Africa Twin rear shock absorver
 

Hi,

I´m riding South America next year with my wife on a Africa Twin. Because of the total weight of two passengers and luggage I am concerned about the performance of the standard rear shock absorver. Anybody as had bad experiences with it? Fitting a OHLINS rear shock is most advisable?

waiting for a reply!

Nuno Leotte (Portugal)

Hi Nuno
Take a look on previous topics:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000076.html
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000290.html
Try to use for more the search function on this HUBB, very usefully
Hope to see you around here
Regards
Javier….
www.dakarmotos.com

Hi Javier,

I have read about that topic on HUBB, but I could not find a convincing answer. Some people say that the stock shock is good enough and some others say it is better to fit a OHLINS shock. What is your personal opinion ?

Yes I hope to meet you next year by summer time, I will leave Porto Alegre (south of brasil) towards south by November 2006.

Hasta luego!
Nuno Leotte

Hi,
I really do not recommend you to go two persons on one bike. I rode trough south america and I was really happy that I wass alone on the bike (Also AT). You can ride much better and also will have a lot less problems when riding alone. Not to mention the few bagage you can take with you for your self as well as the replacement parts.

But in case you still go, install K&N air filter, which you can wash or just blow out by pressured air. The dirt roads (means dust) really fill the filter.

Have a nice trip
Burnout1

Hi Nuno

In total contadictin to burnout 1, we´re riding 2 up on an AT and have been for 2 years. We´re now in Peru and loving it. We haven´t seen a paved road since somewhere in Ecuador (1100 miles ago). You´d be amazed at where you can go 2 up. You may be a little slower than others but why rush in such a fantastic place as S America. Having said that we recently rode the same 210 mile dirt road with two othrs on their own bikes (AT and Transalp) and they never got past us although we stopped for photos frequently. Go 2 up and enjoy.

However, in answer to your question, YES I would recomend going with an Ohlins shock. We found the standard shock too soft and it bottomed out. You don´t need that here! The Ohlins is a good shock for both the bike and the pillion. Some people have had problems with them as can happen with any shock potentially but I would recommend it.

Hope all works out and you have a fantastic time. You will!!

CHris

Thanks to all that replied to my question!

Burnout1, I think that travelling solo on a bike is for sure more comfortable rather then 2 up. But travelling solo is not an option because I want to take my wife with me on this journey. I have a lot of experience travelling 2 up so I am used to it.

Chris Smith, yes I also think it is wise to install a OHLINS rear shock. They are the best in the market.

How is your AT going, any major mechanical failures?

Enjoy the ride!!

Nuno&Tatiana

Hi Nuno
Sorry for the late answer, but we are moving our shop and we was very busy the last weeks and still now.
Like you and Chris answer to Burnout1 I’m agree too, we always ride 2up on the AT, now from some few years a go my wife ride her own bike and I enjoy more the dirt roads.
For me the original shock is very good and enough to travel two up, give more preload and enjoy, my At is the old one (RD04) and for me is better than the new ones (RD07) which doesn’t has the hydraulic regulation control. The aftermarket shocks can come whit the preload remoto control and only that I can make me feel jealous. My next winter project is to modify whit a preload control from a Bmw F650 (same bottle diameter).
The O’hlins is expensive and some people told me is not better than other like Tecnoflex, White Power, and more.
About how AT going, no major mechanical failures, like always fuel pump and electric regulator some times, mine two times the pump and one the reg one whit more than 100.000 kms.
Ok, CU here the next summer.
But I can recommend you to send the bike here, not to Brazil (less paperwork problems)
Hasta Luego
Javier & Sandra
www.dakarmotos.com

Hey Javier,

Maybe I will do something in between...just install a OHLINS spring on the stock rear shock, that might do it !!

I had trouble with my fuel pump in Marroco, the bike stopped twice on the road. But after that I installed a Vaccum Pump by MIKUNI from AFRICAN QUEENS. Now its just running perfect. Never had trouble with the electric regulator, what are the symptoms? And the solution?

Apparently it is more trouble to fly the bike from Portugal to Brasil, rather than Buenos Aires. So I am thinking about changing the plan. If I want to start my journey from B.A can I count with your support to prepare the departure?

Which is the the best month to be in Ushuaia? November to February?

Hasta luego
Nuno&Tatiana

Hola

I am in Chile now with my girlfriend, two up on a AT (RD07a). We are using the standard shock, standard front spings. I intended to fit a stiffer spring to my shock, but my dealer would not recomend it. Oversprung and under damped in the return, potensionally dangerous. The waiting time for an new shock, was to long for me. But we are curently happy with the stock shock. But if you can afford it, a new custom buildt shock for the load is the way to go i think. With stiffer springs in front also.

But we are hoplessly overloaded... estimated 25 kg over max payload (450 kg). We have two bags on the crash bars, to put some weight up front. And I must say it handels suprisingly well. I only notice the weight in first gear hairpins bend with lose gravel and bumps and sand.

You dont say witch model you have, but on my previos '93 RD07 with adjustabel compresion i thought the shock was way better. On RD04 you can do an rebuild of the shock and fit and stiffer spring.

Hasta luego
Frode & Karen Marie

as one might infer from the name of this lovely, lardy not-really-for-off-road bike with a piss-poor shock if used off-road, how about finding a way to fit an old fashioned pair of shocks alongside an Ohlins? ie make it an Africa Twin-shock?

its not very helpful to those of you who love the bike, I know, but it might work and save the endless complaints about AT rear shocks