Wilbers shocks any good?
 

Hello folks,

I'm just about to pull the pin on a Wilbers shock for my bike (43F).

I'm interested in finding out from owners of wilbers equipped machines if the shocks are up to the job? My bike is used hard on dusty/muddy trails and also as a packhorse on long trips. Both improved dynamic performance and durability under duress are important to me.

Has anyone fitted a hose and resivoir type unit on a 43F? If so where did you mount the tank and how long was the hose? I've looked and it does not look like an easy fit on this machine. Wilbers say they have this type of shock available but have no build specs to work from.


Many thanks,

Pawlie

Wilber's have a pretty good reputation in the US/Canada, mostly from Vstrom owners who were the first to really bring Wilbur's on the scene starting in about 2003. But I've heard their main sales rep Klaus has left and is working for another company. Klaus was very good and took care of customers. Some Wilbur's shocks have blown seals on long trips on overloaded bikes, but overall a good shock. Prices have gone up over the years and are now up near $$ Ohlins, Penske $$ Also look at Elka shocks.

I'm sure you've got some suspension shops in and around BC. I would contact them and get opinions on shocks for your bike. Lots of choices these days. Let them know you are not a road racer and not riding a sport bike. If they only understand sport bikes, go elsewhere. They will screw it up, trust me on this. (Lindemann Engineering in Cupertino) Some places listen, others just want to hear themselves talk. Just getting new shock will not solve all your problems. That shock must be set up correctly for a dual sport/Adventure travel bike with correct spring and damping.

One guy I trust without question is Rick at Cogent Dynamics in North Carolina, USA. Rick is now specializing in dual sport shocks, mostly for KLR and DR650's. Rick takes your stock shock and works magic with it. Many very happy customers .... and for much less money than an aftermarket shock. Perhaps he can rebuild your stock unit? Both the DR and KLR come with a KYB (Kayaba) shock, and I'd bet your Yamaha uses KYB also. Rick knows KYB. Rick not only re-springs your shock but replaces all seals and modifies the damping circuit, shim stack to suit your intended use.

MotoCD - Home

Do your research on Cogent on KLR and DR boards, Google can provide links with info/reviews of his work.

My DR650 has an Ohlins but when the Ohlins needs service I'm shipping it to Rick.

You could also look at YSS...
Recently discussed on another HUBB thread.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...uildable-47985

Sold by Klaus...you used to be Wilbers sole importer in the US for many years.

Thanks for the info.

I am familiar with both YSS and the rebuild stock solutions.

What I'm looking for is opinions related to performance/durability of Wilburs shocks. Preferably from people that have used them on their bikes in RTW and other dirty/crappy conditions.

Cheers,

Pawlie

I had a Wilburs shock built for my R100GS a few years ago. I abused it, badly! It finally spewed its guts out after 40,000 miles of torture. It was an excellent shock, and the performance set the bar IMHO. It had the hydraulic pre-load, which was unnecesary, heavy and got in the way. I would buy it again, BUT, service is extremely lacking and for that reason i would choose another brand. After i blew it out in N.Saskatchewan, i sent it out to Ted Porters BMW, the current distributer in the USA, to get it rebuilt. It took them MONTHS before i received the shock :thumbdown: I'm currently dealing with Cogent Dynamics, they rebuilt my shock on the DR650. So far, so good :thumbup1:
You could try Elka in Quebec (I think??) a bit closer to home. Or maybe there is another distributer? After dealing with the last shop, i would send it directly to Germany if i had another problem.

I've just googled YSS shocks and I must say I'm amazed at the quantity of shocks they have for alot of bikes out there...

I even got interested in one of these as they are longer than my XT600E and are rebuildable...

YAMAHA TT 600 MZ506-400TRL-06 YAMAHA TT 600 R MZ506-400TRL-07
Just don't know anything out YSS prices but I must say they are spread all over Europe!

Y.S.S. :: World Class Suspension ::


Vando :smartass:

Thanks for the first hand account Mr. Ron.

I'll be sure to speak with Ted about servicing turnaround times, as this is an important factor.

Anyone else with direct experience care to weigh in on Wilbers shocks?

Thanks,

Pawlie

Yes, they are also big in Australia - I put a set of their cartridge emulators in the front end of my Burgman around 6 months back.

Pawlie,
Not sure if you've noticed...but a few responders to your query(including myself) may have gone through the decision making process you're going through. There may be some reasons worth knowing why we opted not to go with Wilber's.
Incidentally, my YSS has RTW/dirty/crappy conditions experience...and performed exceptionally. Take a peek at my pics as to where and when.

Interesting to see they now have a R&D centre in Holland.

After KTM moved WP to Austria, most of the Dutch WP designers and technicians stayed in Holland ... many ended up moving to Hyperpro. I guess their new R&D centre in Holland explains what happened to the rest.

Eddie,

I actually had Klaus build up a YSS a year or two ago. The thing never made it out of the box. Packed it right up and sent it back. It might have been ok in an emergency to get home but the design/build was not right for the bike. His retun policy was good.



Pawlie

farqhuar and how are they holding up?

Pawlie... and how much did the rear shock cost? or should've cost lol...


If I need a rear shock for my XT600E in the future, considering the prices, I might consider on getting a YSS but the TT600 400mm long one as I need a little increase on my rear shock...

Vando :cool4:

What exactly was the issue with the design and build that made you not willing to take it out of the box and try it?
This information would be helpful for those considering it.

Vando,

I believe the YSS came in at about $400.00 USD.

Klaus will be able to assist you with curent pricing, give him a call/e-mail. He is the USA distributor for YSS.

Pawlie

This is steering wildly of topic but I'll address the above issue as best I can then welcome more responses to the original question of How wilbers shocks are working out for owners under hard conditions.

It's funny how being unable to see or touch products by ordering online often ends up with a bad result. I think that's how it went sidways in this case. Let me explain:

When the shock showed up it looked like the provervbial hotdog thrown down a hallway! Great big spring with a lonley narrow little damping unit in the centre.

Bikes that get worked hard on trails flow a lot of oil back and forth thorugh the valves and chambers of shocks, this produces a lot of heat. Heat is the enemy! It ruins parts and performance of the shock suffers when too much heat is hanging around.

Modern long travel enduro/dirt shock designs encorporate lagre shock bodys. One of the functions of the large body is to increase oil capacity (often with remote chambers and their own cylinder fins) in an attempt to fight heat and the resultant negative effects on suspension.

The long travel design(lots of susp. movement) combined with low oil capacity, left me unconvinced the YSS was up to the difficult task of controlling heat produced by a hard working enduro bike. Short travel street bike, maybe.

There is not a single large capacity dirtbike produced in the last 30 years (stock or aftermarket)equipped with a tiny damper like this.

So it went back in the box.

This is speculation on my part but:

I think YSS stuffed one of their shocks intended for a dual shock rear end on a monoshock style assembly and called it good. Bit like trying to sell a knife to a guy heading to a gun fight. No thanks.

The product looked like a quality constructed item just not remotely correct for its intended use. Again, no modern enduro bikes are equipped with tiny dampers. If it looks like a pig, smells like a pig and acts like a pig...It's a pig.

Klaus was helpful and professional throughout this difficult process.

Just don't know why he tried to sell me a product that was wrong for the job.


Now:
I would still like to hear from owners of Wilbers shocks as to how they are working out. Specifically interested if some one has fitted a resivoir type shock to a the good old 43F! Thank you for your time and comments.

Cheers,

Pawlie