Fast, easy, great suspension

thumper-darryl · 09-09-2012, 02:38 PM

Just got my 2010 F800 GS back from Anderwerks in Calgary. It is now a different bike. One phone call and they ordered up both the new Ohlins complete fork internals, and rear shock, both sprung and valved for my weight and riding style. They did the work and I was on the road with suspension equal to my re-worked KTM dirt bikes. The front fork dive that the 800 did on decell--gone, the rear squat under quick acceleration--gone, the chatter on wash-board--COMPLETELY gone. It does not even feel like the same bike. So this is not off-the-shelf parts, but kits from Ohlins USA re-worked for the customer. Amazing results and a simple process, with no playing around with fork oils, springs, valving. I have to do NOTHING, just ride it.
I had previously changed to heavier springs and played with fork oil, in an attempt to get the 800 to perform like my 2012 KTM dirt bikes(pro-action suspension), but it still was seriously lacking. I am looking forward to my first outing on de-activated logging roads with the 2 ft cross ditches. After hitting a couple of parking blocks with great results I know the cross ditches will no longer give me grey hair like they use to.
Great job Anderwerks, and Ohlins USA

Jamm · 09-09-2012, 03:31 PM

looking forward to the review. How long did they have your bike and what did it set you back?

thumper-darryl · 09-09-2012, 08:06 PM

You will need to contact Anderwerks for pricing as we did some parts swapping. Won't be much more of a review for a while as my 800 goes into a crate destined for Austraila tomorrow, but the short ride I did it was very impressive.

sarathmenon · 09-09-2012, 08:08 PM

So did you take the Ohlins TTX set that touratech sells, or was it something else customized?

thumper-darryl · 09-09-2012, 09:51 PM

Not sure what Touratech sells, but Anderwerks got complete fork internals and a complete shock both sprung and valved for me.

Snowy · 09-10-2012, 01:38 AM

Do all the F800 owners a solid and find out what they used for the forks, the Ohlins USA kit, or the Ohlins Europe new product thingy.

It's of no consequence to me because I gave up on the F800. But some of the others are still suffering, so put them out of their misery.

I got sick and tired of ringing and emailing importers and manufacturers who can't be fucked replying. I wont spend a cent with people like that.

machinebuilder · 09-10-2012, 05:47 AM

I looked at the Ohlins stuff.

Ohlins USA uses a NIX cartridge $1690 + $350 installation. they want to do the machining themself.

Its setup with rebound in one leg and compression on the other.

the shock is about $1200.

There is a thread somewhere here where I review the Traxxion Dynamics forks and Wilbers shock.

It does feel like a completely different bike with a good suspension.

Foot dragger · 09-10-2012, 05:52 AM

So,around 3250.00 for suspension?I can see how that would indeed be fast,easy,great. I found a freshly redone Ohlin's on Craigslist for my 300 KTM, It was fast/easy/great for 300.00 total.

machinebuilder · 09-10-2012, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowy

I got sick and tired of ringing and emailing importers and manufacturers who can't be fucked replying. I wont spend a cent with people like that.

That's why I didn't consider RaceTech, no response to emails

Loutre · 09-10-2012, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by machinebuilder

That's why I didn't consider RaceTech, no response to emails

and that's why I consider the Level2 from Touratech. They always answere within the day and they are always super nice.

machinebuilder · 09-10-2012, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foot dragger

So,around 3250.00 for suspension?I can see how that would indeed be fast,easy,great. I found a freshly redone Ohlin's on Craigslist for my 300 KTM, It was fast/easy/great for 300.00 total.

There are less expensive options

the Traxxion Dynamics Fork upgrade was $1200 +$200install (I didn't have the time to do it)
there is a Bitubo Fork upgrade for about $600 (Reports here say it lasts about 10K mi)
You can change the oil and upgrade springs only for about $200 (does nothing for the poor valving)

Shocks all run about the same...........But if you don't get the Remote Preload and HI/Lo speed Compression adjusters you can get a Wilbers for about $570

It seems the Cartridge forks add a LOT of expense to upgrades.

