Urban GS - suspension advice

[gabriel_gs]

So I’m taking delivery of a 2018 Urban GS next week.

I’ve owned a Scrambler and loved it. No notes.

I kinda assume the Urban GS will be similar, but a touch taller?

However I’ve read a number of posts about the suspension being crap.

Without meaning to kick a hornet’s nest, what makes it so bad? Different to / worse than the scrambler (which seemed fine for me)? And in practical, noticeable terms, what would spending £500-ish on a having a new shock fitted actually do for me?

I’ve owned over 40 bikes (actually maybe 50) and still know nothing about shocks, so keep it simple!

 

[richardbd]

Don't know about comparison with the Scrambler but I always thought my Urban GS would shake my teeth out, given half the chance. I swapped the OEM kit for a Tractive rear shock and Nitron fork inners. Night and day on the comfort and handling front. Looks better too because I added 40mm to the ride height at the same time.

 

[gabriel_gs]

So ‘bad suspension’ is basically too ‘firm’ not enough ‘travel’, such that it feels like there’s no ‘spring’ in the.. er… spring?
So what does ‘better suspension’ do? Does it make a ‘softer’ ride? And how so? Is it because the shock allows more ‘movement’ or a gentler ‘spring’… or something else I don’t get?

Like I said, I’m ‘suspensionally naive’, so spoon-feed me!

If I did go for a new shock, is it just a direct swap? Something I can do with a free afternoon and some swearing or a dealer job? And would I need to mess with the forks, or is a new rear shock enough?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Guru Gora]

Ride it first see what you think.

I did a lot of miles on mine and it was fine for me.


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[gabriel_gs]

Ride it first see what you think.

I did a lot of miles on mine and it was fine for me.


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oh absolutely. More I’d like to understand the issue.

I’ve never adjusted the suspension on any of the 40+ bikes I’ve owned

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I’ve never adjusted the suspension on any of the 40+ bikes I’ve owned

Why not?
Suspension is the best thing to alter to oem ones/replace with quality aftermarket stuff

 

[Guru Gora]

I’m still running a scrambler 9t on stock and for a mortal bumbling around it’s just fine.


Id rather spend the money on hotels and petrol personally


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[richardbd]

My Urban GS was simply awful on stick suspenders. Handling poor at anything above bumbling pace. Ride coarse on anything other than billiard-table smooth tarmac. Mirrors always blurred, back ached after 100 miles and fillings all felt loose.

Change suspension, add a decent seat, for a Unit Garage screen and hey presto, an all-day comfortable bike…

 

[gabriel_gs]

Why not?
Suspension is the best thing to alter to oem ones/replace with quality aftermarket stuff

I’ve just never felt the need on any of my bikes. Maybe I was missing a trick… or I just chose well

 

[richardbd]

I’ve just never felt the need on any of my bikes. Maybe I was missing a trick… or I just chose well

I understand that. I used to feel the same. But like JB says, i suspect it’s the biggest single improvement you can make to most bikes.

The two I’ve done have both been completely transformed…

 

[gabriel_gs]

I understand that. I used to feel the same. But like JB says, i suspect it’s the biggest single improvement you can make to most bikes.

The two I’ve done have both been completely transformed…

I’ll definitely look into it

Playing dumb, what is it that it transforms so much? Feel more 'comfy', tighter, more 'planted/responsive'?...in real world, real road terms?

Other than adjusting it once or twice on bikes over the years to add a bit more 'softness' (lay term!) for comfort I've just never delved.

I assume you can take it to a specialist to dial it in for you personally, as I wouldn't have a clue

Certainly for comfort, a Unit Garage seat is on my list

 

[Arsey]

My Urban GS was simply awful on stick suspenders. Handling poor at anything above bumbling pace. Ride coarse on anything other than billiard-table smooth tarmac. Mirrors always blurred, back ached after 100 miles and fillings all felt loose.

Change suspension, add a decent seat, for a Unit Garage screen and hey presto, an all-day comfortable bike…

Ditto.
The Urban GS had the worst suspension of any bike I’ve ever owned.
I should have changed it but was so disappointed with it that I got rid . It’s not like it’s a cheap bike so how did BMW think they could get away with it ?
I couldn’t even tell you what was wrong with it but it gave me numb bollox which manifested into trapped nerves and disc issues which I’m still having treatment for now .
I’m not saying the bike caused my issues but it certainly exacerbated it.
The Urban was also the last new BMW I bought and I really can’t see my buying another, given the way they utterly take the piss with pricing .
Still like the looks of the Urban though .

