Took the plunge on a used set of Wilbers - R1150GS

[tagesk]

385 mm; does not depend on the preload.

[TaSK]

[Jazz62]

Originally Posted by tagesk

385 mm; does not depend on the preload.

[TaSK]

Thank you very much.

[tagesk]

Here you are.
The threading starts right at the opening of the hole.
As you can see the bolt extends a little just as it leaves the threads.

Hope this helps.

[TaSK]

[tagesk]

How did it go?

As I was installing mine this morning I noticed that my bolt was a tiny little bit bent.
I noticed because it was hard to get in.
You bolt might also be bent; then you would start to unscrew without problems.
But when the bent part arrives at the "leftmost hole" it gets stuck.
If this is the case for you (too), you need to apply force as you twist it out.

[TaSK]

[Jazz62]

Originally Posted by tagesk

How did it go?[TaSK]

Yes, it finally came out. In my case it appears I had applied too much thread-sealer (loctite 2xx) and the excess was causing problems. Of course I was doing this without removing exhaust so had limited space/force to work with. I think the problem with the excess loctite would not even have been noticeable if the exhaust was removed. My special tools finally got it un-stuck. Special tools in this case were two asparagus knives placed under the bolt head and then slight prying force.

I see your pretty blue Wilbers there in the photo.

I sold the Wilbers set which created this thread just yesterday to a gentleman that wanted to lower his 1150GS.

So my search begins! I can't afford a new front and rear set of shocks so will just get the rear first. The prices are astonishing. Even a Hyperpro with just the remote preload adjuster is almost $900!

I'm waiting to hear a price for similar Wilbers. It's hard for me to justify spending that kind of money on a 12 yr old bike with 65K miles but the stock units are useless.

[mcstark]

Jazz - If you still have the original shocks, give Sasquatch a holler. He's an inmate on here and does a top-notch job rebuilding/upgrading OEM shocks. I had him revalve and respring the rear shock on my old F650 and it did wonders for the bike. It should only run the price of one new shock.

Here's his website: http://www.sasquatchrider.com/.

His name is Jay.

[Jazz62]

Originally Posted by mcstark

Jazz - If you still have the original shocks, give Sasquatch a holler. He's an inmate on here and does a top-notch job rebuilding/upgrading OEM shocks. I had him revalve and respring the rear shock on my old F650 and it did wonders for the bike. It should only run the price of one new shock.

Here's his website: http://www.sasquatchrider.com/.

His name is Jay.

Thanks Mark - Yeah I've heard about Jay before but I don't want to miss out on any riding having the shocks off the bike. Maybe I missed something in your post but what would be the benefit of having the oem shock revalved and resprung if it's the same cost as a new shock? Or did you mean it's the same cost as a new oem shock?

[mcstark]

Originally Posted by Jazz62

Thanks Mark - Yeah I've heard about Jay before but I don't want to miss out on any riding having the shocks off the bike. Maybe I missed something in your post but what would be the benefit of having the oem shock revalved and resprung if it's the same cost as a new shock? Or did you mean it's the same cost as a new oem shock?

Jazz - The pair should cost what one aftermarket shock would. It was $450 for the rear Showa on my F650. Might be a little more for the 1150 shocks. Jay swapped the spring out to match my riding weight, then swapped the stock internals for all Race Tech components and put a tap on it for nitrogen so it can be serviced again.

Call Jay. He turned my shock around in two days, so I only missed a week of riding.

[Jazz62]

Originally Posted by mcstark

Call Jay. He turned my shock around in two days, so I only missed a week of riding.

Ah OK - gotcha. Just sent him an email through his site.