Bitubo shock?

[Mike Stewart]

Ok fellow V11 Sport riders,

 

If the Sach shock sucks so much and the suspension guru's have a question mark about their ability to make it work, would it be better to just get and aftermarket shock and hope for the best? The Bitubo shock is most likely the cheapest unit out there, anyone try it out yet? I have talked to Works Performance and they said if I drop my bike off, they would make a shock up for it at no charge. Of cource I need to drop it off to Southern California for a few weeks.

 

Mike

[callison]

The Sport 1100i's had WP components exclusively. Too bad MG didn't see fit to remain with them, but they probably had to go for a less expensive production line component. I would say that the WP used on the Sport 1100i would be a perfect match for the V11, and why not? - the chassis are very nearly identical.

[Mike Stewart]

Hey Carl,

 

Want to trade your WP shock for my Sachs unit?

 

 

Mike

[dlaing]

I was bummed to learn that I got a Sachs Shock. The Guzzi Web Site said, "WHITEPOWER". But I did not complain, cause I did not like the name WhitePower because of the racist implications, and I figured the shock would be fine. I figure, get 50,000 miles out of it, and then buy a better shock.

Or find someone who has set up a shock for our bike and use their mods. Works would be a great way to go if someone in Southern California could be the guinea pig. They will however make a shock to your custom measurements and demands.

http://www.worksperformance.com/Other%20Pa...line_order.html

I don't know if I would trust my own measurements, as the geometry is very critical to spring load demands.

I would only go with the bitubo if your suspension specialist was familiar with it and could get parts.

Although, http://www.eurobiketeam.com might be able to customize a bitubo for you, they probably could not help you with the front forks.

The front should match the rear, so I feel you should get them done by the same specialist.

You might try Computrack at Honda of Milipitas.

[Guest Jaap]

cause I did not like the name WhitePower because of the racist implications

Can you believe WP comes from the Netherlands, and we proud ourselves to be a tolerant country (which is IMHO not true any more )

Which makes me curious, are there black Guzzi riders? (BTW, we can still say "black"" in Holland...)

[callison]

I think Dave is pulling your leg on the "Whitepower" complaint...

 

I have met exactly one black Moto Guzzi rider. Nice guy. I don't remember where or when though.

[dlaing]

I might have been exagerating my concern...

But seriously, I can be politically correct, and you would not catch me wearing a WhitePower tee-shirt.

I sometimes buy vegetarian products with swastikas on the product or its label. The intent of the manufactor is not to be racist, so I don't have a problem using it. But, having a bar of soap with a swastika on it deserves giving my house guests an explanation.

I don't know anything about the founders of White Power shock absorbers, or why they chose that name. If they are racists, I would buy other products and urge Moto Guzzi to deal with someone else.

I tried looking up whether they had a racist agenda before I bought my bike, saw no information, so I went ahead and bought the bike. As it turned out, I got the Sachs anyway. (or so I believe)

I think Sachs has a good product, but the parts availability is a concern.

When it blows, I'll get something else.

Probably Ohlins, Penske, Bitubo, or Works. Depends on the information that I get from this great discussion board!

In the mean time, I am trying to get under 200lbs so that the spring can work and my girl friend can stop complaining I already lowered my Cholesterol (for her...and for me).

Its the cutting down on beer that I don't like.

[Guest Jaap]

Hi, I did a quick check at WP Holland:

They don't use the name WhitePower anymore, just WP Suspension. The name derived from the founder Wim Peters and the White Paint he used on his first bunch of springs. Paint that was supposed to go on hospitalbeds btw. So definitely no racist motive.

 

Buy Dutch!

[Guest k.tx]

The shop manual indicates either one can be on your bike depending on model year.

I got a Sachs Boge in both of my bikes, quality and performance is good so far.

It's not Oehlins but works for me, in case I have to replace it I may consider Oehlins or something equivalent, maybe in 50k miles or so.

And BTW, Sachs is a German company and therefore you know quality control is in place. Nothing wrong with that :-)

 

Konrad

[callison]

Cool story on the WP Suspension name. Thanks.

[Lex]

Mike,

 

Re: the Sacks shock, I've got mine working pretty well (post LE modifications) at this point. I actually went for a ride Sunday and didn't adjust the shock afterwards, a good sign. Was it LE who said they might have a problem?

