Wobs
Registered user
Well, I bit the bullet and replaced stock springs and shocks with Wilbers ESA.
Trouble was I've still got an 1150GS with Wilbers manual shocks and that rides and handles beautifully and when I got the RT I was a little bit underwhelmed by the suspension. In fairness the RT has done 32,000 miles so maybe the shocks were a bit past their best. They just felt harsh to me and there really didn't seem much difference between the various damper settings although the pre-load was effective. I found myself steering round small bumps and backing right off on bends or roundabouts if I spotted any uneven surface. At speed it just felt like the suspension couldn't keep up. I've not long had the RT and even whinged about it's stability on this forum.
I'd bought the RT really to do a job. To get me backwards and forwards quickly and comfortably year round from Devon to the south east. A 500 mile round trip that I often do in a day. Can take forever in a car especially in the summer (caravans!!) and the GS was getting a bit wearing doing that sort of trip as I get older.
But now having acted on advice from people on here and putting pressures up to 36F/42R even when solo, sticking a new front tyre on, widening the bars to get a bit more leverage (more like a GS
) and now sticking decent shocks and springs on, it is really like a new bike. No more of that twitch and snatch when changing lanes at speed over big cat's eyes. No more being thrown out of the seat when hitting unexpected bumps. But most importantly the confidence to just continue leaning the bike even when I spot a lumpy bit on my line and not back off, sit up and run wide.
In the RT vs GS debate I absolutely agree with all those who say it's down to familiarity with what you know. You get on something new and those unfamiliar things just feel wrong. I've had the GS for 13 years and only bought the RT a couple of months ago. I'd happily be telling everybody who'd listen that I love my GS but have a love /hate relationship with the RT. Now I'm starting to love the RT a bit more. And the RT is a great bike. A much stronger smoother twin cam motor than the 1150, comfortable and that 'leccy screen is just the dog's.
But back to the shocks, I said before that it was the best thing I ever did to the GS. Now I'm gonna be saying the same about putting them on to the RT.
And this isn't a bling and farkles thing. You can't see those orange Wilbers springs under all that body work and the ESA works off the same button. But you can certainly feel that they're there. Bit of a sleeper thing. Oh yeah, and they're much cheaper than OEM BMW suspension and come with a 5 year warranty.
So many thanks to John and Nick at Revs for fitting them, making the tea and taking the time to answer my stupid questions.
Trouble was I've still got an 1150GS with Wilbers manual shocks and that rides and handles beautifully and when I got the RT I was a little bit underwhelmed by the suspension. In fairness the RT has done 32,000 miles so maybe the shocks were a bit past their best. They just felt harsh to me and there really didn't seem much difference between the various damper settings although the pre-load was effective. I found myself steering round small bumps and backing right off on bends or roundabouts if I spotted any uneven surface. At speed it just felt like the suspension couldn't keep up. I've not long had the RT and even whinged about it's stability on this forum.
I'd bought the RT really to do a job. To get me backwards and forwards quickly and comfortably year round from Devon to the south east. A 500 mile round trip that I often do in a day. Can take forever in a car especially in the summer (caravans!!) and the GS was getting a bit wearing doing that sort of trip as I get older.
But now having acted on advice from people on here and putting pressures up to 36F/42R even when solo, sticking a new front tyre on, widening the bars to get a bit more leverage (more like a GS
) and now sticking decent shocks and springs on, it is really like a new bike. No more of that twitch and snatch when changing lanes at speed over big cat's eyes. No more being thrown out of the seat when hitting unexpected bumps. But most importantly the confidence to just continue leaning the bike even when I spot a lumpy bit on my line and not back off, sit up and run wide.In the RT vs GS debate I absolutely agree with all those who say it's down to familiarity with what you know. You get on something new and those unfamiliar things just feel wrong. I've had the GS for 13 years and only bought the RT a couple of months ago. I'd happily be telling everybody who'd listen that I love my GS but have a love /hate relationship with the RT. Now I'm starting to love the RT a bit more. And the RT is a great bike. A much stronger smoother twin cam motor than the 1150, comfortable and that 'leccy screen is just the dog's.
But back to the shocks, I said before that it was the best thing I ever did to the GS. Now I'm gonna be saying the same about putting them on to the RT.
And this isn't a bling and farkles thing. You can't see those orange Wilbers springs under all that body work and the ESA works off the same button. But you can certainly feel that they're there. Bit of a sleeper thing. Oh yeah, and they're much cheaper than OEM BMW suspension and come with a 5 year warranty.
So many thanks to John and Nick at Revs for fitting them, making the tea and taking the time to answer my stupid questions.
. But you're right, decent shocks do just give you so much more confidence. I now do all my biking without SWMBO, whose knee won't let her get on anything trickier than a sofa, so specced the springs and damping rates for just me and luggage.
