front & rear suspension rebuild

[cookiemonster]

Right, continuing the saga of my dommie rebuild...

Assuming i can get the engine, which is 1000 bits spread acros the garage, bck together and then back in the bike, the next thing that i'll look at is the suspension. At the front im thinking of just a rebuild - seals and 10w fork oil - and at the rear just hand the unit to ABE and get them to rebuild it.

But the question is... are there any other options (apart from Ohlins at both ends )? Does anyone recommend uprated springs or anything like that?

The bike is going to be used for easy green laning and "adventure touring" (got a middle asia journey planned and dont want to take the GS)

cheers

jon

[Rubberchicken]

Ohlins is murderously expensive. Nice if you have money to spare, but there are other options that are nearly as good. Have a look at Hyperpro, Technoflex, Wilbers (German Technoflex copy/ripoff depending on who you believe), WP ofcourse, Hagon.

I've got Technoflex front and back, cost me about 500 euro. They're nice.

Hagon was still a bit cheaper, but then again hagon is also, well, cheaper.

The stock rear spring is pitifully weak, so if you have plans to pile on a bunch of luggage you might want to think about that. And possibly a hydraulic preload adjuster. (If it'll fit on the bike, the airbox doesn't leave a lot of space.)

Progressive springs in front, it reduces the amount of diving under braking and makes the bike ride a bit higher as well. The rear shocker is built to my weight, it's lovely.

Should've done that a lot sooner, it's really a different bike.

[cookiemonster]

mmm...

I put ohlins and hyperpro on a previous bike and have to agree that it all makes an amazing difference. But my NX is to be a budget machine (ive a 1200gs for spending silly money), so i dont really want to spend a fortune on new shocks, but im probably happy to swap the springs for some progressive ones from hyperpro or the like, keeping the same damper.

Do you know what weight springs you have front & rear? (and, if you dont mind me asking, what weight are you for comparison ?)

jon

[lreal]

But the question is... are there any other options (apart from Ohlins at both ends )? Does anyone recommend uprated springs or anything like that?

jon

My opinion:

1) FRONT END : Springs are just sprigs; it doesn't matter if they are ohlins, technoflex, wilbers, wirth, ... Original from Honda already is double-rate, and it works poorly when you really go middle-to-fast off-road.

2) REAR END : value for money means spend for Ohnlins or minimum WP/Wilbers.

3) MY DOMI's CONFIGURATION:

3.1) FRONT END: HFS (if you want to know more, click link in the bottom)

3.2) REAR END : Fournales AIR Spring (french manufacturer) . Mine is installed from Sept 2005; more than 30.000 Kms and no problem.

It absorbs extremely well; it tractions extremely well; it is pretty comfortable as well as stiff in hard off-road driving; smooth in its reactions ... Do not ever forget that : AIR COMPRESSION IS PROGRESSIVE BY NATURE !!

Watch that BMW in its HP2 install AIR RR spring ; BMW in its new G series will launch AIR RR spring in its X-Chalenge ... that's a bomb friends !

Budget: alright I agree that we're talking 'bout putting some euros in an old dommy but ... i can tell you that it will perform bloody well

And believe me, that difference in spending 500 € playing with springs or with HFS will make a huge difference ( and I admit that I am partial in this opinion, but that's true )



Cheers, and have a good '07 all of you