Hyperpro shock absorbers anyone?

**desert dweller** · #1 25 Mar 2008

considering buying one for the rear of my R11GS. anyone got experience of them?
they sound good and seem to have several advantages over the big name competitors (öhlins, wp, wilbers), including progressive springs.
any word appreciated.
cheers,
andy.

**Margus** · #2 25 Mar 2008

Apparently some of the details on Wilbers (if not the whole shock is) produced by Hyperpro.

Can't tell you about the Hyperpro, but lot of good words go around about Wilbers. Search around ADVrider or UKGSer.com forums. There professional riders say Öhlins or WP may have an edge over cheaper Wilbers in terms of highest end damping performance, but it's just an edge and they argue about long term reliability. A guy I know had a long experiences with Öhlins, and said some shocks blew up less than 10Kkm, while others have done more, but leaks occurred surprisingly quick traveling on rough terrain, so he had multiple Öhlins failures while surprisingly his cheaper Wilbers proved to be more reliable mileage- and rough terrain wise.

Anyways, don't take any of this seriously either. The main positive thing is that they're all high quality servicable (rebuildable) shocks! I consider suspension as a "consumption" part: it'll blow up dramatically or non-dramatically sooner or later, it's just a question of time and your riding style. Thus it's better if you have a rebuildable shock anyways - and after rebuild you basically got a brand new shock while the rebuild is much cheaper than to buy another brand new non-rebuildable shock

Just make sure you have the correct strenght for the spring for your riding, especially if you're 2 up on the bike. Even the highest quality shock will fail superfast when it constantly has to hit the bottom because it just has too weak spring or too soft preload setting. Wilbers offers 3 types of springs: normal/hard/extra hard.

**Stephano** · #3 25 Mar 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by desert dweller

considering buying one for the rear of my R11GS. anyone got experience of them?
they sound good and seem to have several advantages over the big name competitors (öhlins, wp, wilbers), including progressive springs.
any word appreciated.
cheers,
andy.

No idea about the shocks, but I have just bought a HyperPro rebuildable & adjustable steering damper for my K1200 and the quality is excellent. It replaces the original BMW one which was neither rebuildable nor adjustable.
Stephan

**beddhist** · #4 26 Mar 2008

My ex-gf had her suspension re-done by them and is very happy (DR650SE). The technician is very knowledgeable and took great care. For me the only problem was that they tend to make suspensions too hard, being in Holland where the only bumps in the roads are speed bumps. She is happy with it, however. I recommend them.

**dallastx** · #5 30 Mar 2008

I got Hyperpro shocks front and back on my XT600E '03, and they perform very well! On- and offroad, much better handling, even when fully loaded with panniers. That's a good investment for sure! Greetz, Hans.

**desert dweller** · #6 26 May 2008

just to report that i got my hyperpro sent to bolivia (DHL, no problem, fast but expensive - $350). i fitted it and am so far enjoying good performance, with just the one gripe - the ride height is too low and not adjustable. have contacted the company and await a response.
cheers,
andrew.

**BoulderGeek** · #7 1 Jul 2008

Just a bit of a bump for the Hyperpro rear shock.

A couple of years ago, I needed a new rear shock for my 1993 VFR750. That model had been out of production a long time, so the Ohlins was obscenely expensive (~$1100-1200) if you could find one, and the other models that had been available for the Gen 3 VFR were long gone.

Hyperpro was one of the few companies who still listed my bike. I placed an order online, with some tweaks to the normal specs (+12mm on the damper shaft, rate differences). I wanted to raise the rear end of the bike for handling, higher seat height, Clydesdale body, etc.

I was amazed when a sales person and a mechanical engineer called me on a conference call from Sweden to discuss my order! I got personalized service for my one-off build.

When the shock arrived, it was in a sturdy wooden box, everything flawless. The install was easy. It totally transformed my bike.

I went with Race Tech constant rate springs up front, new synthetic fork oil and Gold Valves, and my VFR now handles like a purpose-built modern sportbike (for a portly 470lb behemoth).

I think that I spent just shy of $800 for my shock. But, it was significantly less than Ohlins, my only other option. I really had to grit my teeth to spend that much on an unknown part (I was unemployed at the time, and had just sold my R100GS/PD _for_the_money_) :-(

I wouldn't hesitate making another such purchase from Hyperpro. I'm going to be looking to them for my haven't-bought-yet 2008 KLR.