Which Shock Absorber is Best?

[g.s.john]

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

Hagon are good value for yer money easily rebuilt personal preferance wilbers front and rear

 

[g.s.john]

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

First service is after two years then you get the other three years warranty had mine done just after crimbo five day turnround

 

[andriesvdwatt]

I doubt it was the fact you fitted wilbers that made all the difference.

I expect it was the fact your old shocks were worn out and fitting anything would have made a difference.

Probably true, but still very happy with them.

 

[tully]

Ohlins

just come back from a week in Normandy and the bike was fully loaded with camping gear + 2 people and all the trimmings. The difference from last year's trip was really quite noticeable. The bike was much more stable and didn't "whallow" or "bounce" at all, a very big thumbs up from me.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Lets be honest here - There is no "best" shock.

It's whatever suits your wallet best.

Which is why I've ordered a basic hyperpro without remote preload.

Hyperpro will use the remote preload off your Showa shock if asked. Mine is rusted beyond belief, so, I didn't. fitted my wallet best. Ohlins look the best though!

 

[FLASH]

Thanks to you guys on this forum I have managed to keep my 1998 1100 shod with standard Showa items for the last 13 years. Thanks to all those who upgraded to other types of shock and sold their standard items to me ;-)

Unfortunately you've now all sold me your last front shocks and there are none left :-( so I'm going down the Hyperpro route. For the rear I've got two standard Showa items which I've had rebuilt and that I now rotate. Don't see any reason to do anything different than that for the rear and I cycle them every 25K or so. I'm interested to see what the Hyperpro will bring me.

 

[moly]

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!!!!

wilbers will build you a one off shock at no extra cost ........they are more forgiving for the road than ohlins, which are a race shock really !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Which is why I've ordered a basic hyperpro without remote preload.

Hyperpro will use the remote preload off your Showa shock if asked. Mine is rusted beyond belief, so, I didn't. fitted my wallet best. Ohlins look the best though!

Fitted my Hyperpro. It took a little time to get it setup correctly. It's a really good shock, even without the remote preload. They gave me exact figures on the box which are a little opaque if you know the square root of nothing about shocks but I'm finding two clicks on the rebound rate adjuster sorts out herself on the back (without luggage) perfectly. Had a nice day yesterday winding through Wicklow. Very happy with it.

Downside is that I'll need to manually wind on the preload if were going two up with all the luggage. Perhaps I should have saved for a little longer.

I'd also like to mention that I bought through Motorworks and whilst there were a few bumps in the road to getting me motoring happily, the UK distributer Performance Parts, have looked after me impeccably and for that I am grateful So thanks to both companies for being accommodating and professional.

Great having a new shock though. Makes all the difference Does the front really do anything though? Is it worth changing?

 

[FLASH]

Does the front really do anything though? Is it worth changing?

Not biting....

 

[Neil W]

On my old 1150 I found that in 9 years I never actually had to adjust the front shock setting, when I got the standards rebuilt and added Hyperpro springs I noticed that the overhauled rear made a big difference but I ran the bike with both a standard front shock and the refurbished/Hyperpro combination on the front and felt no apprecialble difference.

The standard 1150 stuff is streets ahead of the crap they fit on the non esa 1200 adventures ( 2700 miles on an 11 regd bike and the rear on mine is goosed)

 

[MattW]

Maxton information

Rather than start another thread, I'll resurrect this one to add something regarding Maxton shocks for 1100's

After an email chat with Martin at Maxton, he tells me that their 1100 shock (which includes fully adjustable rebound / compression damping) has the preload adjuster ring on the bottom of the shock body unlike most others which place it at the top.

This means that their non-hydraulic pre-load shock can be adjusted for preload with the shock in situ. While not as handy as the remote preoad option, it may be useful for anyone who is cash strapped / doesn't fancy spending 1/3 to 1/2 the value of their bike on a shock (like me).

The 'manual' preload shock costs £415 +vat, hydraulic preload adds £250 +vat

Still not bargain basement but they are by all accounts a high quality unit.

I think I'm probably going to get one of the non-hydraulic units.