I just didn't want to try something and be really dissapointed and then spend more going the next step. the othere suspension threads are full of people that did that. Some times you do get what you pay for.

OlyRider · 09-10-2012, 10:33 AM

" I just didn't want to try something and be really dissapointed and then spend more going the next step. the othere suspension threads are full of people that did that. Some times you do get what you pay for."

I bought old Husky 250 forks for $75, and used the internals to have my F800 forks rebuilt by a local dirt legend for $650. Revalved, re-sprung for my 210#. Also put a stiffer spring on the rear. Now I have adjustable *eveything* on the forks, and the bike was perfect from the start.

Very happy with the forks!!

Bayner · 09-10-2012, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OlyRider

" I just didn't want to try something and be really dissapointed and then spend more going the next step. the othere suspension threads are full of people that did that. Some times you do get what you pay for."

I bought old Husky 250 forks for $75, and used the internals to have my F800 forks rebuilt by a local dirt legend for $650. Revalved, re-sprung for my 210#. Also put a stiffer spring on the rear. Now I have adjustable *eveything* on the forks, and the bike was perfect from the start.

Very happy with the forks!!

Who did that for you (if you don't mind me asking, as I'm going the same route)?

HappyHighwayman · 09-10-2012, 04:28 PM

I just re-sprung my fork springs for $400 including parts and labor...I can't imagine spending another $3k on the bike since I'm pretty happy with it now.

Maybe if I knew I'd be putting 100k miles or more on it.

thumper-darryl · 09-10-2012, 09:09 PM

Fork kit was about $1680 CDN but requires no machining just set up.
I tried the Bitubo set up and it was a bunch better than stock, but traveling tons of rough roads and dirt trails left me not happy with the bike since I was use to properly reworked KTM dirt bikes. Now I am totally in love with this bike, so spending close to $3000 was well worth it. But it all depends on how you ride and what your expectations are. I get to ride some reworked KTM dual sport bikes and I was even considering switching, but there was so much that I prefer about the F800 it made sense to spend on the 800 rather than spend trying to make a KTM what the 800 offers me in other areas. I ride with a couple of other 800 riders who are quite happy with stock for the way they ride and stock fills their expectation. That is also OK.

09-09-2012, 02:38 PM	#1
thumper-darryl ^OP Adventurer Joined: Dec 2006 Oddometer: 51	Fast, easy, great suspension Just got my 2010 F800 GS back from Anderwerks in Calgary. It is now a different bike. One phone call and they ordered up both the new Ohlins complete fork internals, and rear shock, both sprung and valved for my weight and riding style. They did the work and I was on the road with suspension equal to my re-worked KTM dirt bikes. The front fork dive that the 800 did on decell--gone, the rear squat under quick acceleration--gone, the chatter on wash-board--COMPLETELY gone. It does not even feel like the same bike. So this is not off-the-shelf parts, but kits from Ohlins USA re-worked for the customer. Amazing results and a simple process, with no playing around with fork oils, springs, valving. I have to do NOTHING, just ride it. I had previously changed to heavier springs and played with fork oil, in an attempt to get the 800 to perform like my 2012 KTM dirt bikes(pro-action suspension), but it still was seriously lacking. I am looking forward to my first outing on de-activated logging roads with the 2 ft cross ditches. After hitting a couple of parking blocks with great results I know the cross ditches will no longer give me grey hair like they use to. Great job Anderwerks, and Ohlins USA

09-09-2012, 08:06 PM	#3
thumper-darryl ^OP Adventurer Joined: Dec 2006 Oddometer: 51	Ohlins You will need to contact Anderwerks for pricing as we did some parts swapping. Won't be much more of a review for a while as my 800 goes into a crate destined for Austraila tomorrow, but the short ride I did it was very impressive.

