Suspension service, worth it???

[hutchy]

Ok so leading on from a previous thread on servicing stock suspensions etc

I contacted Nick at ABE http://www.allbikeengineering.co.uk

He can do the rear stock shock on my 2004 1150gs adv 40k for £100 plus rod for £60 if it's fecked, he also offered to do the front at the same time not sure of the cost but I would imagine the same, so a total for front an rear service between £2-300

My questions are

Is it worth it?

Has anyone here done both front and rear stock shocks and what was the transformation if any?

Should I stop being a tight feck and just by Ohlins Wilbur's or nitrons etc and sh1t can the stock ones

All useful advice gratefully received



H


Sent from my iPad using Technology I do not understand

 

[Fanum]

Ok so leading on from a previous thread on servicing stock suspensions etc

I contacted Nick at ABE http://www.allbikeengineering.co.uk

He can do the rear stock shock on my 1150gs adv 40k for £100 plus rod for £60 if it's fecked, he also offered to do the front at the same time not sure of the cost but I would imagine the same, so a total for front an rear service between £2-300

My questions are

Is it worth it?

Has anyone here done both front and rear stock shocks and what was the transformation if any?

Should I stop being a tight feck and just by Ohlins Wilbur's or nitrons etc and sh1t can the stock ones

All useful advice gratefully received



H


Sent from my iPad using Technology I do not understand

Go for it.


I know I was sarcy on the last thread about it, but I have experienced BAD suspension and it nearly killed me (scared 17 shades of crap out of me before I managed to recover it, and that was only on a 100mph bend coming off the M25 to the A2!) .........I've also experienced good suspension badly set up, which utterly disappointed me, but then I had my good suspension (Wilburs in my case) properly set up and I became a total riding god! (ok, I didn't, I'm shit, but it let me get to the outer limits of my own ability and was forgiving when I went beyond those limits)


IIRC, you're two up riding for a good distance.........

As long as you plus your pillion are within 20% of the upper rating of the stock suspension, stay with it and have it re-conditioned.

If (as is likely) you plus pillion plus luggage are 20% or more OVER the rated limits, it may well be worth upgrading from OEM kit, even if it is re-conditioned.

I always used to raise my eyebrows at those who extolled the virtues of better suspension, even after I lashed out on Wilburs kit.........but once you get it dialled in and you have forced it to work for its living when OEM or cheaper kit woould have bucked you off painfully, it's worth every penny

 

[adventuredon]

how do you work out the 20% difference? height on its own minus height when sat on bike? sorry if a daft question, but how do you definitely know the shocks need attention?

 

[newboy]

Same here Don

Numpty I know

But I am about 120kg
Wife 60 ish?
luggage another 30?
On a 2005 1150 GSA with (I think stock suspension)

I am guessing I am past that "safe limit" of 20% over
What is the quoted rating of the stock susp. when new?
I am guessing by now it will need looking at...

how do you work out the 20% difference? height on its own minus height when sat on bike? sorry if a daft question, but how do you definitely know the shocks need attention?

 

[YYguy]

Ok so leading on from a previous thread on servicing stock suspensions etc

I contacted Nick at ABE http://www.allbikeengineering.co.uk

He can do the rear stock shock on my 2004 1150gs adv 40k for £100 plus rod for £60 if it's fecked, he also offered to do the front at the same time not sure of the cost but I would imagine the same, so a total for front an rear service between £2-300

My questions are

Is it worth it?

Has anyone here done both front and rear stock shocks and what was the transformation if any?

Should I stop being a tight feck and just by Ohlins Wilbur's or nitrons etc and sh1t can the stock ones

All useful advice gratefully received



H


Sent from my iPad using Technology I do not understand

I'm facing the same dilemma (02 GS adv 60K) and so have been trolling everywhere for rider advice. Someone on one of thousands of suspension threads (on advrider) pointed out that if you save your stockers to remount when you sell your bike and then sell the aftermarket shocks separately you can recoup about 1/2 your investment (more if it's sooner than later). So, it may make sense to throw that into your cost analysis. Then again, maybe it's just helping me rationalize a crazy expensive purchase.

 

[harry]

Ok so leading on from a previous thread on servicing stock suspensions etc

I contacted Nick at ABE http://www.allbikeengineering.co.uk

He can do the rear stock shock on my 2004 1150gs adv 40k for £100 plus rod for £60 if it's fecked, he also offered to do the front at the same time not sure of the cost but I would imagine the same, so a total for front an rear service between £2-300

My questions are

Is it worth it?

Has anyone here done both front and rear stock shocks and what was the transformation if any?

Should I stop being a tight feck and just by Ohlins Wilbur's or nitrons etc and sh1t can the stock ones

All useful advice gratefully received



H


Sent from my iPad using Technology I do not understand

At 40k miles your Dampers will be well past their best. They go off so slowly you don't notice.

You will be amazed how nice the bike feels with decent kit underneath you.

 

[motobiker]

Same here Don

Numpty I know

But I am about 120kg
Wife 60 ish?
luggage another 30?
On a 2005 1150 GSA with (I think stock suspension)

I am guessing I am past that "safe limit" of 20% over

No.

maximum payload on a GSA (standard) is... if the details on BMBikes is correct = 217KG

figures for standard bikes are in the technical booklet.

My 1100GS

bike with full tank = 243kg
gross weight limit = 450kg

so - max weight that can be carried on my bike = 207kg.

 

[newboy]

I am within - but a 25k bike will probably need it anyway...

OK

Thanks

No.

maximum payload on a GSA (standard) is... if the details on BMBikes is correct - 217KG

figures for standard bikes are in the technical booklet.

My 1100GS

bike with full tank = 243kg
gross weight limit = 450kg

so - max weight that can be carried = 207kg.

