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Suspension options
After working out why I ended up on my arse on sunday I am more seriously considering upgrading the suspension on the Tenere.
The options I can think of from memory are- Hyperpro spring kit. Ohlins shock. Now I think somewhere I read about Ohlins fork springs, but for the life of me I can't find where. I also think it shouldn't be too hard to find an ohlins spring to suit the rear, but again, can't find any off-the-peg sources. Anyone with knowledge on these things, or other options, please say. |
Ahaaaaa
I've been chucking (was going to say tossing, but it might be misrread) this idea around for a while, and I've pretty much made a descision;
You can get a Hyperpro spring set for around �180 that has both front fork springs and a rear spring to replace the stock ones, this includes new fork oil. I would think it is an improvement on the rear setup, but probably not as much as the Ohlins option (and a bit cheaper too!) Now, the 'problem' is the tool you need to take the forks apart, I managed with the TTR forks but for the life of my can't remember how I did it! The other thing to do while the forks are apart is to replace the seals too. So I'm toying with the option of just giving it to the dealer and having them do it all for me. I'm going to go with this option, just as soon as I can squirrel away the cash from marital view. That and the new can..:082: |
Do you need special tools on the Ten to change the front fork springs?
I haven't done anything on the Ten so they could be different to the Fazer I used to have, but on the Fazer it was just a case of removing the fork tops and taking everything out from the top, then putting it all back in again but with different springs. |
I shall have a look at the fork tops and see, I couldn't see anything too special about them.
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I think Wilbers also make a set for the Ten, 5 year warranty I was told by OTR. In addition, for those who are vertically challenged like myself, Wilbers makes a special short version for the rear. For another €200, one could also get a hand-adjusted dial for the rear, no more getting hands dirty. I don't work for them, but I'm considering that.
Ohlins website says it carries the set, I suppose you can from whoever carries ohlins stuff? Correct me if I'm wrong, when changing the front fork springs, shouldn't the oil be changed too along with seals? If so, then doesn't one need to basically take the forks apart from the bike and the tire in order to do the job, a bit more elaborate than takng off the top cap, exhanging the parts and screwing back the cap? My stock rear is already on 7/9 hard and the front is 21/27 (the latter number is the hardest). And that is with just empty stock panniers and solo, with over 18000km. It's the beginning of the end of the stock suspension. |
Having checked the manual, and looked at the bike, it appears to just be a case of unscrewing the fork tops as per all the other bikes I've done springs on. I've seen the need for a long 'special tool' when changing the fork seals as the fork needs to be split.
Josephau, you shouldn't need to change the seals, but yes generally the fork oil is changed as well, sometimes for a thicker or thinner viscosity. You are right as well about removing the forks from the bike, though it can be done in situ if you can get the weight off the front. There is normally a drain plug on the bottom of the fork leg to drain the old oil out. |
PS
I looked into a Hyperpro rear, but you need a spring compressor that will pretty much close up the short spring on the rear - none of the bike shop locally have this, so it makes changing it a bit of a task, especially as the XJR is packed for the winter (I really don't like cleaning all the drud from it's chrome work ) so I'd be without the main steed while the spring was being done.
I looke into an Ohlins replacement rear, the UK importer refused to give a firm price as it's on 4-6 week lead time and we'd be charged at whatever the Swedish Kr /Sterling rate would be...... last time it was over �500 :whipit: I've got the front Hyperpro's on order, should be a couple of weeks, and we'll see how it changes - I might have to go with the rear hyperpro and send the shock off for fittment.:Knitting_22PFUP: |
So GULP, are you saying even if I give the hyperpro rear to a dealer to install they may not be able to if they don't have the right tool?
I called WP in Austria which is now their new home. While they don't still have a dedicted rear for the Ten, they do sell Ohlins and Wilbers. Wilbers without reservoir costs €449, with reservoir costs €649. Ohlins only with reservoir costs a whopping €1249! A bit strange as TT is €850 last I checked. Question: is the stock rear Showa shock with a reservoir? Otherwise what's that cylindrical thing next to the spring? |
Don't know if this is something for you:
"Oktoberfest" 20% off (link) to all Wilbers products.
