WP or Wilbers
06-12-2007, 01:05 AM
#1
Member
Squid
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Akershus, Norway
Posts: 99
WP or Wilbers
I have the option of selecting any of the two. I get Wilbers for a better price, and the factory make it to my order (Weight, riding style...)
WP would deliver a similar setup, but I get the extra quality control as the shop owner happens to be _the_ suspension guru in Norway. I don't know him well enough to get a good price but I know that he would make sure I'm 110% satisfied.
I intend to use the bike for varied riding, including an occational trackday. But I'm not a specialist in suspension setup.
Do I need the model with all the trick parts as external reservoir and hydraulic preload or will I be ok with the less costly model that are basically the same model but with cumbersome adjustments? (Don't know about Wilbers but WP is the same allthough one adjustment are missing (Hi speed rebound i think)
WP would deliver a similar setup, but I get the extra quality control as the shop owner happens to be _the_ suspension guru in Norway. I don't know him well enough to get a good price but I know that he would make sure I'm 110% satisfied.
I intend to use the bike for varied riding, including an occational trackday. But I'm not a specialist in suspension setup.
Do I need the model with all the trick parts as external reservoir and hydraulic preload or will I be ok with the less costly model that are basically the same model but with cumbersome adjustments? (Don't know about Wilbers but WP is the same allthough one adjustment are missing (Hi speed rebound i think)
06-12-2007, 06:43 AM
#2
Moderator
MotoGP
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: South Texas
Posts: 2,553
I've never had a WP but over the years I've had penske, ohlins, sachs, fox, and now a wilbers.
The hydraulic preload is good if you frequently carry passengers or heavy luggage AND if you will change it accordingly. I've never had to touch the wilbers pre-load as it was set correctly by them.
I greatly prefer the hi-lo adjustability option on my wilbers as all the other shocks listed above only had the low range or rebound only. It really makes a difference in overall ride quality. Low speed is adequate for all around damping but hi-speed deals with very hard bumps like pot holes.
Your suspension guru should be able to tune ANY shock you bring him. The questions are: Will he? And at what costs? I assume he would tune for free any shock he sells so the WP maybe the cheapest in the end.
The hydraulic preload is good if you frequently carry passengers or heavy luggage AND if you will change it accordingly. I've never had to touch the wilbers pre-load as it was set correctly by them.
I greatly prefer the hi-lo adjustability option on my wilbers as all the other shocks listed above only had the low range or rebound only. It really makes a difference in overall ride quality. Low speed is adequate for all around damping but hi-speed deals with very hard bumps like pot holes.
Your suspension guru should be able to tune ANY shock you bring him. The questions are: Will he? And at what costs? I assume he would tune for free any shock he sells so the WP maybe the cheapest in the end.
06-12-2007, 01:59 PM
#3
Member
Squid
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Akershus, Norway
Posts: 99
I've never had a WP but over the years I've had penske, ohlins, sachs, fox, and now a wilbers.
The hydraulic preload is good if you frequently carry passengers or heavy luggage AND if you will change it accordingly. I've never had to touch the wilbers pre-load as it was set correctly by them.
I greatly prefer the hi-lo adjustability option on my wilbers as all the other shocks listed above only had the low range or rebound only. It really makes a difference in overall ride quality. Low speed is adequate for all around damping but hi-speed deals with very hard bumps like pot holes.
Your suspension guru should be able to tune ANY shock you bring him. The questions are: Will he? And at what costs? I assume he would tune for free any shock he sells so the WP maybe the cheapest in the end.
The hydraulic preload is good if you frequently carry passengers or heavy luggage AND if you will change it accordingly. I've never had to touch the wilbers pre-load as it was set correctly by them.
I greatly prefer the hi-lo adjustability option on my wilbers as all the other shocks listed above only had the low range or rebound only. It really makes a difference in overall ride quality. Low speed is adequate for all around damping but hi-speed deals with very hard bumps like pot holes.
Your suspension guru should be able to tune ANY shock you bring him. The questions are: Will he? And at what costs? I assume he would tune for free any shock he sells so the WP maybe the cheapest in the end.
Anyway, what model of Wilbers are you using?
The way you talk about it I assume you are happy with it?
Edit: Does it have ride hight adjustment?
06-12-2007, 02:13 PM
#4
Moderator
MotoGP
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: South Texas
Posts: 2,553
I have the 641 with hi-lo compression and the other is called rebound. The stock unit has rebound and preload only; no compression adjustments.
Yes, I'm happy with mine but the US distributor found it necessary to drop them and go with WP because of a business dispute.
Yes, I'm happy with mine but the US distributor found it necessary to drop them and go with WP because of a business dispute.
06-12-2007, 02:23 PM
#5
Member
Squid
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Akershus, Norway
Posts: 99
I have the 641 with hi-lo compression and the other is called rebound. The stock unit has rebound and preload only; no compression adjustments.
Yes, I'm happy with mine but the US distributor found it necessary to drop them and go with WP because of a business dispute.
Yes, I'm happy with mine but the US distributor found it necessary to drop them and go with WP because of a business dispute.
Btw. I added above another question: Does it have ride height adjustment, and does it work as in 5 - 10mm above stock height?
06-13-2007, 08:11 AM
#7
Senior Member
Back Marker
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 107
I also have the 641 wilbers. Its working good on my bike.
I didn't take the hight and preload adjustment. ($ or in my case €)
I can also recomend The book Motorcycle suspension technology from wilbers. Very much suspension information in there.
I didn't take the hight and preload adjustment. ($ or in my case €)
I can also recomend The book Motorcycle suspension technology from wilbers. Very much suspension information in there.
06-13-2007, 08:51 AM
#8
Senior Member
SuperBike
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MN
Posts: 1,548
I'd take into account your desire to avoid 'cumbersome' adjustment. The more option for damping and ride height adjustments are great - but also a lot more opportunity to create an ill-handling bike. If you know yourself, and are not likely to fiddle with the adjustability to optimize for different riding conditions, than simpler might be better and just work with someone to get the basic setup right. As was said ride height adjustment can be done once very easily with a shim - the adjuster is useful if you change tires with different heights to maintain your baseline geometry - may not be an issue for you.
06-13-2007, 01:58 PM
#9
Member
Squid
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Akershus, Norway
Posts: 99
I'd take into account your desire to avoid 'cumbersome' adjustment. The more option for damping and ride height adjustments are great - but also a lot more opportunity to create an ill-handling bike. If you know yourself, and are not likely to fiddle with the adjustability to optimize for different riding conditions, than simpler might be better and just work with someone to get the basic setup right. As was said ride height adjustment can be done once very easily with a shim - the adjuster is useful if you change tires with different heights to maintain your baseline geometry - may not be an issue for you.
I'm not too conserned. I would do any adjustment step by step and if I mess it up there are plenty of people around to get me on the right track again. Another advantage together with cheap or free tires after being activ in Road Racing.
For the hight adjustment I guess I'll just move my old spacer over to the new unit.
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