Which Shock to Go With

[tonyn1]

I'm ready to put some new shocks on my 02 LT after some 50k miles. I've been reading some of the threads on shocks and am still not sure which ones to go with. It used to be just Ohlins or Wilbers, but now I see they have a new option in the Hyper Pro. Has anybody tried those? I also see that they have different models for the Wilbers for the front where they list a type 530 Road and a 531 Classic. Same thing for the Ohlins where they have a BM 551 and a BM 851 recommended for the rear. Also who has the best prices on those shocks?

[jwd98056]

The last shock group buy tread is here (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21877&highlight=hyperpro). They are looking at Hyperpro shocks and trying to get a deal from the factory. I purchased Wilbers for my LT just prior to the factory pulling the distributor agreement of WilbersUSA. They pulled it because they also were selling Hyperpro. Those shocks are still in the box because I have been too busy riding, working and putting mods on my R1200GS to install them. Wilbers are still available from other USA sources which I posted in that same thread. I will probably be in the market for shocks on my R1200GS next year.

It looks like there are at least three good options for the LT and the GS; Ohlins, Wilbers and Hyperpro. Someone even mentioned Penske for the LT but I am not sure that has been confirmed. I would guess they would make something for anything if the price is right. I know there have been some Penske shocks made for the R1150GS and the R1200GS but I don't know if those are generally available yet. I think Andrew from the Adventurers Workshop had some made. There is nothing listed on his web site and you are interested in LT shocks anyway.

They are all performance grade rebuildable shocks and I doubt the average rider will be able to tell a while lot of difference between them. I'm sure there will be some better than average riders who will probably disagree :stir:. :histerica

[tonyn1]

What are the differences though between the different models say of Wilbers and Ohlins? If as you say they are pretty much the same which one is the best priced?

[jwd98056]

The Wilbers used to be a little cheaper than Ohlins because we used to get some good discounts and group buys through WilbersUSA. I haven't priced them from the remaining Wilbers distributors but two of them are BMW dealers so I wouldn't count on too many bargains. The group buys that have been worked in the pasts seemed to save folks hundreds of dollars off retail. If the Hyperpro deal works out it may be the best price currently available for shocks of this quality. The fact that the US dollor is so weak against the Euro isn't helping the prices of Ohlins, Hyperpro or Wilbers. They are all made in Europe. None of them are bargain priced.

Perhaps someone else has done a recent price comparison. I have not.

[tonyn1]

When is that group buy going to happen? I think the original thread was started last year sometime. I would be interested if it is going to happen. I still would like to know what the difference is between the two shocks that Wilbers has listed for the LT. Also, I believe that Ohlins has two listed for that bike also. Which are the better ones to go with for each manufacturer?