Also I don't know if they have a real shop to visit. But their address seems to be located near Frankfurt. |
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Sachs, I think I read Sachs, once I have seen it. It is the resevoir or piggy back if it's flanged directly to the damper body. |
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There is an option of taking the unit out and going to an engineering company who might have more serious equipment, that's the hassel factor for me, would have been OK in the summer as I've the other bike, maybe something for next year ??? It's not impossible, it's just something I can't get doen locally here in Northern England - check with your dealers, they may be able to do it. |
I had the same problem when i changed my rear spring. I put Hyperpro front and rear. The fronts were a doddle just be sure to loose the caps before you remove from the clamps as other wise you may be tempted to hold in a vice and this will damage the tubes. real easy to do once the front shock is off, Take off the cap remove the springs and spacers. Allow all of the old oil out and pump the shock a few times to assist in getting old oil out. Put in new oil new spring and no spacer and bobs your mothers brother, Done.
The back i had to go to a local specialist for this, took him 5 minutes and cost me a tenner. I went to the local garage to see if they could help but the best he could come up with was use loads of jubilee clips and close it up that way. Big diffrence in the bike with the new springs, gives me a lot more confidence and feedback in the corners now. cheers Jim |
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giggity giggity google!
As Josephau says, you can get both ends from Ohlins:
http://www.ohlins.com/Product-search...nere+2008-2009 Although Touratech are usually robbers, their price for the Ohlins rear shock is actually the rrp - that is �571 and some pennies... not cheap, but having one myself, I can vouch for the quality, oh yes... Likewise I'm sure their front springs are very good too? The hyperpro set up (and wilbers) could well be a good alternative of course - all I would say is that if you don't immediately feel confident to strip the forks and fit the springs yourself (and you'll know if you are) - then sending the forks to a suspension specialist is certainly worth the few extra quid - that way you can tell them the weight of the bike and you/luggage etc and they can set the oil level (and possibly even alter the valving) to suit you... The shock is a piece of p!ss to fit yourself, and is an instant improvement... Mark Hammond Racing is the UK distributor for Ohlins off-road stuff in the UK, and by all accounts he is a nice guy with a quick turn around... 01249 721001 xxx |
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Since I'm unlikely going to do it because I will be traveling a lot in the next months, I suggest one of you in the UK to organize a group order, make the necessary shipment arrangements, and provide the needed data to: MOT-TEI Motorradteile Harald Ro�bach Schwesternstrasse 27 D-63110 Rodgau-J�gesheim Tel.: 06106 / 64 96 72 Fax : 06106 / 28 66 70 Mail: info@mot-tei.de Umsatzsteuer-ID: DE219116042 Harald is the person I spoke to, but I highly recommend you to go over the detas with him again to make sure by sending him an email in English (they all know some English). Alternatively, of course, you can just deal individually with him but get 20%, not 25%, off. Just remember the discount lasts only till end of this month. Good luck. |
Back to the Hyperpro rear spring
I've found a spring compressor that might just do the trick, not too expensive at �40!!! but certainly cheaper than �500 for the Ohmygodtheseareexpensivelhins.....
Deffo going to give these a go now. |
To anyone who had removed the OE springs could you post up the o/d and i/d of the shock spring at both ends. o/d and i/d of fork springs at both ends.
Pretty please? Ta |
If you just replace the springs with stiffer ones then its still might be possible for the rear to underdamped especially if its worn out and cant control the stock spring. The front can be "adjusted" with different weight oil but if the bushings are worn then its not going to be that much help. I wore out the front forks on a FZR1000 and no amount of oil changes were going bring the damping control back, what they needed was a rebuild but I sold it on and someone kindly stole it from the new owners gaff before they found out how shocking (no pun intended) the front end was.
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I agree. The rear feels underdamped as it is with me onboard, so it's not going to improve just with a higher rate spring.
I had the same problem with my old FZ6 and ended up with the Ohlin$$$$ shock on. So I'll be putting that on eBay (kept it when I sold the bike) and getting a Wilbers or Ohlins shock. |
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Ah, but you're not as slim as me...... :YellowWink_VZHUX5: |
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