Best rear suspensions for adventure touring with Triumph Bonneville
 

Hi Everybody:

I'm planning to travel in Asia from Italy with an almost new Triumph Bonneville T 100 of 2012, but with two up and full loaded bike, riding tarmac and dirty roads (Asia...), and so I decided to change the stock rear suspensions; after a research and several feedback I'm looking for a couple of Progressive 444 series Heavy Duty of 13"; they have general good feedbacks, but I need some suggestion from anyone about these. Thanks

I can't comment on the Progressive shocks but I'm sure they'll do the job and will be a HUGE improvement over the stock efforts. I fitted IKON shocks to my 2008 Bonnie, cost about £300 from Norman Hyde UK, they do a good job but they are starting to rust a bit on the coils but they've been used and abused all over Europe 2-up and fully loaded.

You may want to change the front springs too, the original ones are tiny and useless (nearly as useless as the rear shocks), it's an easy job! I used IKON springs and it greatly improved handling when 2-up and fully loaded.

We were carrying a fair amount on our trip but the Bonnie was great, they make good touring bikes.

http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/l...1/IMG_9802.jpg

Thanks Benny, I'll change also the front ones following your suggestion (but I don't know if I'll be able to change it from myself easily as it should be with the rear ones...). Other than suspension issues, any advice about mech improvement and tool/spare parts to carry for a long two up ride will be wellcome.

thanks

In 12000 odd miles I found nothing wrong with the stock ones except they rusted. There is also a ready supply as so many people feel the need to change.

I'd talk to a supplier about your weight etc. as I suspect many selling the stock ones for a tenner a pair on e-bay didn't gain very much going to a stock pair with different branding.

I'm a lightweight, only 75Kg/11 stone and I've trained the wife about not needing a spare set of heated rollers :innocent:

Andy

The fork springs are easy to replace, here's a video I made when I replaced mine -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMR-psrFlHM

Just make sure to do one fork at a time!

In my opinion the only improvements you need are suspension and perhaps a good bash plate to protect the oil filter, especially if you plan on traveling along dirt/gravel roads. I did read about some electrical problems in the wet, I believe Andy who commented here had issues with the rectifier if I remember correctly? I didn't replace the rectifier but I did smother every electrical connection in electrical grease a few years ago and the bike has been ridden through some horrendous downpours in Scotland (every day for 10 days) and Switzerland and as yet no problems.

Other than that Sancap6 I reckon your Bonnie is good to go :scooter:

The coil location made Joe Lucas' ghost laugh so loud they must have heard it in Thailand and the main earth is made of chewing gum wrapper, but probably only any issue when faced with wet and salty.


Related moaning here:


https://sites.google.com/site/threew...10/the-repairs

Just try to find a better spot to park than this


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u...2/P1000724.JPG

Andy