Which rear shock 2012 twin cam

[Pale Rider]

Out today again on the twin cam GSA, brilliant bike in every way but oh dear that rear suspension no matter what i do it is frankly shit! What do you people suggest as a nice upgrade, personally I thought Ohlins but i read somewhere that it needs regular servicing or could have problems. Wilbers, Maxton etc ?

 

[landmarkjohn]

I would get the original serviced by T-Tech Suspension.

 

[Pale Rider]

I would get the original serviced by T-Tech Suspension.

It’s non electronic, manual with the knob on the side, don’t think he does those.

 

[JonnyBravo]

I fitted Wilber’s - (mines manual)
transformed the bike.
Best money I have ever spent on a motorcycle upgrade.

 

[mikeyboy]

It’s non electronic, manual with the knob on the side, don’t think he does those.

Yes he does.
I don’t think there is anything suspension related he couldn’t do.

 

[Pale Rider]

I fitted Wilber’s - (mines manual)
transformed the bike.
Best money I have ever spent on a motorcycle upgrade.

Which one did you go for, the basic one ore the one with the remote res etc.

 

[crumbles]

Which one did you go for, the basic one ore the one with the remote res etc.

I have Wilbers with a remote on a 2012...T-Tec refurbished Front and back for me..

 

[mikeyboy]

I fitted Wilber’s - (mines manual)
transformed the bike.
Best money I have ever spent on a motorcycle upgrade.

I think a lot of folk think a bit too hard about these things,
A decent quality upgrade will be better than oem,
A high quality upgrade should be better,again!
You could buy an ohlins or Hyperpro or Wilbur’s from any retailer,
They ask a few very basic questions and the shock is built at the factory then delivered to the retailer.
It transforms the bike says the customer ,
So,one of the questions asked,
How much do you weigh?
Passenger or not,?
How much luggage?
Let’s look at this,
Rider 100 kg
Passenger 100 kg,50% of time
Luggage 30 kg 30 % of time
The spring rate is fixed,preload can only alter the ride height.
The spring fitted to the shock needs to deal with a load ,plus or minus 130 kg,which is a fair bit more than the original specified rate.
Solo,the spring is too strong,
Loaded too weak.
So how has the shock transformed the bike?
Now I’m no expert,but to my mind,the difference is in the high speed damping and blow off rates of top end shocks.
Maybe denzo would explain it all better.
But the buyer experience,
where the fucked oem shock felt harsh and you feel a general roughness from the road.
The quality shock is like a magic carpet,this isn’t down to the spring ( although the top end shock would have a more linear one perhaps and as stated above this is a compromise on a mixed use road bike)
This is down to the damping quality of the unit.
On a big hit,the shock needs to blow off and compress instantly,
Then recover to damp rebound ,
Then there’s the really small stuff that causes the rough sensation.
So there’s a lot going on ,the amount of damping oil is ,notalot,
So one would expect that a shock,doing a lot of work,needs to be serviced.

 

[JonnyBravo]

Which one did you go for, the basic one ore the one with the remote res etc.

The remote one
It’s on 1 click for just me - 20 clicks for me and the missus and luggage.
It’s superb.

I had mine from Revs in the west mids but they closed in 2022
I think they were the official distributor for Wilbers.

Was £1k for the front and rear I think.

 

[JonnyBravo]

I think a lot of folk think a bit too hard about these things,
A decent quality upgrade will be better than oem,
A high quality upgrade should be better,again!
You could buy an ohlins or Hyperpro or Wilbur’s from any retailer,
They ask a few very basic questions and the shock is built at the factory then delivered to the retailer.
It transforms the bike says the customer ,
So,one of the questions asked,
How much do you weigh?
Passenger or not,?
How much luggage?
Let’s look at this,
Rider 100 kg
Passenger 100 kg,50% of time
Luggage 30 kg 30 % of time
The spring rate is fixed,preload can only alter the ride height.
The spring fitted to the shock needs to deal with a load ,plus or minus 130 kg,which is a fair bit more than the original specified rate.
Solo,the spring is too strong,
Loaded too weak.
So how has the shock transformed the bike?
Now I’m no expert,but to my mind,the difference is in the high speed damping and blow off rates of top end shocks.
Maybe denzo would explain it all better.
But the buyer experience,
where the fucked oem shock felt harsh and you feel a general roughness from the road.
The quality shock is like a magic carpet,this isn’t down to the spring ( although the top end shock would have a more linear one perhaps and as stated above this is a compromise on a mixed use road bike)
This is down to the damping quality of the unit.
On a big hit,the shock needs to blow off and compress instantly,
Then recover to damp rebound ,
Then there’s the really small stuff that causes the rough sensation.
So there’s a lot going on ,the amount of damping oil is ,notalot,
So one would expect that a shock,doing a lot of work,needs to be serviced.

Take your word for it Mikey -
You fitted it for me !!
.

 

[mikeyboy]

To add to the above,
Where you might really feel the difference is on an enduro/ motocross/ race bike.
Where you set the springing for a smaller range of weights.
The damping on a higher end unit is adjustable and if you can find a good suspension technician a well set up bike is astonishing.

 

[johnnyboy]

Ohlins for me. Top quality, as you would expect. No more maintenance than any other shock absorber.

