I didn't know they did an ESA version - do they? How much?
Wilbers or Ohlins
- Thread starter Straydog
- Start date
I didn't know they did an ESA version - do they? How much?
Perhaps they meant they cannot rebuild them.
Having modded suspension on many bikes I have found most can be rebuilt by someone somewhere, and one company may have found a way to rebuild something another company cannot.
I have used MH Racing, Maxton and MCT (plus others) over the years and where Maxton did not want to touch my ZZR rear shock MCT did a grand job on re-working it.
The terms rebuild / refurbish / rework / re-condition / re-valve can also mean many things to many people.
A refurbishment could mean chainging the oil, or maybe also re-gassing, possibly include replacing seals. If someone changed my engine oil I would not consider that I have had my engine "re-furbished" or "re-conditioned".
None of these terms have any real meaning, but I would say the majority of small businesses in this market are pretty honest.
MCT are my preferred supplier as I have used them a fair bit and always had honest advice, fair prices and excellent results, you can also sit and watch them work.
If going for any sort of re-work find out what you are getting, in my experience just re-gassing and re-oiling an OEM shock can do wonders for a relatively low cost, and is often a good option, but if seals are unavailable and the shock is older I would be more tempted to put the cash towards another unit as opposed to risk having the work negated by a blown seal a few months later.
Quality aftermarket items (Ohlins / Wilburs) are always going to be better than OE units, even re-worked OE units, but obviously at a premium.
I have often needed a wider range of adjustment, or wanted something the OE unit does not have (such as a remote pre-load adjuster) and if you need a different spring as well as a service of the OE unit the cost will be creeping much closer to that of a new shock.
Also consider the re-sale value of an Ohlins / Wilburs which will be 50%-75% of new cost - you will not get any of the money spent improving the OE shock back when you sell the bike.
I consider my machine a mobile savings accountand I my reckon pension fund depreciated more than my bike last year
All I can add is that my question was worded "can they be rebuilt" and the answer I got back was "No, they cannot be rebuilt". However, as you say there are probably different levels of definition here - I tend to work on the premise that it had to be built in the first place so surely it can be un-built? But I'm a layman on the subject at the end of the day so know nothing on the subject.
Revs Racing charge £1,275 for the pair - thats fitted and using your ESA shocks as the donor for the electronics.
Hi
I've just been told by my local BMW dealer (Cooper Tunbridge Wells) that my rear shock is leaking and was horrified to hear the guy tell me " about a £1000?". Refurb as the above sounds like the best option as I'm skint but he's miles away from me and I'm no mechanic and certainly don't want to start stripping the unit out to send it away. So can anyone recommend a suspension specialist closer to Kent?
Much appreciated guys and girls...
Steve
ihandyman247
Registered user
Try eBay , you should be able to peek up a good one for around £180
Let me know if you do go for a used unit. I need am looking for a used preload motor for my RT and I am keen to find out if I can use a GS one - I don't care if the shock is leaking.
I am willing to pay a reasonable amount - reasonable being the key word!
If there are any out there who may have a leaking ESA rear that is doing nowt pls get in touch.
I am willing to pay a reasonable amount - reasonable being the key word!
If there are any out there who may have a leaking ESA rear that is doing nowt pls get in touch.
Bendy toy
Registered user
Revs Racing in Birmingham will set up the WESA shocks to suit your needs weight, luggage, pillion, ride height, etc. They need the bike for a full day but you could ride up the day before and ride back after fitting. Or ride back the following day via the Cotswolds, Oxfordshire and The Downs.
Give them a call and judge for yourself.
Give them a call and judge for yourself.
I think some are "sealed", as in designed not to come apart (welded / rivetted up etc) some enterprising folk often find ways to "unseal" such things.
In other cases they can most likely easily be "un-built", but no spares are "available", often seals are of standard types and may actually be "available" if the type can be indentified, but most other parts will not be obtainable.
MCT are in Stowmarket which I am guessing is a bit closer to you
Apparently they do now do a 'plug and play' ESA system, but I didn't enquire how much as mine is too old for that and for me it's unnecessary, not yet reliable enough..............something else to go wrong.............like ABS!
Straydog
Registered user
CAtching up with the guys in MCT as they are closer than Revs 
CAtching up with the guys in MCT as they are closer than Revs
Had mine done by them. Had all the old ESA stuff removed and normal shocks fitted in place. You won't believe how much the ESA units weigh!!
If you end up going for WESA then you have to have your old ESA stripped apart. At least the mctechnics way you take all the old ESA off, replace with Wilbur's and then at least you can revert it back if and when you sell the bike.
Oh and NO warning lights come up when the ESA is unplugged!!
I don't miss the ESA on mine at all... The bike is now perfect, and have put 9000 miles on it since.
I have had 2 other bikes sorted by these guys, you won't be disappointed!!
So is ESA a waste of time then?
I didn't rate it when I had it, much prefer decent quality suspension instead
I didn't rate it when I had it, much prefer decent quality suspension instead
I personally like it and use it a lot although if I was buying new I might reconsider. Having gone for the WESA following the leaky OEM shocks (which can happen just as easily on non-ESA shocks) then I have great quality shocks and the convenience of ESA albeit with a price tag.
Must agree with JB.
Had it on the RT and the GT and then not on the GSA and never missed it. Found it more of novelty value as the settings were very generic so of little value as real settings.
Novelty value, that's a very good point
I have Wilbers on 1 bike & Ohlins on the other
On balance. I prefer Ohlins & of course they look so much tricker too
i agree. it seems to me to only be of any use to a rider who regularly rides with varying loads and/or terrain. IME even in those cases the damping is still poor.
to make it more useful, instead of simply varying the preload, they should use an air spring so that the spring rate could be adjusted on the go.
Good damping is paramount & needs to be adjusted properly
Once you have it, you won't regret it
Straydog
Registered user
MCT Stowbridge rear shock WESA fitted £710 they are expediting the fit which is all very appriecated. 
Devil
Registered user
Looks like the Ohlins Mechatronics are out, if you have an alarm or RDS they are not compatible.
I copied this comment from an earlier post, can anyone confirm that if your GSA has an alarm, ohlins mechatronics will not work or fit. I was about to order some, when I found this comment, the bmw dealership is aware my bikes alarmed, and they did not make any comment about incompatibility when they quoted for the ohlins inc fitting.. I still have the controller unit, that was fitted to my bike, before the dealership added the alarm.
Thx.
I copied this comment from an earlier post, can anyone confirm that if your GSA has an alarm, ohlins mechatronics will not work or fit. I was about to order some, when I found this comment, the bmw dealership is aware my bikes alarmed, and they did not make any comment about incompatibility when they quoted for the ohlins inc fitting.. I still have the controller unit, that was fitted to my bike, before the dealership added the alarm.
Thx.
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