Weight Transfer

austinpowers · Post by **austinpowers** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:10 pm

R1100S is a bit like being at sea in a small yacht, the weight transfer on and off the throttle has us merrily pitching up and down.. I've tried adjusting suspenders fore and aft, rear is adjusting OK and compressing as it should but there is very little damping. You get your arse slapped as further evidence. Either way the weight transfer is pretty radical, probably worse than on any machine I've had since the dark ages. Any suggestions ?The bike has done 26k miles. Does this mean re-conditioning both shocks? Ta.

The Teutonic Tangerine · Thu Apr 14, 2016 10:58 am

mmmm. The thing I liked most about my 1100s was that it basically remained virtually dead level as you accelerated through the gears (fork movement about and inch only) it sound like damping may be non existent on your bike - also check all the paralever / swing arm bearings and all the bearings and pivot point at the front end

SP250 · Post by **SP250** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 12:37 pm

Sounds very much like you have both ends with no damping at all.
Like TTT I found the 11S to be very stable and with much less pitching than any conventionally forked bike.
Mine is at 31,000+ miles and still with the standard shocks, both working ok, although not as compliant as the Ohlins now on my 12S.

austinpowers · Post by **austinpowers** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 1:13 pm

Bugger. So barring an unexpected visit from The Damping Fairy tis a rebuild (both ends) or new ones.

I did look on the suspension sticky but I think it's fair to say views were mixed... I guess if I wanted to go for the longer spring on the rear (Sport stylee) that would be a reason for new. On the other hand a decent rebuild works wonders if - and its a big if - the OE items had quality damping in the first place. Sounds like they did?

SP250 · Post by **SP250** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 2:50 pm

Well check the prices out first - ie. a rebuild vs a midrange new replacement like Wilbers or Paoli.
If you can get the standard Showa's rebuilt they are OK, but I would look at replacement shocks for not much more cash, as the bike is far better with some quality shocks on both ends.
Try the Ram shock as they give you a discount.
Or if money is not a problem go for Ohlins.

SP250 · Post by **SP250** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 2:52 pm

Other option for raising the rear is to use the shorter GS paralever strut (or Wunderlich / Ram one) and keep the standard shock length.

austinpowers · Post by **austinpowers** » Fri Apr 15, 2016 11:04 am

SP250 wrote:Other option for raising the rear is to use the shorter GS paralever strut (or Wunderlich / Ram one) and keep the standard shock length.

ta, I think given the fact that the OEs are dysfunctional insofar as they don't absorb shocks I'll get some new ones sorted. Sooner rather than later.

austinpowers · Post by **austinpowers** » Fri Apr 15, 2016 11:05 am

SP250 wrote:Other option for raising the rear is to use the shorter GS paralever strut (or Wunderlich / Ram one) and keep the standard shock length.

ta, I think given the fact that the OEs are dysfunctional insofar as they don't absorb shocks I'll get some new ones sorted. Sooner rather than later.