Which Shock Absorber is Best?

[andy white]

Hi Everyone,

Could some of you help me with some info?

I have a R1100GS and the front and rear shockers are knackered. I have looked through old posts and a lot of people have had problems with Ohlins, but some say they are the best..

To this end I have a couple of Questions;

What are the best shockers to put on my bike on a budget of about 400 Pounds Each?

And where is best to buy them from?

Im not an off roader, but i like to hammer along on bumpy B roads.

Cheers all

 

[Gecko]

andy
I have the same bike as you - colours and all and fitted Ohlins a couple of years back. It transformed the bike and I reckon they are superb. Of course if someone has had poroblems they will say otherwise but I can't praise them enough.

 

[hops]

I've

had Ohlins on both my 1100 & now an 1150 and have found them to be excellent. Wilbers also seem to be very well thought of on here. You'll be very lucky to get either new for £400 a piece but you might be lucky enough to pick up a set 2nd hand. Either way they'll transform your bike I'm sure.

 

[Butchersdog]

Andy, I have Ohlins front and a Wilbers rear and they are Brill, much better than standard.
If you say that is your budget then I would look at this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ohlins-bmw-r1150gs_W0QQitemZ250457709491QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycle_Parts?hash=item3a50715bb3&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1|66%3A2|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A2|294%3A50



and this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ohlins-bmw-r1150gs_W0QQitemZ250457711429QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycle_Parts?hash=item3a50716345&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1|66%3A2|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A2|294%3A50


That would sort you out. Ps I am not connected with the sale

Andy

 

[andy white]

Thanks for the replies Everyone, just the info I needed

Gecko - im glad you are still enjoying your 1100

Cheers

 

[PIGGLET]

I've had wilbers on my last bike and Ohlins on my current bike.
I think they are very similar in terms of performance, both will transform the bike
I went with wilbers last time because they were quite a bit cheaper than Ohlins but this time round the Ohlins were actually cheaper than wilbers.
Ohlins have a more comprehensive dealer network If you do much traveling.
If you're going to buy second hand, find out which springs they have fitted and make sure they are right for you're weight. You may also want to budget for a service.

 

[andy white]

Hagon?

Hi Everyone,

I am keeping an eye on Ebay,

I have also being looking at Hagon units, are they any good?

Im guessing by the price that they may not have the performance of the Ohlins/Wilbers but at £270 front and £395 rear they are in my budget.

Cheers

 

[essjay]

not sure would shocks off an 1150 fit your bike, but I have a set of wilbers for sale.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=193265

 

[Stewart H]

1150 front shock will fit the 1100, rear will not

Stewart

 

[Every Accessory]

Wilbers

Hi Andy,
with your UKgser's discount you can get the front and basic rear for under £400 each, built to order exactly taylored to you off us!!!!

 

[buzzy]

hi andy , just to let you know , ordered a set of wilbers this week , will take about three weeks to be sent , and i will post a reply when fitted , hope to improve the bike (96 1100 ) , and like you not really into taking the bike off road but do like to tazz around

 

[argos]

hello,would go for an ohlins rear but would stick with a stock front,unless your caning down bumpy B roads like a loon the ohlins front aint worth the extra dosh cheers

 

[Butchersdog]

hello,would go for an ohlins rear but would stick with a stock front,unless your caning down bumpy B roads like a loon the ohlins front aint worth the extra dosh cheers

Sorry but I would disagree with the above statement, but just my opinion

 

[argos]

like i said,depends how you ride

 

[Steptoe]

Is it correct that wilbers come with a 5 year guarantee.....
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But the guarantee is void if they aren't serviced annually at a wilbers agent

 

[King Rat]

What is there to "service" on a shock?

I have always just kept mine clean on any bike I have had and they last for years....never had shocks give up on me. Is this just a modern phenomenon of single shocks?

This is the first bike I have had that hasn't had twin shocks..... Finally moved into the 20th Century.

 

[shready]

Is it correct that wilbers come with a 5 year guarantee.....
.

.


.

.
But the guarantee is void if they aren't serviced annually at a wilbers agent

Warranty 5 years and serviced every 2 years.

 

[shready]

I fitted a Wilbers rear on my 1100GS last year, after 90,000 miles, when my rear shock turned to a piece of 2" x 2". It was great and I replaced the front early this year with a Wibers. TBH honest the front OE shock is as good for normal use IMO.

 

[sproggy]

Warranty 5 years and serviced every 2 years.

Not really:

Due to the fact that shock absorbers are expendable parts and that we always want to respect our guarantee period of 5 years, our shocks have to be serviced every two years or 12000 miles.

So I have to get my new shocks (which I've just ordered) serviced every 9 months in order to keep the warranty up? I do around 16k miles each year - am I going to take my shocks off every 9 months and send them off to be serviced? I think not. If these shocks really need servicing that often then I may regret my purchase - I'll take my chances on them lasting considerably longer, valid warranty or not.

I've found in the past that Ohlins need quite frequent rebuilds but had been under the impression that Wilbers didn't. Time (and miles) will tell.

 

[ChrisH Kerry]

Finally moved into the 20th Century.

That's funny - most people in 21st Century now