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I’ve just never felt the need on any of my bikes. Maybe I was missing a trick… or I just chose well

Missing a trick
All my bikes have tweaked or aftermarket suspension
1150 GSA
Tenere 700
Trial bikes
KTM EXC & XR400
Makes a great bike better to have decent set up suspension

 

[GedJack]

Missing a trick
All my bikes have tweaked or aftermarket suspension
1150 GSA
Tenere 700
Trial bikes
KTM EXC & XR400
Makes a great bike better to have decent set up suspension

Couldn’t agree more

 

[the woodster]

Ride it first see what you think.

I did a lot of miles on mine and it was fine for me.


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. So much bollocks is talked about suspension. If I read another post that someone is going to 'wind up the preload' because it's 'too soft'................
See how it is for you. Then decide what you like/don't like about it. Then go and chat with a suspension person. Knowing and understanding some of the basic terminology always pays dividends as well. And take a lesson from a bikermate of mine: you're not Carl Fogarty (I don't think) and more money doesn't always mean a better ride and handling. Good luck.

 

[barny]

You've hit on the main problem with the bike and that is that the springing is too hard therefore the suspension travel is very limited. Due to the limited movement the shock has nothing to work with so it has very little effect on the suspension. This creates bouncing round corners and pitching off pot holes and undulation in the road surface. But ride the bike first you may weigh enough to overcome the spring resistance or only do short ride on good road surfaces but unfortunately a lot of owners don't fit those parameters so need to change something or sell the bike. If you decide to change the suspension work out your budget then do your research and find out what you want and if you are willing to do the work yourself. Also don't forget knobblies/off road tyres will limit your grip on the road. Also remember that the rear shock has adjustment for ride height and rebound so you may find a setting that suits you, but don't hold your breath but it costs nothing only time.

Good luck, research is you friend:- Youtube Google and search on here.

 

[Guru Gora]

I’ve been riding this 7 years and my fillings and sphincter are still as they were.

My Turban the same.

I only use it for bumbling about but it’s fine.

If I was doing distance and trying to carve out vmax turns I’d probably change it.

I’ve ridden both to London and back in a weekend on A roads from Derbyshire and again it was fine.

But I’m not …..


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[richardbd]

I’ve been riding this 7 years and my fillings and sphincter are still as they were.

My Turban the same.

I only use it for bumbling about but it’s fine.

If I was doing distance and trying to carve out vmax turns I’d probably change it.

I’ve ridden both to London and back in a weekend on A roads from Derbyshire and again it was fine.

But I’m not …..


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I rode mine from Land’s End to John O’Groats on stock suspension. That’s when I decided to change the suspenders for better ones.

FWIW I also thought the OEM seat was abysmal too. Not as bad as my 850 but not much better, so I swapped that for a Wunderlich Aktivkomfort one.

My suspension bod (Denzo of this parish) had some interesting observations to make on the OEM stuff on the Turban.

He makes a living out of repairing and refurbishing BMW suspension. He even repairs units BMW class as non-serviceable, so he doesn’t give up easily.

He said the Turban stuff is amongst the worst and cheapest he’s ever seen on a BMW and little or nothing can be done to improve it.

All that said, if it works for you, I agree - why change it just because some bods on a forum said you should?

 

[Arsey]

My suspension bod (Denzo of this parish) had some interesting observations to make on the OEM stuff on the Turban.

He makes a living out of repairing and refurbishing BMW suspension. He even repairs units BMW class as non-serviceable, so he doesn’t give up easily.

He said the Turban stuff is amongst the worst and cheapest he’s ever seen on a BMW and little or nothing can be done to improve it.

Shocking !

 

[barny]

I had my Urban GS for about 4 years it had done 1100mls when I brought it during lockdown 2. I rode it for about a month and I could not believe how bad the ride was after a 100ml ride I was aching allover it was completely stock on TKC80s . So I tried adjusting the stock setup set the sag as best I could but there was nothing I could do with the forks. Still no better, next changed the shock for an M shock setup for my weight and fitted progressive front springs as that was the only one I could get and emulators plus adjustable fork tops for a F850GS. Next setup the sag then test ride it, the difference was night and day it cornered safely on Norfolk roads for those not in the know that is an achievement on its own. Started adjusting the ride to suit me then fitted Conti RA3s that was all I did and it transformed the bike a couple of friends rode the bike and could not believe how smooth the ride was, my total outlay was £500 plus tyres and time. Most Sundays in summer I regularly ride 150mls no problem on country roads not A roads.