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3 May 2006
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Registered Users
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Estonia
Posts: 787
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"Bomb" proof reliable suspension, which?
Can anyone comment the reliability in third-world road condition / high mile riding / trustworthness between:
- Öhlins
- WP (not Works Performance)
- Wilbers
For R1100GS. Also real-life maintenance intervals/costs and how they hold up pushed to extremes under two up full of luggage stress (i.e. fast ride through Africa)?
So far the WP seems to have superior off-road suspension experiences through racing to others, while Öhlins is more known on road racing side. Haven't heard much about Wilbers though, but their shock maintenance section seems to be the best of these three looking at the manufacturer's webs. Also Öhlins and Wilbers both offer stronger versions of springs, haven't seen them for WPs, or is there?
Thanks in advance, Margus
Last edited by Margus; 3 May 2006 at 18:56.
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5 May 2006
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Registered Users
HUBB regular
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Luton
Posts: 29
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I had Öhlins all round on my KXF Tecate Raid-quad and they were fantastic, never had a single problem and and advice or backup needed from Öhlins was given to me free and withouit having to hassle them for it... I have also used Öhlins on two other MX'ers and some rally cars and again no problems!
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5 May 2006
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Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA USA
Posts: 373
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Wilbers...
I can't speak for the BMW GS, but I have a custom built Wilbers shock on my Transalp. I am travelling two-up with luggage, and I had the shock built for a load of 180kg. The spring is certainly bigger than any spring for solo use.
The Wilbers has been completely reliable in 32,000+ km of riding, some of it on very rough Central Asian dirt/gravel roads. I believe it has a 5 year warranty and is rebuildable, of course. It has totally transformed the bike and given me superb control on the rough stuff.
Make sure whatever shock you get, you get it custom built for YOUR loads and riding conditions.
Wilbers is probably the most economical among your options too? I paid around $700usd for mine with a remote hydraulic pre-load adjuster.
Anyway, I can highly recommend Wilbers.
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22 Mar 2008
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 166
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fox shock
doesn't feature on your list but as i am here researching a replacement shock thought i owuld put my two cents' worth in.
i have a fox twin clicker on my r11gs. we travel two up with enough gear to camp but not excessive by a long way.
the fox shock just doesn't hack it and had had to b e rebuilt several times on this short south america journey, and several times before that too. everyone that pulls it apart says it is a great shock but hell it's giving me the poops. or something.
cheers,
andy
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22 Mar 2008
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Registered Users
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Tallinn, Estonia
Posts: 1,049
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Speak to these people too!
I don't know how they would fare on a big trip with variable terrain, but another company which is very reputable but, as with Wlibers, does not have Ohlins' marketing clout, is Technoflex suspension technology - Road News
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