Mattias, Beech,
Happy New Year as its another Polluted Day in Bangkok! I pray you are breathing cold, crisp clean air in the USA and Sweden.
Both of you have advocated OEM Rebuilds of our Stock Shocks both ESA and Non-ESA but I have yet to read anyone or have seen pictures of overhauled said Shocks?
Not sure about the Company in The Nederlands, but as far as Herr Klaus in New Jersey: That's news to me. Why would a man be overhauling OEM disposable shocks and Not selling new Shocks? Hmmmm
Have either one of you attempted to Overhaul your OEM shocks? Its pretty much a big "Pain in the Ass". We can overhaul a "serviceable" shock in 1/2 a day.
They (BMW) go out of they're way to have the Suspension contractors build non serviceable shocks so we (The Consumer) can purchase more OEM Shocks. Good for the Dealer, good for the Contractor, but bad for us. Hense the Solution: Aftermarket Shocks and Overhauled Forks! We're Lucky there! Shock in the Front, Shock in the Rear, get the correct Spring rate, set squat/pre-load and rebound - Have a nice day!
I challenge both of the two of you, to put your money where your mouths are: I have my original Suspension (front and rear shocks\non esa) mounted on a Wilbers Advertisement board.
The front shock pissed out its gas and fluid at around 25000 miles. The Rear let loose its gas charge shortly after that.....say 26000 miles. I obviously replaced with Wilbers front and rear Shocks as I sell and service Wilbers suspension systems.
BMW 2008 K1200S, Contractor is *********** front and rear. Which Shop NL or NJ, USA would you suggest I send them to?
Unless I live in the United States or The Nederlands (EU) Whats my
Shipping Costs there and Back? Whats my
overhaul cost when a Piston Rod is damaged? Can the shops secure just the
ESA motors and Valves from BMW? Is it considered
Hazardous Goods as its normally pressurized with a non flammable gas? Will the country I live in allow the shipment out via
local laws? Will I have to pay
duty and taxes on my own shocks to be returned back to me when they hit
Customs where I live in? How long will all this take in
time?
In the Pictures below, please show us, where the charging port(s) hide. Do you see a charging port? Obviously not. This suggests that the charging is done before the Pistons' end cap is installed during the manufacturing process. Rebuilding a "disposable shock" presents other problems with re-assembling as well..... proprietary seals, rings, pistons and the way the valves are stacked and ported.
I certainly don't have this device or injector, and drilling, tapping and installing a charging point for our small and humble operation is not profitable. Stocking small seals, O rings, Shims, wafers, ports for every model of every year by at least 5 manufacturers.....Problematic at best.
Packing and Sending a customers OEM Shock out for service, out of Thailand (and much of south East Asia) is Prohibited. The government here designates them as Dangerous Goods, even if the shocks are dis-assembled into several pieces. Shipping costs these days? Astronomical! Do riders really want to pay duties and Taxes on re-importing these shocks (That they already paid for when they purchased the bike) again, to a double dipping tax? Not to mention if the carrier loses, destroys or delivers to the wrong address in the US, and some one steals it?
My personal experience recently with a transmission cassette to Florida.
For those of you who don't know what a charging port is: See the Photos of the Ohlins and Wilbers Shocks below OE WP Shocks...... for those of you who think your saving money, think again.
So, based on this information Mattias, Beech: What would you do if you were this customer? What would you do if you owned a suspension Shop? : )