 

Just Curious,

[dlaing]

Lex wrote

Cost: $744.65 OTD Of that total the fork was $426, the rest the shock plus $18.05 tax on the springs and shock oil.

 

That is worst case, I needed three springs, the re-valve and a spacer made for the shock spring as the correct weight spring was not available in the length the Moto Guzzi fits to the stock (Sachs, not Boge as said in an earlier post) shock.

So I gather, for less than $350.oo they put a better spring and spacer to make it fit. Not bad.

And it sounded like you were happy with the results.

Was the revalving only on the forks?

[Mike Stewart]

Lex.

 

It seems three bike in my garage have rear Sach shocks. I have called Aftershocks, Racetech and LE about all three bikes (V11Sport, Aprilia Falco, Ducati M750) at one time or another. The Falco shock is junk and can't even be serviced, the Ducati shock isn't much better but can be revalved. The V11S shock shows promise but after LE told you that they may not have the right seal bugs me.

 

I will give LE a call tomorrow, I am hungry for some suspension work.

 

By the way Lex, the Scura test report (Ohlins shock) was thought to be very stiff in the rear. The magazine thought the swing arm was too short.

 

Mike

[Lex]

Dlaing,

 

I got a re-valve, a spring, and the spacer for my money. At my level of riding ability the re-worked Sachs shock is more than acceptable. I'm pretty happy overall, in my mind I got the same or very nearly the same performance as a premium shock for about 1/2 the price. It may be that a more talented rider would find an Ohlins or Penske markedly better, I can only speak from my own POV.

 

I (like Mike S.) am a little concerned about the lack of parts for the shock. I guess I'm hoping that by the time I need a new seal a way to get parts for the Sachs/ Boge products will be found. In my opinion, there are three reasons to go for the high end shock, parts availability, a remote pre-load adjuster and "cool factor". I have my fingers crossed on the first, can live W/O the second and don't care about the third. Again, that is from the POV of a 47 year-old semi-quick rider, a younger, braver or more talented rider might feel differently.

 

Mike,

 

I don't know enough to say anything with confidence but I agree with what Cycle world said. My understand is that even with the clever "parallelogram" rear suspension the longer the swing arm the better. I'd add the final drive is really heavy and a progressive linkage would also probably be an improvement. When I look at picture of the MGS01 I am drawn to the swing arm. I'll never own an MGS01 (I'm not up for full-on sport bikes; I'm more of a sporty touring) but I would be very pleased if the swingarm/ rear suspension appeared on a future V11 to replace the antiquated ( basically a mid-seventies Yamaha monoshock) design on the current bikes. The new layout should be a huge improvement; easier shock access, it frees up space that could be used to make the air box and/ or the gas tank bigger, should lower the C of G and I'm sure a few other things I'm forgetting.

 

In my dreams Guzzi releases the 2004 V11 LeMans with the MSG01 rear end and bunch of quality improvements and announces the 2004 and 1/2 SP IV based on the new LeMans but with a bit less "committed" riding position, slightly bigger fairing, a bigger alternator, better passenger seat and lower mufflers with a nice set of hard bags. Then I could sell my BMW and enjoy that fine Guzzi motor on long rides with my wife. Besides, I'd love to walk into my garage and see my V11 next to an equality pretty but slightly more voluptuous SP IV.

 

Lex

[Mike Stewart]

Well, I took the plunge! I removed the forks and rear shock from the Green V 11Sport last nite. I now have green parts everywhere! I thought the forks removal would be the hardest part, but it turned out that it was the shock that was a pain in the rear. You need to remove the fuel tank compleatly along with the airbox assembly just to get a wrench on the upper shock bolt.

 

It was a good thing that I removed my fuel tank because I found my two coils were riding on the frame. The three rubber mounts had seperated apart. I have only 15,500 miles (I'm guessing on mileage since my speedo still dont work :finger: ), so you better check yours.

 

I ran the suspension parts down to Lindermans (LE) this afternoon to have them reworked just like Lex. I went with having the rear shock redone also since it is so much cheaper than buying any aftermarket shock. The bad part is the shaft seal, if it leaks, it will be time for new shock.

 

Anyway, LE is a small hole in the wall, but just a few steps inside you will notice a warm wonderful, pleasant odor of suspension fluid filling the air!

 

Mike