 

[hutchy]

No.

maximum payload on a GSA (standard) is... if the details on BMBikes is correct - 217KG

figures for standard bikes are in the technical booklet.

My 1100GS

bike with full tank = 243kg
gross weight limit = 450kg

so - max weight that can be carried = 207kg.

So that would mean if my math is correct

Me kitted = 105kg
Wife kitted = 65kg

Leaving me with between 37 and 47kg of luggage

Holy feck these machines can carry some weight!!!

Thank you for some good advice and tips all, slowly but surely I'm edging closer to a stock refurb with nick from ABE

I'm a cheap Cnut if I'm honest!

H


Sent from my iPad using Technology I do not understand

 

[newboy]

ditto

with less luggage

So that would mean if my math is correct

Me kitted = 105kg
Wife kitted = 65kg

Leaving me with between 37 and 47kg of luggage

Holy feck these machines can carry some weight!!!

Thank you for some good advice and tips all, slowly but surely I'm edging closer to a stock refurb with nick from ABE

I'm a cheap Cnut if I'm honest!

H


Sent from my iPad using Technology I do not understand

 

[motobiker]

I am within - but a 25k bike will probably need it anyway...

OK

Thanks

thats the same miles +/- at which I replaced the stock suspension with Wilbers. The difference was dramatic.

however this was at a time when the possibility of having the stock suspension rebuilt didn't exist - or at least wasn't as well known as it is today.

If I were to be doing it now - I would follow the same path you are without a second thought.

 

[Timolgra]

GS suspension's a strange one.

On my bikes with conventional forks I pay much more attention to getting the front right for them to handle right, yet on the GS I've found having great rear suspension more important than the front.

So you could just get the rear sorted and look out for a cheap 2nd hand front in good nick.

 

[MattW]

Ok so leading on from a previous thread on servicing stock suspensions etc

I contacted Nick at ABE http://www.allbikeengineering.co.uk

He can do the rear stock shock on my 2004 1150gs adv 40k for £100 plus rod for £60 if it's fecked, he also offered to do the front at the same time not sure of the cost but I would imagine the same, so a total for front an rear service between £2-300

My questions are

Is it worth it?

Has anyone here done both front and rear stock shocks and what was the transformation if any?

Should I stop being a tight feck and just by Ohlins Wilbur's or nitrons etc and sh1t can the stock ones

All useful advice gratefully received



H


Sent from my iPad using Technology I do not understand

I went through this thought process for my 1100 and ended up buying new as ABE said my 45k mile originals weren't really worth rebuilding. I also bought a supposed good condition 1150 front and it was crap - as bad as my 19 year old original - second hand suspension is a potential minefield unless you really know the history of what you're buying.

As noted earlier, I've kept my OEM shocks for if I ever sell the bike.

If you do decide to buy new, consider Hyperpro also. I read and asked lots of questions on here regarding new shocks and read about people breaking Ohlins and Wiburs, having to get expensive yearly services on Ohlins etc, etc. No one had much bad to say about Hyperpro and they had a ringing endorsement from Margus (Tsiklonaut on here) who gave them a very good test...

They transformed my bike and now that the financial pain has subsided slightly, I've no regrets at all.

 

[ahutcheon]

GS suspension's a strange one.

On my bikes with conventional forks I pay much more attention to getting the front right for them to handle right, yet on the GS I've found having great rear suspension more important than the front.

So you could just get the rear sorted and look out for a cheap 2nd hand front in good nick.

Interesting. After 56k (even) I can tell that the back is getting tired (it's a bit crashy-bangy through certain kinds of minor hole while cruising, less obtrusive when asked to work harder). I've been debating rebuild vs replace at both ends, makes me wonder if a new rear shock would live with the front as-is?

 

[MattW]

Interesting. After 56k (even) I can tell that the back is getting tired (it's a bit crashy-bangy through certain kinds of minor hole while cruising, less obtrusive when asked to work harder). I've been debating rebuild vs replace at both ends, makes me wonder if a new rear shock would live with the front as-is?

I replaced just my rear at first and it made a big difference to the general feel and handling. However it did kind of show up the front's shortcomings, so after a month or so I ended up changing that too in time for a big two up trip.

 

[tyclyd]

I think it has been said...

For me the issue is that as the original rears 'go off' you don't really notice, so for example on my 50K 2002 GSA when I went from 11 year old standard totally original unmaintained suspension to a set of Wilburs designed for my weight the difference was outstanding. They will hold their value and are worth getting serviced, so you can recoup some of the original cost if someone wishes to buy them from you. I am presently getting the Ohlins on the recent 'bumble bee' purchase overhauled by Kais - new Ohlins spring at around £60 - got to be a good investment in my books...

 

[jbox]

shock service

just collected my ohlins rear shock from dunfermaline motorcycles after a service
glad I sent it,the bottom spring collar had a hairline fracture right through it that I had not spotted!
new collar he had as a spare,new oil and seals 95 quid
seems good to me,just have to fit it now

 

[unibar]

Ive had both back and front done twice at ABE
First time had a hyperpro spring put on at same time as the back was done... night and day difference, so got the front done too with new spring also.. though it made the front harse.
30K miles later original front spring put on and rear re serviced.

I would do it again in a heartbeat

 

[alfazer]

I had ABE do my rear one at 40k. Kept standard spring. Transformed it, especially with pillion. Best £100 I ever spent on the bike.

 

[hutchy]

I had ABE do my rear one at 40k. Kept standard spring. Transformed it, especially with pillion. Best £100 I ever spent on the bike.

Mine is at Clarence's in greyabbey N Ireland, pick it up Wednesday once refurbed

Same as you, kept the stock spring and work from there, although i really do fancy a nitron shock

H


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