Re: Ohlins, Wilbers and Works, Oh my!

[Robert Silas <robert.silas@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I wonder where do people ride, on what kind of terrain, gravel, or asphalted roads only???  How a stock shock becomes insufficient after 20 - 25,000 miles???
What do you do to those shocks???  Can we assume that BMW sells a bike for $20 -27,000 (Can.) and install such lousy shocks???  They fabricate bikes which last for 125-150,000 miles easily, but not, they put shocks on, which are good only for 1/6 -th of the life time of all other parts (or most of those)???

Guys, you really make me curious. I may just take a deep breath and spend half as much as I paid for my used '94 RS in '98 at 10,000 miles on it, and buy a couple of Ohlins.  This year I resisted the temptation and bought a newer lathe for the price of one Ohlins shock.
Would be nice to have a larger milling machine, but I may just buy a pair of shocks, I am getting really curious.
I have 165,000 km., little over 100,000 miles on the '94 RS with the original OME shocks.  I don't want anything which has to be rebuilt.  I do ride 25,000 miles a year but I don't want to take the shocks out and have them rebuilt every year.  And, what will I ride while they are being rebuilt, or lost???
Anyway, I am really curious, no joke, frankly, on the level!!!!!!!!! 
Bob Silas
Montreal
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tom Brown 
  To: BMW Oilhead List 
  Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 3:49 PM
  Subject: Ohlins, Wilbers and Works, Oh my!


  List:


  >>re:  Q:  Do all aftermarket shocks require 12,000 mile rebuilds? A:  I
  figure that 25K is about the norm. (Bill)


  >Gee, the Konis on my '84 RS have been on there since 1985 and certainly don't
  require rebuilding.  It's at 76K miles now.

  >My friend has run his R1100RT with OE shock from 10K to 35K miles, most 2-up,
  in the past few years and that shock's not a leaker either.

  >While 25K might be a ballpark figure for Chevies, it's certainly not for the
  likes of BMW and Mercedes in the cage world.

  >What gives?  One would think the price paid for aftermarket motorcycle shocks
  would ensure longer life.  It certainly isn't the weight of the vehicle, so
  ... ?

  >Kent Christensen
  >Albuquerque


  I bought a set of Ohlins when my '99RT hit about 25K.   The difference was
  staggaring.   They were better riding and the behavior on bumpy curves was
  really confidence inspiring.

  I had those rebuilt once at around 48K by Petersen in California even though
  they were working fine.   They worked better before the rebuild than after.
  In addition, Petersen basically lost the shocks.  I had to call after 8 weeks
  (they'd promised 10 day turnaround).   I used those on the bike until I traded
  it at 62K.   I put a set of newer OEM shocks from another bike on this bike to
  trade it and kept the Ohlins.  Sent them in to an Ohlins dealer in
  Murfreesboro, TN for rebuilding and changing to fit my '04 RT.  In the
  process, I got a proper rebuild and the shocks were back to working like they
  should.  They've been on the '04 for most of the 20K I've got on it now.  I
  didn't see a need for rebuilding this year.   The bike is very comfortable and
  handles like it's on rails.   I'm planning a Hex-Head purchase this year.  I
  doubt that these shocks will convert yet again, but I'll certainly ask the
  question.

  Things that Ohlins has going for it...great damping and brand recognition.
  You can put a used set on the internet and sell them in a week.   Everyone
  knows what they are.    They are well made.   They are not cheap, but you can
  mitigate that a bit by buying from Wolf BMW in Canada.  They get them a bit
  cheaper up there.  NAFTA says no duty on them into the states and Wolf says
  any order over $500 gets free shipping.   No sales tax because they're out of
  state...obviously.  The parts for rebuilding are actually available to the
  dealers, so you can get yours rebuilt when you want.

  Adjustability is only rebound damping front and rear, spanner preload adjust
  in front and remote preload in the rear, like stock shocks, but they really
  adjust a noticeable and useful amount. Just a click or two of rebound damping
  makes a difference.

  Things Wilburs has going for it.   FULL compression and rebound adjustability
  front and rear.   Great workmanship.   Dealers, although not many, are really
  into it.   Tom Cutter being a great example.   Lower cost.   I've heard great
  reviews from owners around here.

  Then there's these Bitubo shocks.  I know nothing about them.   Except that
  they're made in Europe and Max Moto seems to be the only dealer.

  All that said, the stock shocks on the '04s are awfully good.   I really
  didn't feel an immediate need for new shocks.   Just had them fitted to the
  new bike because I had them and because I could.   The rear stock shock is
  heavy, but it works well.  Not rebuildable, however.

  I won't rebuild until I start to feel some decay in performance.   One point
  of getting a good set of shocks is that you CAN rebuild them and you can feel
  a significant difference.   It's possible to run as far on an aftermarket
  shock as a stock one...some people are satisfied going 80K on them, but you
  defeat the purpose of having great quality damping when you do that.

  -TB

------------------------------