 

[Santa-2512]

I had some 30m lowered Wilburs for my hexhead

Set them to the recommended settings from the manual and rode for 200 miles,

I was so ill, i had to stop , and limp to a campsite to recover , the next day it was the same

Turns out the shocks were cause, they were so hard, they were transferring all the road vibration through the bike to me

Changed the damping settings and it was like a light switch had been flipped - did the next 200 miles without any issues whatsoever

When the ESA units failed on my LC, i couldn't tell the difference but i could feel the difference when it was replaced !!

 

[Pukmeister]

No point in having super grippy tyres or spending money on a loud end can that will make you no faster or smoother, but having shit suspension will definitely spoil your riding. Fixing it will be a revelation.

Denz0 at T-Tech Suspension in Croydon can strip, clean and closely inspect your suspension components for wear or damage. Anything needing replacing or repairing will be done. New seals and fluid will be used. If you prefer, he will change the spring for one that is bespoke to you (recommended) rather than the generic spring fitted my BMW. He will setup and test the unit.

It will come back better than new and cost less than buying a new replacement unit. I have previously done both: bought Wilber’s and also had OE shocks serviced. Whilst the Wilber’s were undeniably good, the OE units were also as good when serviced for a lot less money and no need to declare a mod to your insurers.

T-Tech Suspension LTD – Motorcycle Shock Absorber Repair / TracTive Suspension Authorized Service /ESA Repair

ttechsuspension.com

In fairness, other suspension agents are also capable of this including Firefox Racing in Keighley and MCT Suspension in Stowmarket. Because they don’t specialise in BMW GS/A units they may not know of or fix the inherent design defects that T-Tech do, you’d have to ask them.

Motorbike suspension, Motorcycle Suspension | MCT suspension | Stowmarket

MCT suspension, motorbike suspension, Wilbers, Ohlins, Nitron, Ktech, suspension repairs, suspension upgrades; equipment and suspension sales, specialist advice

www.mctsuspension.uk

High Quality Motorcycle Shock Absorber Repair and Rebuilds by post

Whether your shock absorber needs a service or you’d like the rear suspension setting up to your own weight and specification, Firefox Racing have an extensive amount of experience in suspension…

firefoxracing.co.uk

 

[DrFarkoff]

I would get the original serviced by T-Tech Suspension.

Exactly what I Was going to say BUT also Let Lukasz know what you weigh and that you want a heavier / Lighter Spring

You could buy a decent used standard one and send it and keep yours as a reserve???

As to the front

Copied from a post I made a day or two ago
There are lots of things out there But Honestly I spent £220 on a shock for my 93000mile 1150RT and it transformed it

ALSO tell them weight and if you regularly carry a passenger so they can give you the right spring weight etc

.https://www.protechshocks.co.uk/find-your-bike/bmw/

I cannot compliment this shock enough, I am no Rossi but I do like to be smooth and carry corner speed and this works soooooo well

All I have to do now is send Lukaz my rear shock for a rebuild,

The suspension Job done both ends inc carriage for about £380 all in!!

 

[Pale Rider]

Thanks guys for all your help on this. In the first instance I’m going to get in touch with Denzo to see if he can in fact rebuild my existing unit, it’s just that im pretty sure i read somewhere than he can’t but recommends the YSS units instead, but as i say im going to find his email address and fire him an email.

 

[Pukmeister]

If you click the T-Tech link I posted above you can find his contact details there.

Or here:

Contact – T-Tech Suspension LTD

ttechsuspension.com

 

[Pale Rider]

Exactly what I Was going to say BUT also Let Lukasz know what you weigh and that you want a heavier / Lighter Spring

You could buy a decent used standard one and send it and keep yours as a reserve???

As to the front

Copied from a post I made a day or two ago
There are lots of things out there But Honestly I spent £220 on a shock for my 93000mile 1150RT and it transformed it

ALSO tell them weight and if you regularly carry a passenger so they can give you the right spring weight etc

.https://www.protechshocks.co.uk/find-your-bike/bmw/

I cannot compliment this shock enough, I am no Rossi but I do like to be smooth and carry corner speed and this works soooooo well

All I have to do now is send Lukaz my rear shock for a rebuild,

The suspension Job done both ends inc carriage for about £380 all in!!

Cheers for this but I’m definitely not touching the front, the front suspension on this bike is the best front suspension I’ve ever experienced on any bike ever!

 

[DrFarkoff]

Thanks guys for all your help on this. In the first instance I’m going to get in touch with Denzo to see if he can in fact rebuild my existing unit, it’s just that im pretty sure i read somewhere than he can’t but recommends the YSS units instead, but as i say im going to find his email address and fire him an email.

Rears he can rebuild Fronts he can't

That front one I chose is the basis of Ram Shox that a lot of classic racers use and the finish even after a few winter rides is still unblemished

Compression (Spring tension) and rebound wee knob to control the expansion of the shock are standard on them

Edit just seen reply above

No worries but you will be surprised what a "Specific" shock set for you will do

I was skeptical for years and years and then the one I had was knackered and the lower miles one was "tatty but serviceable" (a bit like me LOL ) and I thought I deserve a bit of comfort and in all my time working on these it just opened my eyes to how "general" the shock is

So the standard shock will do from about 70 kg right through to Fat B'stahd where as one tuned to your own specifics? Night and Day Sir Night and Day!!!

 

[Pukmeister]

MCT in Stowmarket rebuilt my Hexhead front suspension unit years ago.

I had a call from them saying an internal bushing was destroyed but they could make, fit and ream a new one for an extra tenner !

It came back perfect.