's a result of the way you use them rather than an inherent design/manufacturing fault. Should they have failed? Probably not, and you're perfectly justified in pointing out that they did, but perhaps others use theirs more gently and will never experience those failures.

I noticed some oil streaks near the lower shock mounting on my swingarm last night when working on the bike. I couldn't figure out where they might have come from but now I have a suspicion thanks to your photos :blast My Wilbers have done about 2.5k miles from new so I hope the oil's from somewhere else......I must check more carefully tonight.
 
Probably because there are loads of people around who are very pleased with their Wilbers and have never had a problem with them.

The fact that both of yours failed (although in different ways) suggests that it's a result of the way you use them rather than an inherent design/manufacturing fault. Should they have failed? Probably not, and you're perfectly justified in pointing out that they did, but perhaps others use theirs more gently and will never experience those failures.

I noticed some oil streaks near the lower shock mounting on my swingarm last night when working on the bike. I couldn't figure out where they might have come from but now I have a suspicion thanks to your photos :blast My Wilbers have done about 2.5k miles from new so I hope the oil's from somewhere else......I must check more carefully tonight.


THAT WASN'T MY BIKE!!!

Mine's fitted with OHLINS:clap


:trippy
 
I noticed some oil streaks near the lower shock mounting on my swingarm last night when working on the bike. I couldn't figure out where they might have come from but now I have a suspicion thanks to your photos :blast My Wilbers have done about 2.5k miles from new so I hope the oil's from somewhere else......I must check more carefully tonight.

I had that on mine, it wasn't a failure, it's because they are new. On the rear a little oil is this side of the seal and this just runs down after they have been fitted. I phoned Every Accessory about this and they told me that if they had failed there would be oil all over the place, as it is under high pressure. You don't get that on the front so much as they are the the other way round.

Wilbers or Ohlins, you will get good and bad stories if you look for them. I'm happy with my Wilbers as others are with their Ohlins.

Just get on with enjoying riding your bike :nenau
 
I had that on mine, it wasn't a failure, it's because they are new. On the rear a little oil is this side of the seal and this just runs down after they have been fitted. I phoned Every Accessory about this and they told me that if they had failed there would be oil all over the place, as it is under high pressure. You don't get that on the front so much as they are the the other way round.

:thumb2 Thanks for that - big relief. There's only a little bit of oil so that must be it.
 
I'm interested with what Timolgra had to say about custom built Ohlins costing the same as Wilbers. Everyaccessory quoted £575 or £515 with Tossers discount. This is for basically the same set-up as original with remote pre-load adjust etc.
I thought the custom built Ohlins were more like £900 - £1000 for the rear (hence the two prices quoted by TT). I'm also curious to hear from anyone who has bought the 'off the shelf' Ohlins for around £500. I would have thought that my requirements would be classed as 'average' i.e. Mainly solo, a bit of off-road and the occasional weekend camping with a pillion.
Any thoughts?

Dick:confused:
 
A year ago looking for a replacement shock for my 100GS and the remote pre-load adjuster shocks from Wilbers and Ohlins were within a few pounds of each other.
 
I'm interested with what Timolgra had to say about custom built Ohlins costing the same as Wilbers. Everyaccessory quoted £575 or £515 with Tossers discount.

I'm also curious to hear from anyone who has bought the 'off the shelf' Ohlins for around £500.

Not sure how TT can charge those prices. Just ordered an Ohlins rear unit. Uprated the spring (still get the original) and they are taking care of new valving as well all for under £500 notes. :augie
 


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