suspension preload. aftermarket shocks?
Moderators: slparry, Gromit, Paul
suspension preload. aftermarket shocks?
i am due to upgrade the suspension on my s. i would prefer to keep the hydraulic preload system as i switch from solo to pillion quite often. i will consider ohlins but would like to know of any other makes which have the hydraulic preload system. what prices are we looking at and does anyone supply the complete service ie fitting etc.
Welcome CCmac, tis' about time we had another S owner here on Merseyside. As for new sussies, have a look here http://www.esling.btinternet.co.uk/maxton/
Maxton have a very good reputation and are close to you in Frodsham, and the price? I reckon you wont get much change out of a grand.
Steve
Maxton have a very good reputation and are close to you in Frodsham, and the price? I reckon you wont get much change out of a grand.
Steve
Well-weathered leather
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Hot metal and oil
The scented country air
Sunlight on chrome
The blur of the landscape
Every nerve aware
Wilbers seems to be rather good, and I'm considering to purchase a set to replace the worn out standards.
http://www.wilbers.de
HJ
http://www.wilbers.de
HJ
If your considering Wilbers then consider Technoflex. They're not happy bunnies when it comes to Wilbers. 
http://technoflex-suspension.net/ENG/Ho ... e_eng.html
http://technoflex-suspension.net/ENG/Ho ... e_eng.html
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sybecs@supaday.com
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2005 7:06 pm
- Location: chesterfield
shocks
I bought soom Wilbours earlier this year after taking advice from her and everywhere and the one thing that made me make my mind up was THE PRICE and wilbours basically cost less due to the exchange rate. Probs are you have to wait. I got mine through John Boriella [could be spelt wrong]real good service built to my spec 5 year warr.adjust preload,ride height,rebound on front rear remote preload,and rebound,also built to any length. £650 Differance on bike amazing 
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m25jambuster
- Posts: 407
- Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2004 6:44 pm
- Location: At home :-(
Shocks
Hopefully Andrew Spruce will be along soon - from what I remember he had Wilbers suspension on the front and rear of his 's'. He would probably be a good person to ask about the quality of these items.
Two weeks ago I put a brand new set of Wilbers shocks under my ole '99 'er S.
Being Dutch I bought the basic model: only pre-load and rebound damping adjustable. For hydraulic pre-load adjuster (with a knob) you'll pay €209,- extra on top of the base price of €435,- !
The difference with the (worn out +70.000 mls) standard shocks is, as to be expected, huge!
I did buy the sport/tour shocks, but wonder if the 'sports' would have been a better choice for me. Compared to the old ones, these Wilbers make a VERY smooth ride. The front is really tracking any road surface now. Though I gave both front and rear a few clicks extra damping (and the rear 10 mm more ride height for the Assen racetrack), I still find them not firm enough. Under hard accelleration there's a bit more movement in the suspension then I'm used to.
While I've done only a few hundred miles with the new pair, it's too early to make any statements 'bout their quality.
HJ
Being Dutch I bought the basic model: only pre-load and rebound damping adjustable. For hydraulic pre-load adjuster (with a knob) you'll pay €209,- extra on top of the base price of €435,- !
The difference with the (worn out +70.000 mls) standard shocks is, as to be expected, huge!
I did buy the sport/tour shocks, but wonder if the 'sports' would have been a better choice for me. Compared to the old ones, these Wilbers make a VERY smooth ride. The front is really tracking any road surface now. Though I gave both front and rear a few clicks extra damping (and the rear 10 mm more ride height for the Assen racetrack), I still find them not firm enough. Under hard accelleration there's a bit more movement in the suspension then I'm used to.
While I've done only a few hundred miles with the new pair, it's too early to make any statements 'bout their quality.
HJ
CC Mac,
Go for the Wilbers, buy from John Borella in the States. The shocks can be made to your requirements and made a big difference to the bike.
The bike was on rails around bends. Even 2 up on the most bumpy of surfaces the bike would remain unflustered.
Andrew
Go for the Wilbers, buy from John Borella in the States. The shocks can be made to your requirements and made a big difference to the bike.
The bike was on rails around bends. Even 2 up on the most bumpy of surfaces the bike would remain unflustered.
Andrew
A man can fall many times in life but is never a failure until he refuses to get up
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winger
Gents don't think buying shocks per say is the A'all and B'all of suspension,i'll take a bog stock S with a Verholen arm that raises the rear ride height and makes the bike steer quicker over any aftermarket suspension you can name.
Andrew sings the praises of his Wilburs,what he doesn't tell you,his S has the rear raised as high as any S i've seen.
What people have to realise if you go for tall aftermarket shocks front and rear,you will either need a rear shock with a ride height ajuster or a Verholen para arm,the combo of the two will get the job done,BUT you also end up with a very tall bike,which so long as you ain't a short arse doesn't matter!!!!.
The very reason why i've had had an aftermarket shock on the back for some years and left the front stock,the way the bike steers is just as important at the ride quality
If you ride two up,go for a remote preload ajuster cuz you'll soon get fed up of useing a C spanner.
Chris
Andrew sings the praises of his Wilburs,what he doesn't tell you,his S has the rear raised as high as any S i've seen.
What people have to realise if you go for tall aftermarket shocks front and rear,you will either need a rear shock with a ride height ajuster or a Verholen para arm,the combo of the two will get the job done,BUT you also end up with a very tall bike,which so long as you ain't a short arse doesn't matter!!!!.
The very reason why i've had had an aftermarket shock on the back for some years and left the front stock,the way the bike steers is just as important at the ride quality
If you ride two up,go for a remote preload ajuster cuz you'll soon get fed up of useing a C spanner.
Chris
Chris,
My rear wilbers had ride height adjustment. And yes being 6 foot tall did help, but the bike was set up for me so could be adjusted for anyone.
The bike was stable in all conditions, and the rear hyd prelaod adjuster was a must for 2 up riding.
Andrew
My rear wilbers had ride height adjustment. And yes being 6 foot tall did help, but the bike was set up for me so could be adjusted for anyone.
The bike was stable in all conditions, and the rear hyd prelaod adjuster was a must for 2 up riding.
Andrew
A man can fall many times in life but is never a failure until he refuses to get up
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winger
Hi Andrew
I realise that you paid someone to set the bike up for you,and even after all these years of the S being on the market, people still get confused,what i'm getting at, is how the bike steers has got nothing to do with a haveing a pair of aftermarket shocks, their two completely different issues.
Chris
I realise that you paid someone to set the bike up for you,and even after all these years of the S being on the market, people still get confused,what i'm getting at, is how the bike steers has got nothing to do with a haveing a pair of aftermarket shocks, their two completely different issues.
Chris
Got it sorted now. Just some extra clicks .... the right way round this time. That sure made it feel more firm and stable!I did buy the sport/tour shocks, but wonder if the 'sports' would have been a better choice for me. Compared to the old ones, these Wilbers make a VERY smooth ride. The front is really tracking any road surface now. Though I gave both front and rear a few clicks extra damping (and the rear 10 mm more ride height for the Assen racetrack), I still find them not firm enough. Under hard accelleration there's a bit more movement in the suspension then I'm used to.
HJ