No one mentioned WP (Ex White Power ) yet.

I fitted it in my F650Gs and it was superb! I strongly recommend it.

I came accross them when I discussed this with my then teacher at a motorcycle mechanic course. The very experience Howard told me both Olhin and WP were great although WP is more off-road orientated.

WP is fitted in the off-road range in CCM bikes as standard. Must be for a good reason!

Also at the time I did some research WP was cheaper than Olhin!

__________________
Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

Me Too!!
I did the entire WP kit, I got a 10% heavier spring in the kit. I am very happy with it..

I used full travel WP Suspension - United Kingdom, - Sole Importers and Distributors of WP Suspension products in the UK - Full Travel Racing Suspension

These guys are very helpful and know their stuff.. I dont know if WP is better the ohlins.. but the service i got (before and after ordering was the reason i went wp). You will not regret it. Do be aware that once you start playing with the suspension you will be come addicted..it changes the bike so much that you just have to know how far you can push it.

It cost me (in 2007)
£475 for the shock 4014 fusion with upgraded spring
£100 for the remote preload adjuster
£63.25 for the wp proline progressive front springs
£19.84 for the front oil.
all plus vat and shipping

770.10

A basic how to on a Africa Twin.
Step one.. Get the boxes




Arnt they purty!

step two. Get bike on centre stand and take off all plastic

Scrape off some of the mud from last week and remove the tyre


Remove the old bits and bobs, three bolts: two on the bottom one on the top, I did not bother removing the tank but it can make accessing the top bolts easier.



Slip in the new Shocker





Bolt on the preload and compression


and bobs your uncle..
It is as easy as it sounds.. it all just slipped in like it was not a after market part!

The only thing that was not plug and play was the bracket for the preload adjust, The one that came with it is for a stock end can (mine is custom).. so i had to make my own bracket.. Total job was less then 2 hours.

Fronts springs were just as easy:
take off plastic/ front wheel (like you are changing fork oil..) you can either drain using drain plug or pour it out (I did the latter).

I did one fork at a time so that I did not have to Remember where the forks sat in the clamps..



It was a simple job of removing old springs/oil


Put in the new springs (the correct way up). replace the spacer washers,

Fill with new oil (7.5w for thouse who want to know.. as suggested by full travel).
Pump the shocks a few times to remove excess air.
Screw back together .. this is the most tricky part.. as the spring is slightly fighting you.. but not really that bad..

Reassemble.. and in my case the set up was spot on..WP preset it up with thier best guess do to my description of my needs.

The suspention is great..the bike handles like it is a sports bike! It takes turns like the back tyre is glued to the ground. It has changed the ride in many ways.. Feels stiffer when you first get on but in a not wimpy shock kinda way..nice and firm.. All and all it has made the bike more responsive and more comfy.

The main reason for this was to give us a better ride when two up fully loaded we, have taken several couple week trips (including romania with its dirt roads). The new set-up has stopped bottoming out and keeps the bike far more stable when loaded.

__________________
2000 Africa Twin
http://two-up-ona-twin.blogspot.com

This is a great thread. I have really enjoyed reading it!

I headed off on an XR250 with only 16kgs of luggage. When I entered Mongolia my shock started to leak. They didn't completely fail, but I had wished that I had looked into it. I am now planning my next trip and I am defiantly considering what kind of suspension I am using.

__________________
For more information on my adventures, please visit either of the following:
w.http://www.motomonkeyadventures.com/
fb. facebook.com/motomonkeyadventures

I have just tried to get hold of a Works performance shock. Unfortunatly they could not provide a shock suitable. They could not supply one with a spring and apparantly seals which they say would melt, if used with a combined rider and equipment weight of more than 250ilbs over certain rough terrain.
So I think my best option is maybe a Wilbers shock. As they seem to cover all the options.

I would be much interested to hear from any personal experiences with Wilbers shocks.

Interesting thread.
I'd like to share my small experiences, during a month long 5000 mile trip to Greece, over some poor roads through Albania, riding 2 up with quite a bit of gear (approx 240kgs all in), I upgraded the rear spring to cope with the weight (from 13kg/mm to 15kg/mm). This worked fine.

Bike was a 650 Transalp and the shock was original with 50,000miles and no probs with the damping or handling.

I'd do the same or greater trip with the same setup without hesitation.

I guess bike shocks vary in quality & longevity but they aren't always as poor as what people make them out to be!

Phil

__________________
650 Transalp

... just a new spring it will be. My Honda TA, model 1991, 50.000km, 400ccm Japanese market engine runs great, but with 2 up plus all the equipment ... well, I am not that much of an expert, but I guess the original spring could be replaced. Any recommendations for a "good one"?? Shouldn't be overwhelmingly expensive either.

__________________

I throught I would add a bit mre life to this thread. I have a 2001 africa twin. replaced rear shock with basic white power unit before I left. Now in Lahore Pakistan waiting for a new one (can only get orignal honda quickly) as the white power unit broke in 2 a couple days ago. leaving me a 700km ride with a jammed rear shock. The Bottom of the piston/body was ripped out threads and all. The insides wer then pulverized by the shaft smashing about inside the piston area.
I was giving it a bit on a dirt road came off a 1ft slope (bike did not leave the ground) and came down a little hard and bang! The shock had done 8000miles. It did not bottom out, I have never bottomed it out as it is correctly set up. So I am not very happy as it is going to cost me a arm and a leg to get this new one out here not to mention the hell it is going to be getting it out of customs!
I fitted the same, basic white power shock on to my TTR600 (not exactly same shock, but same model) and crossed africa 36'000km of very bad roads with the same load as I have now (+/- 50kg) I gave it hell and loved it never let medown, thats why I changed the africa twin to white power. This one however had nothing of the same treatment and is now compleatly knackered. I am going to email WP to try to find out what went wrong with it.
George Guille
I will just have to hope that the standard lasts longer and proforms ok.

I know this won't be easy, but is it possible that some one can set-up some type of RELIABILITY league table for all rear shocks used by the guys and gals out there.

I am also stuck as to which one is most reliable and suitable for all terains.

I have an R1200GSA and have been waiting for the original rear shocker to die ....nearly 50,000 most on rough Alpine roads 2 up with luggage and I am big. Bit surprising after the reports I had heard about the original not lasting long, my thought was to kill it and replace with an Ohlins but now I am not so sure, Getting ready to go to PNG on the begining of my RTW trip

Whoops it heard me I am now in Port Douglas FNQ waiting on the arrival of a new rear shock..... I could think of worse places to be stuck. And it is very wet at the moment