Suspension

[karlp]

What are the advantages of Wilbers, Ohlins etc.

I have searched but nothing conclusive that makes me want to spend £1000.

I am getting a GSA without ESA (still not convinced on the advantages of this having actually owned one with ESA). - just seems something else to go wrong and cost loads of cash to repair.

The GSA is not a sports bike so does not need pin sharp handling characteristics.

 

[Nemo]

Advantage of my Hyperpro Springs

Advantage of my Hyperpro Springs is that they are a nice purple colour and everyone knows that purple springs bounce better

 

[mr badger]

What are the advantages of Wilbers, Ohlins etc.

From my experience with Ohlins kit:

• Lush ride
• Better connection with the road
• More secure handing on poor surfaces
• Less fatigue on long trips
• Greater confidence when getting stuck in
• Others say pillion riding way better too (only ride solo myself, although weigh the same as two 'normal' people.

This is the only mod or upgrade that actually makes the riding experience significantly better. Forget exhausts, fuelling or anything else. Bouncers first.

Mine's in soon for it's kit at MCT. Fourth bike we've done suspesion work on.

 

[Wapping]

As per what Mr Badger said.... and another vote for MCT, too.

Buy with confidence

 

[karlp]

From my experience with Ohlins kit:

• Lush ride
• Better connection with the road
• More secure handing on poor surfaces
• Less fatigue on long trips
• Greater confidence when getting stuck in
• Others say pillion riding way better too (only ride solo myself, although weigh the same as two 'normal' people.

This is the only mod or upgrade that actually makes the riding experience significantly better. Forget exhausts, fuelling or anything else. Bouncers first.

Mine's in soon for it's kit at MCT. Fourth bike we've done suspesion work on.

Absolutely agree that handling should be the first improvement - then brakes - then engine/exhaust.

If I was being super critical then I would put tuition above them all -- but that is another story.

What / where is MCT ??

Karl

 

[GSband]

From my experience with Ohlins kit:

• Lush ride
• Better connection with the road
• More secure handing on poor surfaces
• Less fatigue on long trips
• Greater confidence when getting stuck in
• Others say pillion riding way better too (only ride solo myself, although weigh the same as two 'normal' people.

This is the only mod or upgrade that actually makes the riding experience significantly better. Forget exhausts, fuelling or anything else. Bouncers first.
...

My R1200GS is equipped with Wilbers, front and back, since 20000km/12000mls.

Agree with the list above, but can add this : I ride with pillion in the weekend, and it's amazing how well the fully loaded bike handles with the Wilbers setup compared to standard BMW. Even my pillion notices the difference. And when riding alone, handling is top notch.

It's hard to imagine the benefits as long as you haven't ridden with these suspension kits. It is without any doubt the best investment I've made in my GS. I've installed different bits and bobs on my bike, but this is the one I would always recommend.

 

[Wapping]

What / where is MCT ??

Answers to both questions: http://www.mctsuspension.com/home.htm

 

[GSmonkey]

I'm considering a rear wilburs on the GSA. Main reason is the poor damping of the rear when the bike is loaded up and the preload wound up - hit a decent bump and you're bouncing all over the place. One up it's just about ok, but with room for improvement.

Nowt to do with it not being a sportsbike.

 

[Pukmeister]

A pair of Wilbers are a lot less than £1000, but still not 'cheap', as the saying goes you get what you pay for.

As for the difference, the proof is in the riding experience due to the bespoke nature of the product.

A vast improvement over the stock suspension which is a 'one size fits all' compromise.

 

[ts2]

I'm considering a rear wilburs on the GSA. Main reason is the poor damping of the rear when the bike is loaded up and the preload wound up - hit a decent bump and you're bouncing all over the place. One up it's just about ok, but with room for improvement.

Nowt to do with it not being a sportsbike.

I bought a second hand set of Wilburs for similar reasons. I rarely ride two up, or heavily loaded, but I found the rear of my 06 GSA was far too wallowy. Even on a straight road I'd feel car sick. New (to me) Wilburs have totally cured this. I can't say how good they are compared to Öhlins and the Scandinavian in me would like Öhlins to be better, but if I'm honest I doubt my riding is good enough to tell the difference. The bike feels great with Wilburs and I'm happy with the difference they made, though its been so long now I'm starting to forget why I changed them.

Original wasn't great Wilburs are better, but as someone said earlier learning to ride better will help me more in the long run.

TobyS

 

[Prattapillar]

Aren't the ESA shocks WP items? Would you not consider them a quality product?

 

[mr badger]

Aren't the ESA shocks WP items? Would you not consider them a quality product?

According to my Guru, the WP kit isn't quite as good as the Ohlins. I just believe. It's a trust thing.

Also - I think that like amny other bikes with named kit fitted, what you get as OEM isn't anywhere near the sophistication (or cost) that you get with aftermarket goodies.

The ESA shocks can also be upgraded but at phenomenal cost.

 

[karlp]

Aren't the ESA shocks WP items? Would you not consider them a quality product?

I thought ESA shocks were Showa

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Agree with the list above, but can add this : I ride with pillion in the weekend, and it's amazing how well the fully loaded bike handles with the Wilbers setup compared to standard BMW. Even my pillion notices the difference. And when riding alone, handling is top notch.

and that's been the biggest improvement that I've noticed too. Fully loaded, two up, the bike handles pretty much the same as if solo (obviously, with the suspension readjusted to suit).

TBH When I first uprated to Wilburs I wasn't that impressed. All the 'best bang for your bucks' upgrade you can do comments didn't ring true for me, but, as the shocks have bedded in and as I've tweaked them and improved on the standard settings so I have grown to love them.

Still not sure if it's the 'best' mod I've done to the bike and if it's 'value for money' but, yes they were a big improvement over my 34,000 mile original WBM spec WP shocks.

Andres

 

[The Bede]

I'm considering a rear wilburs on the GSA. Main reason is the poor damping of the rear when the bike is loaded up and the preload wound up - hit a decent bump and you're bouncing all over the place.

... I'm mildly curious. Why you would want to change unless the spring is shot or the seals blown

... Surely you just need to increase the damping on the factory shock using the wee screw adjuster

 

[AdamA]

The GSA is not a sports bike so does not need pin sharp handling characteristics.

Why would you want any bike to not track the road surface smoothly and give you the best possible grip with the best possible ride whilst steering accurately enough to stay on the line you want it to take, or move onto another one mid corner if you so wish?

"It's not a sports bike so who cares if it's crap?"

 

[Legs748]

Has anyone just upgraded the front shock? After spending my entire biking life on Ducatis with telepathic handling it seems like the front tyre on my GSA is sending me post cards via Royal Mail telling me what it's up to. Apart from a wet man hole cover tying the bike in a knot not had any real problems but would like it better. Brakes seem a bit dull too, what's wrong with having a lever, a pipe and a caliper?

Advice?

 

[GSmonkey]

... I'm mildly curious. Why you would want to change unless the spring is shot or the seals blown

... Surely you just need to increase the damping on the factory shock using the wee screw adjuster

As I said, I want to change as it wallows when loaded. Even if I do wind up the damping, it's no good. I've experienced good suspension and this isn't it.

Of course you can ride around the problem, it's not *that* bad, just mildly annoying and I need an excuse to fettle me bike!

 

[The Bede]

As I said, I want to change as it wallows when loaded. Even if I do wind up the damping, it's no good. I've experienced good suspension and this isn't it.

... There seems to be some variation in shocks. My GSA electronic shock copes with everything using the factory pre-set adjustments, one-up, two-up, fully loaded for touring/camping. Wallowing has not been a problem. But I had a low mileage GSA dealer loaner while they did a warranty job on my bike. The loaner was soft and springy even after dialing in the same suspension set-up as my own bike. Go figure ...

... Ironically the warranty job was a replacement rear ESA shock
... (Apparantly a 'first' for one to be replaced for blown seals, a few have had electronic problems, but the new unit is all it should be and gives no wallowing or rag-doll pillion)

Of course you can ride around the problem, it's not *that* bad, just mildly annoying and I need an excuse to fettle me bike!

... There seems little point in paying BuMW money for a bike and then riding around a problem.

... And, there is no such thing as too much fettling

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

... There seems to be some variation in shocks.

I think, also, between model years. My 05 WP shocks were, I believe, pretty good.

I had an 07 loaner and the shocks on that (Showa?) were not as good.

You and I also have the advantage that we are not of usual Tosser build/weight

Andres