Wilbers or Ohlins

[Straydog]

not a clue in this area so would like some advice.

2009 ESA Adv, come back form service and rear shock is leaking..

Options
BMW replacement unit, Ohlins (ttx39 ? I believe) or...Wilburs?

Suggestions greatly appreciated..

 

[Beemerman59]

I had same issue at 30K. Opted for Wilburs WESA. There might be a difference between these and Ohlins but I doubt it would be something I could actually detect and its twice the price in real terms once your shock is knackered. I didn't see the point of getting the OEM's again - they're not rebuildable and have a 2 year warranty. The Wilburs have a 5 year warranty and can be rebuilt. The only thing to remember with the Wilburs is that it uses the electronics off your existing set up so make sure thats in good order otherwise the expense goes up.

I have only put a few hundred miles on them but very happy so far. They're firmer than OEM but thats OK for me plus there's a noticeable difference in the damping rates between comfort and sport. You really do notice the difference much more than the standard OEM set up. Where I would previously be in Normal mode I can now run in Comfort. You can even tell the difference which setting you're in when taking the bike off the sidestand - I couldn't tell that before on the OEM. I would also be in a higher pre-load setting on the OEM shocks - on the Wilburs because they're built to my weight, I can run the advertised setting so to speak.

Recommend the lads at Revs Racing who are great guys to deal with.

 

[Straydog]

Mine is leaking at 9400miles,

BMW is about £1100 odd, I think the ohlins are about £900+ will check wilburs, for price,

Thanks!

 

[APE]

Ohlins

 

[dippy]

have you thought about having the old ones refurbished? I had my rear one rebuilt by him a few months ago, £180 or there abouts

http://www.mhracing.com

 

[Straydog]

Dippy I thought you couldn't have the BMW ones redone.. interesting info.

 

[dippy]

I was surprised too, he mentioned that he'd had a few BMW units in and that they were poorly built but would be much better when refurbished with decent gas/oil etc time will tell, I've had 3 rear shocks go and always replaced with new units from BMW so it'll be interesting to see how this one does.

 

[Straydog]

Spoke to http://www.mhracing.com

£1275 fitted front and back not bad drive in drive out.

£575 for rear shock only recommend to get front and back done.

Ohlinx TTX 39 whatever is approx £1200 + fitting,

BMW depending on dealer going from £1275 - £1400.

 

[Beemerman59]

Are you comparing ESA unit pricing here or standard shocks? The Ohlins ESA front & back is £2,750.

The WESA from Wilburs front and back is £1,275 fitted.

I think the OEM BMW front and back ESA shocks are £1,600.

Revs Racing told me (and I don't have a reason not to trust them) that the OEM ESA shocks cannot be rebuilt. Maybe the standard ones can but not the ESA version. If you can then I will have mine done so I can resell them.

 

[Straydog]

Beemerman yes ESA.

I was quoted for the WESA front and back, and just the back.

Rear alone on BMW replacement.

Ohlins i only have the rear price without fitting.

I am getting the feeling its better to replace allround, and not just the rear..

Ho f!... Ho merry Christmas .

 

[Bendy toy]

My 08 GSA had a new ESA rear shock fitted by BMW at the last service. Its now showing 33K miles so the shock I have is pretty new, but the old one must have done more than 25K.

If asked I would go for Wilburs from Revs racing Birmingham. They will replace front and back ESA shocks for about £1300 with their usual personalised service. They told me that they cant give any idea of the expect life of BMW shocks because so many owners change for Wilburs long before they are worn out. It might be worth asking if they know someone who's just done that who wants to sell his old shocks.

 

[Straydog]

Sorry it was http://www.revsracing.co.uk/wilbers.php not mchracing.

 

[Wapping]

Spoke to http://www.mhracing.com

As you are in Colchester, give MCT a call, too.

http://www.mctsuspension.com/home.htm

 

[Straydog]

Thanks Wapping will do!

 

[Straydog]

Looks like the Ohlins Mechatronics are out, if you have an alarm or RDS they are not compatible.
Wilburs... WESA.. seems to be the go.

 

[ihandyman247]

Ohlins all the way !
Front

Back

 

[kimbo]

I had WESA fitted about 2 months ago at REVS and put around 600miles on since then.

The difference for me is remarkable; so much better than the OEM unit. I feel it's the best money I've spent on the bike.

 

[Straydog]

I dont disagree about Ohlins, but at £2400 for the kit plus fitting and if you have RDR or an alarm they are incompatible.

IF MCT answer the bloody phone will see what front and back WESA by them will be,

 

[Rasher]

Revs Racing told me (and I don't have a reason not to trust them) that the OEM ESA shocks cannot be rebuilt.

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 account and I my reckon pension fund depreciated more than my bike last year

 

[(RIP) Arkwright]

Hyperpro

There is also Hyperpro, seem to have the reputation for being a bit more robust over rough territory and a bit more cost effective. DAMHIK