Wilbers, Ohlins, or now Touratech?

[viz]

Recently had a set of custom Wilbers made up - Wilburs because a highly respected guy in my area recommended them *for my application*...

We went through a lot of trouble to get our (me and the missus) weights right, fully clothed and all the luggage we would take on a trip. Then also solo without luggage. What I got was a package that worked from the bottom of the adjustment scale and went up from there; old shocks I had adjusted right to the top with nothing left and at 27,000 miles sagged badly - and unevenly from the front. Now the sag is even, very even, and minimal (within spec).

Biggest improvements - first off: way improved steering, regardless of load. I'll stress that - WAY improved. Better turn in, minimal countersteer, no more saw-toothing. Next - way improved handling of slow speed bumps (no more bottoming out) and high speed bumps, with a large adjustment range on the remote canister for both.

I think that if you went the way I did, any shock manufacturer is going to cost, with Öhlins being at the top, by far. I paid AUD$2300 for front and rear - worth it? Yeah - I got a new bike out of it...


Rear, showing high speed (red) and low speed (blue) bump adjusment. Note rebound adjustment is on the bottom of the shock



Rear, showing remote preload.



Front - has rebound adjustment, something the stock unit did not have



viz

[longtallsally]

Well the track bike sold yesterday. I did some more research and I think Ohlins is the way I'm going.

This is for a few reasons, but primarily b/c it looks like we'll be staying in CA for a bit longer (there was a possibility a couple days ago that we were moving to CO) and since Dan was so good to me in the past, I think I can't go wrong there.

He's going to confer with the Ohlins guys as well since I told him that I jump the bike from time to time, so he's going one notch higher for the spring in the rear.

I've wanted shocks in the pig for 4 years, so this is really a big deal for me and I'm quite certain will make me fall in love with the bike all over again.

[longtallsally]

The new hotness! I can't wait to get them installed!



After telling Dan my weight, luggage and everything, he actually said he'd like to go up one more step in the spring from what Ohlins suggested in the rear. So we'll see, but I'm quite certain it will be a night and day improvement on the bike.

[Shred Head Fred]

I just got new TTX setup for my '07 GSA ADV and I'm in the process of installing. It's been a bit more work than I had expected, but hope to be up and running over the weekend. I want to give Dan at Kyle Racing a big for help and service on the purchase. If you haven't looked at the new TTX (twin tube) design you should take the time to study the hydraulic schmatics and compare to earlier models.

[viz]

Originally Posted by longtallsally

The new hotness! I can't wait to get them installed!



After telling Dan my weight, luggage and everything, he actually said he'd like to go up one more step in the spring from what Ohlins suggested in the rear. So we'll see, but I'm quite certain it will be a night and day improvement on the bike.

Are able to let us know how much?

viz

[eatpasta]

Originally Posted by drdfblackm

What about Elka????

http://www.elkasuspension.com/

Yeah Brice I have had a set of Elka's on my GS for years now. If I had to do it again I would go with the three ways but I still like them pretty well.
Being able to adjust compression on the fly is pretty sweet....

[eatpasta]

Originally Posted by longtallsally

The new hotness! I can't wait to get them installed!



After telling Dan my weight, luggage and everything, he actually said he'd like to go up one more step in the spring from what Ohlins suggested in the rear. So we'll see, but I'm quite certain it will be a night and day improvement on the bike.

.... heh just saw this..... nevermind on the Elka front.




those look freakin sweet dood

[Shred Head Fred]

Got my Ohlin’s installed but not without a few setbacks. This upgrade was for my '07 GSA 1200 Adventurer which I purchased used with 3600 miles. The previous owner was a big guy and replaced the front only with the Elka system. After pricing a replacement spring (softer) and purchasing a new rear Elka to match the front I decided to shop around. That's when I read about the TTX's. I was lurking on Vendor forum and notice a group buy through Kyle Racing. The discount was 20% plus no 2013 price increase of 5%. The price shipped was $1900. That's lots o beer money, but I'm excited to give them a test ride this weekend.
For the front install you have to move the tank back to get to the top shock mount, remove lower crash bars, and belt cover. Then with the bike on the stand and the front wheel in a vise I jacked up the motor until I could remove the old shock. Since the new shock didn't come with hardware it’s assumed you have existing stock hardware. Wrong, Elka has a 10 mm x 1.5 threaded head stud and stock BMW is 10mm x 1.25. Sure enough I convinced myself it was just a tight thread and proceeded to tighten the upper nut about 1/8". Just enough to x#!^ up the thread. So I called Dan at Kyle and he promptly had Ohlin’s send out a replacement stud at NO charge. Thanks Dan and Ohlin’s. I was wondering why an aftermarket company would not stay with the standard pitch thread. Oh well.
So I got my new stub and replace it very carefully. Had to heat up the stud and upper mount and use jam nuts to remove because of thread locker. Another setback was the lower Torx 10MM x 50mm. Again the previous owner reassembled using a complete tube of RED Loctite. It was on the entire 50mm length. So by the time I got the bolt out it was time to replace. Thanks BMW $11.50 each but it comes with the Loctite already applied. So all is back together and on to the rear.
Remove the seats, the muffler, pannier rack, aftermarket mud sling if you have one. After that is was pretty quick, except for the cleaning of all the parts before reassemble. Tonight I am planning on doing all the measurements and adjustments. If the freezing fog let up I will do a shakedown ride.

[longtallsally]

Got them installed and went for a ride on Sunday. WOW! It's a new motorcycle.

I've not touched the settings, but it was like the bike was all new again. I can still drag stuff, but I gotta try REALLY hard and I suspect even in that case, if I bump up the preload in the rear it would make it harder still. I jumped a few curbs and it felt the same but better and not like I was going to bash stuff all the time.

Oh yeah, this was on a set of 4 year old worn out K60s too.

I also hit a bit when I was on a favorite road where apex was a dip in the road as you power out, but to keep that from happening would be too much of a compromise for all other aspects of riding.

I probably need to adjust the damping a bit here and there, but overall worth every penny and I'm mad I didn't do it sooner.

The bottom line is that it's now back to me being able to ride the bike to my skill level and it reacts how I want it to as opposed to having to compensate for a poorly set up machine.

[Tbone]

It's nice when you spend the $ and it's worth it.100k on my ohlins with no issue (just service every 40-50K) I put a shock sock on my front and it still looks like new!

[justinallen03]

Ordered them from Dave at fast bike industries...will be here tomorrow! Looking forward, but it's gonna be another week or so to get them on while I have to wait for my GSA sidestand and centerstand to arrive (thats right, I went to GSA spec boingers for my GS ).

Can't wait to feel what this machine can do then!

[justinallen03]

If you don't mind, could you post pics of the preload adjuster on the bike? I'm trying to figure out how I want to orient it and looking for ideas. I wish they would have just mounted it to the shock.