Did you adjust the rebound damping on the wilbers ? A hard, bumpy ride can be caused by too much rebound damping. Also did you go for the standard spring rate or was this tailored for your weight when you ordered them ?
Wilbers or Öhlins to transform the bike?
- Thread starter arrjo
- Start date
Today before I took it to the dealers I fiddled around with the different settings of the Wilbers and I managed to make the bike pretty darn soft and comfy both front and back but still when riding over a pothole the bike kind of jerks and doesn't cope with harsh terrain as it should.
The suspension was tailored to my weight.
I believe that it must be possible to make my bike REALLY comfortable with the Wilbers. I just need to find out what causes the bike to be jerky when riding over harsh potholes.
The suspension was tailored to my weight.
I believe that it must be possible to make my bike REALLY comfortable with the Wilbers. I just need to find out what causes the bike to be jerky when riding over harsh potholes.
I am finding my ESA rear suspension quite hard on bumps whatever my setting. I don't recall it being this way before in the 3 years I've had the bike and I think the issue has gradually happened so that now I notice it. The suspension in essence seems to be working OK, so I'm not convinced the harshness is cause by the suspension at all. Putting new tyres on it helped but not completely. At the next service I'm going to pull the Final Drive and inspect the pivot pins/bearings and see if that might be causing the issue. It is worse on ripples in the road where there's little movement required but quick response in damping. If the pivot bearings are starting to fail I think this would also cause the same problem.
the wilbers will soften up as the miles go on.
Just fitted Wilburs rear to my Tenere, it both firmed it up and made it more comfy - exactly what it did with the GS.
The better quality damping really gives a smooth compliant ride over bumps, yet feels more controlled over bumps.
IMO the GS does feel more "clunky" over bumps which at the front I put down to the Telelever - but overall I love the telelever and miss it.
On the rear I think it is probably the combination of no rising linkage and possibly the shaft drive system - either way the Yamaha has always felt smoother over bumps.
Even so my bike still clatters over bumps to a degree, as will any light vehicle, you ain't gonna get Rolls Royce ride quality from a motorcycle.
At least the Wilburs is easy to sell on at a fair price so you can get a chunk of your money back, and someone else gets a great deal on better suspension.
Look forward to seeing the description of your GS on your for sale advert
The better quality damping really gives a smooth compliant ride over bumps, yet feels more controlled over bumps.
IMO the GS does feel more "clunky" over bumps which at the front I put down to the Telelever - but overall I love the telelever and miss it.
On the rear I think it is probably the combination of no rising linkage and possibly the shaft drive system - either way the Yamaha has always felt smoother over bumps.
Even so my bike still clatters over bumps to a degree, as will any light vehicle, you ain't gonna get Rolls Royce ride quality from a motorcycle.
At least the Wilburs is easy to sell on at a fair price so you can get a chunk of your money back, and someone else gets a great deal on better suspension.
Look forward to seeing the description of your GS on your for sale advert
Hi Beemerman, I think that my bikes problem isn't the suspension either (at first I thought so but now I pretty sure it's something else). Ripples on the road are an agony to ride on my bike, the bike almost loses control an I have to hold on really tight.
I'm not expecting Rolls Royce smoothness but I want my bike to work as well as the rest of the 1200GSs out there. At the moment it is far more uncomfortable. If I manage to get this problem sorted then I won't have to go through the pain of selling the bike (i've spent a great deal of time/money tailoring the bike to my liking).
Thanks guys for chipping in on the discussion
Good to hear your opinions and advice Bit the bullet
Finally at 30K miles I have had this decision made for me as I'm getting an oil weep from the rear unit. So I have ordered up a set of Wilburs WESA's for my weight as I just cannot justify the cost of the Ohlin's to myself. After speaking to Jon at Revsracing and going through everything I decided to get them fitted for me as well so I will have a day to walk around the black country in a couple of weeks time.
Finally at 30K miles I have had this decision made for me as I'm getting an oil weep from the rear unit. So I have ordered up a set of Wilburs WESA's for my weight as I just cannot justify the cost of the Ohlin's to myself. After speaking to Jon at Revsracing and going through everything I decided to get them fitted for me as well so I will have a day to walk around the black country in a couple of weeks time.
prwatts
Registered user
Please can you tell me what basic setup I should try for GSA Ohlins on my GS. I weigh 100kg.
