By the way Paul, I'm about 21 pages into your RR on ADVrider (luckily my boss is away this week). I had a vague itching to go and do some riding in the US before... now I NEED to go :D

There's a Yacugar shock too, made at the ex-WP factory in Holland, by ex-WP engineers �325 or �475 with remote preload (+VAT).

I think this falls into the same category as Tenere headlamps ;)

The +35mm dogbones are 115mm centre to centre.

my original plan when i got back was to start a touring company, doing 18 days tours for adventure riders, taking only 4 people at a time thru nevada, california, colrado, utah, new mexico and a little bit of oregon maybe. i have it all routed so if you do want to go let me know an i can send you the tracks, its all gps routed, includes a lot of what you see on my US part of the blog plus some of the best parts of the teans america trail and some other little gems i know having lived in the southwest (vegas) for 12 years

i did set up website with some details www.5000mileadventures.com and the trip is around 5000 +/- miles and would take 14 to 30 days depending on how you ride...but i decided i can do that anytime so a quick 15 year ride around the world first is in order!!!!

at least now i know i have a few people to stop in and say hi to around the Uk and do some rides and have a few beers too

BACK TO THE REAR SHOCK...

price range and quality, Ohlins being the most expensive, what are other prices??

main issue i can think of is the size of the main strut/arm/rod whatever we call it and the strength of the mount, all i read is failure in these two areas, but mainly on the lower mount (mainly on heavier bikes GSA etc) but i will be loaded so the concern is there, LMK what you think

Oh, and i have great beer stories, wait until i tell you about the kidnapping in mexico!!!!

Definitely, shout up when you get here.

Ohlins, �869 from here:

http://www.off-the-road.de/XT-660-Z-...-Z-Tenere.html

Touratech also list it for �731.09 here, which is probably a better offer at the moment given the exchange rates. I guess you might even be able to get it via TT-USA:

http://www.touratech.com/shops/008/p...3b5fa476dfda38

Nitron, �295-475 from here:

http://nitron.co.uk/nitron09/index.p...e50f8abc1349f0

The remote preload adjuster for the Nitron is �150, here:

http://nitron.co.uk/nitron09/index.p...e50f8abc1349f0

The Hagon seems to be about �274. This is just the first place I googled:

http://www.lm-spares.co.uk/acatalog/...e_2009___.html

And the Hyperpro springs seem to be about �123 for the front and �88 for the rear. Again, first result on google:

http://www.bici.co.uk/Shop/Suspensio...o-Springs.html


The price difference isn't quite as bad as it appears, bearing in mind the Ohlins price is in Euros and inc.VAT, the Nitron prices are in GBP and ex.VAT. I assume if they were shipping it to you in the US you wouldn't end up paying the VAT anyway. But you can still get the top spec Nitron complete with preload adjuster for about the same as the Ohlins.

I've not seen anyone mention issues with other parts of the suspension mounts/linkages failing - but then there's not many frequent posters who have given their bikes such a hard time as you.

thanks for all that information

i'll look at those links tonight after work, doing 12 hours+ a day right now, which is good, no time to spend money that i should be saving to ride!!!

BTW if you do want to come over here, the ride i'm telling you about is roughly 2500 off road and 2500 miles on road

allow me to add Wilbers to that list. I fitted Wilbers springs in front and a Wilbers 641 shock in the back. Rear shock is adjustable for preload, rebound and separate low and high speed dampening for inbound. You can get them with external hydraulic preload adjuster, but I didn't bother with that.
I have tested it thoroughly on the road, in the Flemish mud and on single track Welsh trails. Performed admirably.

Paid a little over 800� for front and back.

do you know or anyone else that reads this, is the shock that is used on the xt660z - stock or aftermarket the same as one used on any other bike, just thinking maybe i can get a better deal over here if i can find a shock locally, so i don't have to pay crazy shipping or import duty

i'm going to cut these on the waterjet and mill the holes on a CNC machine here in the next two weeks (have to fit it in the work schedule) anyone reading this needs some let me know ASAP and i will cut more?

i'm coming to the UK on Dec 22nd, i can drop them in the mail then to keep the cost down