Rear suspension, rebuild or replace?

[mr_magicfingers]

I've a year 2000 R1150GS with 80k miles on it. Suspension looks as though it is original and I'm considering my options for upgrading it.

Expensive option is an Ohlins at around £700, medium option is something like a Hagon replacement at about £3-400 and budget is a rebuild of the original which I believe should be around £100 or so.

The Hagon looks to be similar to the original shock and I'm wondering what you gain over a rebuilt original. From what I've been reading, it's mainly the oil and possibly seals that go on older units, I believe that the spring doesn't really fail or wear, though please correct me if I'm wrong.

Then again, what do you gain for going the Ohlins, or similar high end shock, route? Do you get more adjustment, better reliability, more rebuild/customisation options?

At the moment, I mainly ride on-road, solo, with occasionally taking my girlfriend out though with her learning to ride that's less common these days. I'm planning to do some gentle greenlaning sometime soon and touring on road over the next couple of years. I'm planning to keep the bike for the long term with a dream of a long overland tour at an unspecified point in the future.

Is there much for me to gain by going the expensive route, or would a rebuilt stock shock give me most of the same improvement as a new aftermarket shock.

Thanks,

J.

 

[Zoomboxer]

I have not upgraded or anything like that but if I were you I would just go for the re-build option.

If it is indeed the original shocks then 10 years and 80k miles is pretty good going.

Plus the original is made to compliment the front shock - if you change it would you also need to change the front one to make it match up better?

You would probably gain a greater degree of adjustment with Ohlins but once you have got a setting that suits you would you need to change it?

Plus if you do set off on your over-land trip the original would be easier to get repaired if it ever went bottoms up.

Would be interested to see what the others say.

 

[essjay]

I can only go from experience.

1150GSA - swapped out the 3 year old originals with around 20k miles on them for Wilbers. Can say I noticed much difference.

R1100GS - swapped out the 12 year old originals with 62k miles for a set of Ohlins and was blown away. The best money I've spent on the bike. From the age and mileage the originals had seen better days but the new Ohlins feel amazing. The bike feels so much more solid.

I wouldn't be concerned by not having a matching pair either. Get a back one first and then a front when you have the cash.

 

[ThreeDawg]

Rear damping can go AWOL when, er, 'pressing on' esp. two up and/or loaded with luggage or on rough roads. If you notice this happening then rebuild or replace. If not, don't bother.

FWIW I fitted Wilbers F+R and am very happy with the rock solid handling on my bike. The adjustments available (rebound damping and spring 'preload' at the front, high and low compression damping, rebound damping and spring 'preload' at the rear) do make a real difference to the way it feels.

Three Dawg

 

[Borderline]

I had the rear shock on my 1100 rebuilt at ABS in Greenwich - it had lost damping and eventually was like a pogo stick. The rebuild was £100 plus £50 for a new rod (they always seem to need to replace this as well).
The transformation has been astounding - quicker turn-in, stability, general handling etc.
I am sure that an Ohlins or similar would be better, but I don't think that I would be able to tell the difference. My understanding is that the original Showa is a quality item - certainly as good as I need.

 

[ThreeDawg]

ABE in Greenwich?

 

[Borderline]

Oh Yeh - ABE. Sorry.

 

[elevensies]

hyperpro, either full unit replacement,

or

spring and re build. mtc suspension , or steptoe,

as steptoe first mate about a rebuild


(My understanding is that the original Showa is a quality item - certainly as good as I need.) mmm subjective comment there, yes
showa make the very best shock known to mankind (in gp and mx) but they are done on a low budget for OEM manufacturers, which happen to include bumw.
i would say however, that a shock re build will be sufficient for 99% of anyone on here, we are not able to tell the difference with ohlins etc from a well set up re valved and re sprung showa.

take the pepsi challange

 

[roadrubber]

hyperpro, either full unit replacement,

or

spring and re build. mtc suspension , or steptoe,

as steptoe first mate about a rebuild


(My understanding is that the original Showa is a quality item - certainly as good as I need.) mmm subjective comment there, yes
showa make the very best shock known to mankind (in gp and mx) but they are done on a low budget for OEM manufacturers, which happen to include bumw.
i would say however, that a shock re build will be sufficient for 99% of anyone on here, we are not able to tell the difference with ohlins etc from a well set up re valved and re sprung showa.

take the pepsi challange

Not sure I agree in general with the "not good enough to tell the difference" arguments. I remember when Yamaha brought out their two wheel drive offroad bike and all the reviewers said only an expert rider would be able to get any benefit from it. Purely by chance one day I got an opportunity to wobble round an MX track on both the conventional and the two-wheel drive model back to back and definitely felt the benefit of the additional front wheel drive.

Similarly, noone except someone that's never ridden a big bike before is going to miss the benefit of nicely setup quality suspension. Tho it's worth bearing in mind that a fresh well setup stock suspension beats any tired or badly setup aftermarket suspension whoever it's made by. So whatever you've got it's going to need servicing once in a while.

I'd consider the option of getting the stock units overhauled, enjoying the transformation for a while and then maybe going for a posh setup and see if you personally can tell the difference. You can always put one set on ebay after you've taken the pepsi challenge or keep the stockers for when the Ohlins/Wilbers or whatever need a service.

Oh yeah and +1 to keeping the front and rear balanced which is probably easiest with a matching pair.

 

[elevensies]

Not sure I agree in general with the "not good enough to tell the difference" arguments. I remember when Yamaha brought out their two wheel drive offroad bike and all the reviewers said only an expert rider would be able to get any benefit from it. Purely by chance one day I got an opportunity to wobble round an MX track on both the conventional and the two-wheel drive model back to back and definitely felt the benefit of the additional front wheel drive.

what??? how can you make this comment when is based upon 2 wheel drive and nothing to do with suspension on a conventional road biased bike???

Similarly, noone except someone that's never ridden a big bike before is going to miss the benefit of nicely setup quality suspension. Tho it's worth bearing in mind that a fresh well setup stock suspension beats any tired or badly setup aftermarket suspension whoever it's made by. So whatever you've got it's going to need servicing once in a while.

totally agree, been saying this for a long time

I'd consider the option of getting the stock units overhauled, enjoying the transformation for a while and then maybe going for a posh setup and see if you personally can tell the difference. You can always put one set on ebay after you've taken the pepsi challenge or keep the stockers for when the Ohlins/Wilbers or whatever need a service.

Oh yeah and +1 to keeping the front and rear balanced which is probably easiest with a matching pair.

not necessary as the front shock arrangement is not the same in its method of absorption, better if it was conventional, but its not and makes little difference,

not sure you understand the suspension system yet dude

 

[ELIMINATOR]

Have you read this, posted elswhere on this site? As in http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226783