Shock Overhaul R1150 GS (ABE and Hyperpro)

[Neil W]

At 10 years old and with over 32,000 miles on the clock the rear shock on my GS was definitely past its best. the damping had become harsh and the handling was OFF.
I priced all the usual suspects from Hagon right the way up to WP and was to say the least shocked at the prices .
On checking an earlier thread I saw about All Bike Engineering being able to overhaul the rear and re-gas and re-oil the front.
Decided to bite the bullet and bought a pair of uprated Hyperpro springs for front and rear for £160 and after speaking to Nick at ABE sent both shocks off along with the springs.
The bill from ABE was £170 inc return courier (5 day turn around) and for that they rebuilt the rear with new seals/oil and gas and also re-gassed and re-oiled the front.
Fitted the overhauled units last week and have been out for a couple of runs and the results are impressive.
I was a bit shocked that on the lowest rear setting I now struggle to get both feet down at the same time (before the overhaul on the highest rear I could get both feet flat on the floor), then again thinking back the bike was this height when I got it 8 years ago.
I've also had to back the damping settings right off as well.
The bike is transformed the ride quality is vastly improved and the bike appears to track and turn in better .
Will check it out two up next week with a bit of kit onboard and hopefully the improvement will be even more marked.
All in all for a total cost of £330 I'm more than happy with the results.

 

[davegs]

Surley at 3000 or less a year you wouldent have got used top it in the first place

 

[D6]

i got the same springs on mine but fitted em myself,,,
marginal improvement over standard, bare in mind my shocks were only 8000 miles old anyway ,so in no way worn, but anythings an improvement over a 11xx series rear end, wtf was they thinking about using an old fashioned set up like that?, the japs were years ahead

 

[Neil W]

I posted this because not everyone can afford to spend £1000 plus on an older bike to have the suspension replaced when it is worn but obviously I seem to have upset someone by not doing enough miles on my own bike to know any better .

 

[raginmund]

Thanks for the tip Neil; I'm on a budget and shocks are on my list (after braided lines and risers).

 

[Grey Sickle]

info much appreciated

many thanks for posting the info, my back end seems very low and i know i need to sort my shocks, maybe front as well as the back. nice one.

 

[Canuck]

ditto

 

[RichGSer]

Surley at 3000 or less a year you wouldent have got used top it in the first place

Are you a tosser?

 

[davegs]

Are you a tosser?

Certainly am, 2001 1150 GS 89000, been half way around the world as well (literally) I'm, sure your remark was intended as an insult so bollocks to you
I just ride it.

 

[Hubs]

Certainly am, 2001 1150 GS 89000, been half way around the world as well (literally) I'm, sure your remark was intended as an insult so bollocks to you
I just ride it.

Hmm, half way round the world and back is 26000 miles, so 63000 miles in say nearly ten years gives 6300 a year...

 

[Steve the Kiwi]

Are you a tosser?

tosser is a compliment around here..... but is was a wanker comment he made...

 

[Steptoe]

Hmm, half way round the world and back is 26000 miles, so 63000 miles in say nearly ten years gives 6300 a year...

Sod your silly averages..
Two years ago davegs rode from the tip of alaska down to the very very bottom of south america in one trip.

So carry on trying to belittle his average riding distances .

 

[raginmund]

Sod your silly averages..
Two years ago davegs rode from the tip of alaska down to the very very bottom of south america in one trip.

So carry on trying to belittle his average riding distances .

It was dave doing the belittling, let's be fair. I don't see why Neil's post neccesitated such negativity in the first place, when he was posting something that was/is useful to the community

 

[Steptoe]

It was dave doing the belittling, let's be fair.

Good point, well made. It helps that i know the silly old fecker so take everything he says with the contempt and derision it deserves

 

[Grey Sickle]

worth the effort

at approx 55,000m i have just had my shocks rebuilt by ABE, front and back, and oiled up the spring tensioner. just to bore you that i think it was well worth the effort, i now realise that the rear wheel was often hopping over even slight bumps and hence slightly spinning, and i now have much better ground clearance. Also before i had several rear wheel lock ups under braking, although that has not happened so far, despite many opertunities.

 

[jkp123]

Hi D6

Is it easy to replace the springs yourself, or do you need much special equipment?

i got the same springs on mine but fitted em myself,,,
marginal improvement over standard, bare in mind my shocks were only 8000 miles old anyway ,so in no way worn, but anythings an improvement over a 11xx series rear end, wtf was they thinking about using an old fashioned set up like that?, the japs were years ahead

 

[Neil W]

Well just an update, having returned today from a 3000 mile trip down to Austria and into parts of Italy the bike is 100% better (I apologise in advance to some that it wasn't 300,000 miles to the moon or a short trip to Jupiter!).
When (over)loaded with the wifes two weeks worth of luggage (tank panniers, global pannier lids, Givi E52 maxia top box and a tank bag) it was handling much more predictably, no more weaving from the rear end and I never had to take the rear shock above the first or second adjustment unlike last year when I had to have it wound right up on the adjuster to make it handle anything like decently.
In hindsight I could have probably got away without the flashy new springs BUT for only £170 for the overhaul by itself it was the only option cash wise because I would rather have the holiday on the bike than spend all my holiday cash on Wilbers or Ohlins suspension and have the bike in the garage (and me in the dog kennel) because we couldn't then afford a holiday

 

[Kenny]

Nice one Neil...gives another angle at some of the over priced versions

 

[Aussie]

Hi D6

Is it easy to replace the springs yourself, or do you need much special equipment?

It depends how strong you are

 

[Bikergary]

Totally agree about the re-vamp from ABE, had both front and rear done, shocks had done 90k, well worth the money,
Tried Ohlins on my 1100GS few years ago, never again, couldn't get on with the ride and was having to get them serviced every year.
As far as I'm concerned the Original GSA Shocks are a good bit of kit