Suspension suspension suspension

[TanisWolfbane]

So I've been doing some research on replacing my suspension which is now totally stuffed after my trip.

I really need super easy adjustment as I drive my misses to work every morning and return solo plus do full panniers plus misses every other weekend.

This what I've been look at so far...

All prices plus vat

Technoflex:
£325 Basic model + £150 for Hydraulic Preload = £475
£450 Advanced Remote reservoir + £150 for Hydraulic Preload = £600

Ohlins - 46HRCS - HO 645
£545 (Remote reservoir and hydrolic pre load adjustment plus some more adjustment)

WP
£350 Emulsion + £100 Hydraulic Preload = £450
£475 Fusion - Remote reservoir + £100 Hydraulic Preload = £575

Wilbers
640 Basic Model £300 + £100 Preload = £400
641 Remote reservoir £450 + £100 (I think) for Preload adjustment / they also have separate seat high adjustment add-on not included = £550

BTW I will be changing to progressive springs on the front and better fork oil at the same time.

So how does everyone rate each of the manufacturers?
What would you go for?
Anyone with experience?
Any other manufacturers I should be looking at?

Ohlins was my original choice and is actually the cheapest when going for the full Monty.


On a separate note:
Honda say the rear is not serviceable but has anyone? What about upgrading the spring?

[Olyerhoek]

Hi Taniswolfbane,

For a big trip I upgraded my RD04 to WP suspension. A complete new set on the back with preload adjuster and new springs + oil in the front.
It was like riding a complete different bike! This improved the handling a great deal, especcially with 2 up or packed with luggage.
I gave the suspension a very rough time, hours on end corrugated roads fully loaded and its still working perfectly.
I would definitely recommend WP although I don't have much experience with the other brands.

just my 0.02.

Cheers, Edgar

[Vegeta]

I have performed service (change of oils and azote I think) and upgrade of my rear suspension with Hyperpro springs. I also put Hyperpro springs in front and thicker oil. All this was done by a suspension professional here in Greece. I just told him the type of riding that I’m interested (touring, little off-road) and he managed to bring the bike to these prerequisites.

[atgreg]

see this thread

Shocking!!!!

[TanisWolfbane]

Thanks for link to old thread. Very interesting read.

And thanks for the info on WP.

From reading a little more into the details, for the extra money (£30) the WP has high and low speed compression adjustment and adjustable length which ohlins doesn't have.

Wilbers has high and low speed adjustment plus an addon for seat adjustment

Hmmmmm..... decisions decisions

[TanisWolfbane]

Vegeta you didn't say what difference it made!!!!???

[Vegeta]

Vegeta you didn't say what difference it made!!!!???

Yes, I could have been more specific than just the fact that the bike came in accordance to my prerequisites, sorry about that. After the change, the @ behaved as if it run on rails! I could not believe that this bike could be so stable, predictable (even error correcting I would say) since I was used to dancing the hula-hoop on curves when the bike was on the OEM shocks. At the time of the upgrade, I also had fresh Metzelers on and while riding on a curvy mountain ride, I managed to use the tires to the film. I could not believe that a @ could turn like that and I don’t consider myself a daring-risk-taking rider.

One other fact with Hyperpro springs is the guarantee you get that they will not loose their tension and height for ever. I can't recal any other manufacturer doing that. I’ve been told by this motorcycle shocks specialist for example that the WPs loose their tension in time, even if the bike just sits in a garage. It has been 6 years since the change and the bike has neither lost a centimetre of its height, nor changed behaviour. I ride it solo and duo, empty and fully loaded with top and side-cases and a 40 litre tank-bag, without ever preloading the rear spring (I haven’t changed the preloading since then!!) and the bike rides like the Orient Express!

[djadams]

Biggest difficulty with taking/giving advice on suspension upgrades is that we only change it when we've got a problem, which implies the standard kit is shot. Then we only replace it on the one bike with one brand, so can't compare. It's very inconsiderate of us, I know. Statements like "transforming the handling" are all well and good in the circumstances (cos it does) but are a bit misleading to owners of a bike with standard suspension of a design that works and is in good nick.

I've replaced a (knackered) standard shock on a CBR400 with an awesome fully adjustable Maxton unit and would recommend them in a flash to anyone after a top spec unit. They custom designed me one with a ride-height adjuster so I could alter rate of turn-in. Brilliant. That genuinely transformed the handling as suddenly I had high and low speed compression damping adjustment, preload adjustment, rebound adjustment and ride height (CofG + head angle) adjustment.

For the TL I opted for a second hand (mint) Ohlins as I could get it for less than half the price of the new Maxton I'd planned. I then fitted a Maxton spring to suit my weight and riding, and all's good. That transformed the handling cos the standard rotary damper had waytoo much compression damping. So transformed that now I can run a 11% drop in gearing, a fast action throttle and no steering damper. No slaps, no nothing. Awesome.

As for the AT, I'm yet to ride it with the sort of luggage I have in mind for my trip, so am undecided. I may well go with some sort of change, but will listen with great interest to the experiences of peeps on here!

Suspension is the best money you can spend on a bike after rider training. Way more effective than spending money on "tuning".