What should the sag be?
Thanks
Peter
What should the sag be?
Thanks
Peter
kimbo
Registered user
For what it's worth, I'm really really hoping Wilbers will transform my bike........ Mainly because I'm sitting here typing this as the WESA is being fitted 
Constellation
Registered user
Revs racing
I can't offer any sage advice to the OP about his suspension problem but I can say that Jon at Revs Racing is a top bloke who sorted me out with some custom WESA Wilbers last week.. In all it took about three weeks to order up the parts from Germany and for Revs to fit them. They are a really small outfit based in Halesowen and you are unlikely to find two nicer blokes.
I went the replacement route because the rear damper expired on me a month back. To say that I am unimpressed with this after 14,000 miles and three years is something of an understatment.
All I need to do now is find someone prepared to insure a bike parked on a London street overnight and fitted with non-factory suspension because the BMW scheme ain't interested. And I guess this is a point that anyone planning to fit non-factory suspension needs to be aware of - you ought to tell your insurers that you've done the mod. Whether you do or not is entirely one for your own conscience.
I can't offer any sage advice to the OP about his suspension problem but I can say that Jon at Revs Racing is a top bloke who sorted me out with some custom WESA Wilbers last week.
. In all it took about three weeks to order up the parts from Germany and for Revs to fit them. They are a really small outfit based in Halesowen and you are unlikely to find two nicer blokes.I went the replacement route because the rear damper expired on me a month back. To say that I am unimpressed with this after 14,000 miles and three years is something of an understatment.
All I need to do now is find someone prepared to insure a bike parked on a London street overnight and fitted with non-factory suspension because the BMW scheme ain't interested. And I guess this is a point that anyone planning to fit non-factory suspension needs to be aware of - you ought to tell your insurers that you've done the mod. Whether you do or not is entirely one for your own conscience.
For what it's worth, I'm really really hoping Wilbers will transform my bike........ Mainly because I'm sitting here typing this as the WESA is being fitted
I'm having my WESA fitted on Monday. Any recommendations where to go while they're doing it?
I can't offer any sage advice to the OP about his suspension problem but I can say that Jon at Revs Racing is a top bloke who sorted me out with some custom WESA Wilbers last week.
I went the replacement route because the rear damper expired on me a month back. To say that I am unimpressed with this after 14,000 miles and three years is something of an understatment.
All I need to do now is find someone prepared to insure a bike parked on a London street overnight and fitted with non-factory suspension because the BMW scheme ain't interested. And I guess this is a point that anyone planning to fit non-factory suspension needs to be aware of - you ought to tell your insurers that you've done the mod. Whether you do or not is entirely one for your own conscience.
I'm already with BMW Insurance and am having the WESA fitted on Monday. Did they refuse to add it to the policy? I already have my other additions covered so was planning to do the same with the WESA.
For what it's worth, I'm really really hoping Wilbers will transform my bike........ Mainly because I'm sitting here typing this as the WESA is being fitted
Hopefully it did.
Unfortunately for me 3 months later my rear WESA still isn't working properly
What's not working - the shock or the ESA?
kimbo
Registered user
They'll drop you off at a local bike shop with a lovely cafe
Initial impressions after 50 miles ; much more sure footed and confidence inspiring and all the ESA settings seem to work. Early days of course.
What with the akrapovic can yesterday, WESA today and remapping at Hilltop tomorrow this is one bloody expensive weekend!!!!
Mind you, less expensive than my last weekend in Amsterdam
and more to show for it 
rudiemoto
Registered user
The shock is no longer adjustable for damping and the only way to adjust the pre-load is manually by connecting directly to the battery.
Make sure all is ok with your stepper motors etc or you could be like me with an expensive non ESA compatible product.
i do like my non ESA wilbers
Probably a good job reallyMind you, less expensive than my last weekend in Amsterdam
Just checked mine prior to Monday's install. GS911 shows no faults when cycling between all the preload modes and damping cycles. I can also hear the steppers when going through the damping cycles with engine off. So alls good.
Just downloaded the latest beta version for the GS911 and there's now the ability to read the Tyre Pressure Monitors (I need to have a play with that one).
