SkooterG
Purveyor of Crooked Facts
I bought a Wilbers shock during the first group buy many, many moons ago. I believe it was the 641 with hi/lo compression dampening, and remote preload adjuster. But NOT ride height adjustment. I love that shock. Installed it at about 30k, rebuilt it at 100k and changed the spring to a slightly heavier one, and just had it rebuilt again after removing it from FJR#1 when it had 226k on it. (126k miles since last rebuild) My suspension guy said he had never seen the internals of a shock so nasty and worn. He had to replace several parts. It had seemed to be working fine for me?! He told me ideally I should service it every 30-40k, but said he knew I wouldn't do that 
and told me to try and do it every 50k. I'll try to do that, but no guarantee.
I installed the Wilbers on FJR#2 today because the Ohlins that is on this FJR has 55-60k on it and is due for a rebuild/service though it seems fine to me. See, I am trying to be better! The Ohlins was already on the FJR when I bought it years ago with 5900 miles on the odo. It was set up for a big guy. (I'm a small guy) I never did like the shock that much - too soft for my liking. But some others who rode both bikes preferred the cushy ride of the Ohlins. Though interestingly, I thought the FJR with the Ohlins always handled better when with the extra weight of two-up riding. Finally, a few months back, I added in some rebound and compression dampening that helpled alot.
I'm no suspension guru, but there are some interesting differences in the shocks (at least interesting to me).
First, Wilbers is easy-peasy to install/remove. Ohlins is major ass-pain having to come out/in the top/side of FJR.
Second, from the photos you see below, the Ohlins has more spring travel length. From numbers on spring, Wilbers is 6" in length, Ohlins is 6.7" in length. Still, there is a bigger difference that that .7" in how they are mounted to shock. (Unfortunately I didn't measure exactly)
Third, is that though the spring rate on the Ohlins (657 lb/in) is greater than the Wilbers with Eibach spring (550 lb/in) the Wilbers feels like the stiffer shock, and actually gives me slightly increased ride height. I know this because it is much easier to get on the C-stand with the Wilbers than the Ohlins. WTF? How is it that the wimpier spring gives me increased ride height and stiffer ride?
Besides more dampening, I am guessing it has something to do with the Wilbers having more spring preload built in when the shock was set-up?
Both shocks are better than stock. I finally got the Ohlins adjusted to where I really liked it, but the Wilbers I have always loved. Nice firm ride, and excellent and quicker handling that I assume partly comes from the increased rear ride height.
BTW, the remote hydraulic pre-load adjuster on the Wilbers works better than the Ohlins. Easier to turn and with much more discernible 'clicks'.
Any suspension gurus out there with any insight?
and told me to try and do it every 50k. I'll try to do that, but no guarantee.I installed the Wilbers on FJR#2 today because the Ohlins that is on this FJR has 55-60k on it and is due for a rebuild/service though it seems fine to me. See, I am trying to be better! The Ohlins was already on the FJR when I bought it years ago with 5900 miles on the odo. It was set up for a big guy. (I'm a small guy) I never did like the shock that much - too soft for my liking. But some others who rode both bikes preferred the cushy ride of the Ohlins. Though interestingly, I thought the FJR with the Ohlins always handled better when with the extra weight of two-up riding. Finally, a few months back, I added in some rebound and compression dampening that helpled alot.
I'm no suspension guru, but there are some interesting differences in the shocks (at least interesting to me).
First, Wilbers is easy-peasy to install/remove. Ohlins is major ass-pain having to come out/in the top/side of FJR.
Second, from the photos you see below, the Ohlins has more spring travel length. From numbers on spring, Wilbers is 6" in length, Ohlins is 6.7" in length. Still, there is a bigger difference that that .7" in how they are mounted to shock. (Unfortunately I didn't measure exactly)
Third, is that though the spring rate on the Ohlins (657 lb/in) is greater than the Wilbers with Eibach spring (550 lb/in) the Wilbers feels like the stiffer shock, and actually gives me slightly increased ride height. I know this because it is much easier to get on the C-stand with the Wilbers than the Ohlins. WTF? How is it that the wimpier spring gives me increased ride height and stiffer ride?
Besides more dampening, I am guessing it has something to do with the Wilbers having more spring preload built in when the shock was set-up?
Both shocks are better than stock. I finally got the Ohlins adjusted to where I really liked it, but the Wilbers I have always loved. Nice firm ride, and excellent and quicker handling that I assume partly comes from the increased rear ride height.
BTW, the remote hydraulic pre-load adjuster on the Wilbers works better than the Ohlins. Easier to turn and with much more discernible 'clicks'.
Any suspension gurus out there with any insight?
Last edited by a moderator:
