Took the wife out on the bike today, We're not the daintiest of people but I had to set the rear suspension to 2 helmets and bags then go into the rear shock settings and set it to very firm on the dashboard. We're going touring this year and will be taking luggage with us for 3 weeks worth of riding, So I'm looking to upgrade the rear spring. As far at I can tell the one that's fitted is an 85nm spring, so I'm looking for a 100 - 105nm replacement. I don't suppose any of you chaps know where the best place to get one from is do you? I know Ohlins do them but I'm not sure if they will fit the Sachs shock?
A quick Google brings up BG Motorsport at Silverstone, FTR and Racetech advertising Sachs servicing. Andy
Many moons ago there were some posts about spring upgrades on Multi's, if you've got an S with the fancy shock I believe there is an official spring available from the dealers, not sure on skyhook bikes. But it's a stock Ohlins spring so any Ohlins dealers/suspension specialist should be able to help.
The uprated spring is only available for the ohlins, and you can get them from the main dealer. Your pic looks like you have a skyhook bike, and the sales pitch says these have a progressive rate spring unlike the ohlins bikes, so shouldn't need a replacement spring. I don't think there is an uprated spring listed at all, so you would probably need one of the companies mentioned above to source you one.
Yup, I've been in touch with a guy in Preston. He has said they don't have any data on the Sachs spring let alone one that's more powerful He said he can get me one made but needs to know the free length of the sachs spring and the top and bottom internal diameter of the spring. Does anybody know this? if so it would be a big help.
If it is the electronic adjustable version then I'm guessing there's no alternate spring readily available as the ECU will be programmed with the OE spring characteristics. You wouldn't change an exhaust without reprogramming the fuel map would you. Saying that, I doubt a spring change would make it unrideable, and sending you're shock to any reputable suspension dealer along with you're weights and requirements should get a stiffer spring fitted without trouble. I use K-tech for my track bike and Revs racing for road stuff. They're Ohlins and K-tech dealers anyway.
Ohlins do a heavier spring but it does not fit over the Sachs shock body. I was told it did until I had the shock dismantled on the bench and realised I was told wrong You can buy a heavier spring for the Sachs shock on ebay but its bright bloody blue and looks a sight? A friend replaced his whole shock unit with a uprated one for about £600, considering the difference it made I would say thats the way to go.
I'm getting a custom spring made for my weight by this guy TW Suspension Tech, North West's Motorcycle Suspension Set-Up & Tuning , he's very good. A 3 stage uprated spring, been through all sorts of tests one of which gave these results. Spring length on centre stand........................... 180mm Spring length free standing...............................171 Spring length rider only.....................................152 Spring length rider and pillion...........................126 Spring length rider pillion and panniers.............121 swing arm movement on centre stand...........................300mm swing arm movement free standing...............................271 swing arm movement rider only....................................220 swing arm movement rider and pillion..........................144 swing arm movement rider pillion and panniers............116 The final reading is the suspension unit almost totally collapsed, the wife and I with full panniers aren't that heavy. I spoke to the dealer about it and he said it sound like the shock may be faulty. he said it's a touring bike and you'd expect it to hold your weight easily. So when I go in for a new indicator switch, dash and the exhaust valve fixed he said he will test the shock. He also suggested the reason I may be finding the bike hurts my coccyx and have had to get the seat altered, could be because the "Sky Hook" computer is turning the compression damping right up to try and compensate for the faulty shock.
Well got word last night that my spring is ready to be picked up, So I'm popping down to Preston to get it tonight. then tomorrow I'm going to see if I can fit it my self. I know you probably haven't, but has anyone on here ever taken the spring off a Sachs rear shock?
Well I picked up my spring last night from TW Suspension Tech, North West's Motorcycle Suspension Set-Up & Tuning I have to say what an awesome job he made of it. it's a 3 stage spring designed for my weight, with pillion, and with luggage. I've spent the morning fitting it, what a pig the bottom shock bolt was to get out. I ended up making an extended Allen key from an old Facom Allen key and pouring gallons of hot water over my swinging arm to try to soften the lock tight. Finally after twisting the Allen key so it looks like a cough candy it broke the bolt free. Then another half hour unthreading the lower rebound / compression cable and it was free.
Much better, we've been all over the UK, Ireland and Europe 2 up fully loaded and the bike was poised perfectly, we even beat the group of single rider up and down the stelvio pass 2 up fully loaded Notice the complete lack of chicken strips and the confused woman, wondering what the feck just happened.
In my bikes case I tested the original shock with 4 red brick in each pannier and top box plus me then 19st and the wife 9st....ish who know for sure? But I'm lighter now by 2st although I think we took more luggage with us for our 3 weeks in Europe than the weight of 12 red bricks.