09-10-2012, 05:47 AM	#7
machinebuilder Studly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2008 Location: East Tennessee Oddometer: 714	I looked at the Ohlins stuff. Ohlins USA uses a NIX cartridge $1690 + $350 installation. they want to do the machining themself. Its setup with rebound in one leg and compression on the other. the shock is about $1200. There is a thread somewhere here where I review the Traxxion Dynamics forks and Wilbers shock. It does feel like a completely different bike with a good suspension. __________________ 2009 BMW F800GS NON ABS the best thing to buy for your bike is gas.....Neduro Remote is not found on the coffee table.......seen on a T Shirt

09-10-2012, 05:52 AM	#8
Foot dragger beat up ex flat tracker Joined: Dec 2006 Location: chico,just below rag dump(nor-cal) Oddometer: 6,928	So,around 3250.00 for suspension?I can see how that would indeed be fast,easy,great. I found a freshly redone Ohlin's on Craigslist for my 300 KTM, It was fast/easy/great for 300.00 total. __________________ Some bikes around at times

09-10-2012, 10:33 AM	#12
OlyRider Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2005 Location: Pacific NorthWest Oddometer: 1,104	True, but... " I just didn't want to try something and be really dissapointed and then spend more going the next step. the othere suspension threads are full of people that did that. Some times you do get what you pay for." I bought old Husky 250 forks for $75, and used the internals to have my F800 forks rebuilt by a local dirt legend for $650. Revalved, re-sprung for my 210#. Also put a stiffer spring on the rear. Now I have adjustable eveything on the forks, and the bike was perfect from the start. Very happy with the forks!! __________________ Olyrider Ob-la-di...Ob-la-da

09-09-2012, 03:31 PM	#2
Jamm Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2010 Oddometer: 186	looking forward to the review. How long did they have your bike and what did it set you back?

09-09-2012, 08:08 PM	#4
sarathmenon Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2012 Location: Seattle Oddometer: 236	So did you take the Ohlins TTX set that touratech sells, or was it something else customized?

09-09-2012, 09:51 PM	#5
thumper-darryl ^OP Adventurer Joined: Dec 2006 Oddometer: 51	Not sure what Touratech sells, but Anderwerks got complete fork internals and a complete shock both sprung and valved for me.

09-10-2012, 01:38 AM	#6
Snowy Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2008 Location: on most ignored list Oddometer: 1,145	Do all the F800 owners a solid and find out what they used for the forks, the Ohlins USA kit, or the Ohlins Europe new product thingy. It's of no consequence to me because I gave up on the F800. But some of the others are still suffering, so put them out of their misery. I got sick and tired of ringing and emailing importers and manufacturers who can't be fucked replying. I wont spend a cent with people like that.

09-10-2012, 04:28 PM	#14
HappyHighwayman Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2010 Location: San Francisco Oddometer: 274	I just re-sprung my fork springs for $400 including parts and labor...I can't imagine spending another $3k on the bike since I'm pretty happy with it now. Maybe if I knew I'd be putting 100k miles or more on it.

09-10-2012, 09:09 PM	#15
thumper-darryl ^OP Adventurer Joined: Dec 2006 Oddometer: 51	Ohlins Fork kit was about $1680 CDN but requires no machining just set up. I tried the Bitubo set up and it was a bunch better than stock, but traveling tons of rough roads and dirt trails left me not happy with the bike since I was use to properly reworked KTM dirt bikes. Now I am totally in love with this bike, so spending close to $3000 was well worth it. But it all depends on how you ride and what your expectations are. I get to ride some reworked KTM dual sport bikes and I was even considering switching, but there was so much that I prefer about the F800 it made sense to spend on the 800 rather than spend trying to make a KTM what the 800 offers me in other areas. I ride with a couple of other 800 riders who are quite happy with stock for the way they ride and stock fills their expectation. That is also OK.

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