Upside down Shock

[pfy50]

First post about my newly acquired '94 K1100RS.
The previous owner has apparently remounted the OEM shock upside down. I'm assuming that this was done to make it convenient to change preload while tragkorbs were still mounted, but is their any other reason, and is the shock working correctly in this configuration?? :eek: :dunno

[satch]

When I boght my K75 the rear shock was mounted upside down. I don't know about the factory shock but the progressive manual said not to mount it upside down due to possible damage. It made a definite improvement when I turned it around.

[TimTyler]

My bike had an upside-down fairly new Progressive shock when i bought it.

It failed 3500 miles later which is when I discovered it was mounted wrong.

[johnny]

greetings pfy50...

welcome to motobrick.com...

hows abouts posting up a photo of that shock install...

j o

[pfy50]

OK J O,
Didn't see the posts until just before bed, but I'll get a pick tomorrow and post it. I'm assuming it is upside down as the manual shows the preload adjusting collar up top while mine is down low. Does that effect the camber bolt up top or is the bushing the same width top and bottom?? :dunno


ps. I'm also going to rebuild the rear brake master cylinder and lube the final drive spline. So the bottom half of the shock will be off so I might as well loose the top shock mount bolt and switch it back. Anybody want to chime in about the progressive shocks are they worth while replacement for OEM shock. I don't think I can afford a Ohlins or Wilbur shock.

Paul

[Scott_]

Not sure what manual you are looking at, the BMW issued riders guided shows the pre-load adjusting collar at the bottom.

You can down load it here.
http://www.motobrick.com/index.php?topic=1447.0

[pfy50]

Scott,

I was using the photos from the clymer manual (pgs. 396-398) which show a shock with piston and the preload collar at the top. :dunno This may be for an earlier model, was the K100 shock preload collar at the top?.

I intended to get a photo today of it, but since the parts to start work on it did not arrive until UPS delivered them late today; so I worked on my trail bike which is the only bike I have at my apt. The Beemer is parked in a garage in another town so Lord willing I'll get over there tomorrow to start work on it and take a photo. The shock that is pictured in the Rider's manual looks like the one I have so maybe it is mounted correctly. I'll look and photo it.

Not sure what manual you are looking at, the BMW issued riders guided shows the pre-load adjusting collar at the bottom.

You can down load it here.
http://www.motobrick.com/index.php?topic=1447.0

[johnny]

greetings pfy50...

so many shocks... need to see it... regardless of what a fiche or book says...

j o

[Scott_]

greetings pfy50...

so many shocks... need to see it... regardless of what a fiche or book says...

j o

Agreed.
My Ram, Ohlins, and Fox all mount opposite of the direction my factory shocks were mounted, both of them were the same.
It comes down to how the mfgr designed the shock and how they intended it to be mounted.......

[pfy50]

Well here is the bike and the shock. Appears (other than the piston is at the bottom) to be mounted correctly. according to the rider's manual. It is stamped Showa B007

[johnny]

greetings pfy50...

that is a stock shock and it is mounted properly... you gotts a spanner to adjust the bottom which is preload and a screw driver to adjust the top which is rebound dampening... stock shocks get pretty whack in their old age... bests charge your credit card with 5 bills to getts it right...

j o

[pfy50]

greetings pfy50...

that is a stock shock and it is mounted properly... you gotts a spanner to adjust the bottom which is preload and a screw driver to adjust the top which is dampening... stock shocks get pretty whack in their old age... bests charge your credit card with 5 bills to getts it right...

j o

OK j o

TNX

So what's the consensus for after-market shock for a '94 K1100RS: I'm probably going to keep her(BLU-BRK) as a commuter daily/ short trip bike, and keep my KTM for long distance Multi week travel. I'm 245lbs and will carry up 50-60lbs of gear in saddlebags and a strapped on Ortlieb bag. So what shock would work adequate for occasional trips/rallies and back country (North East Tenn.) zooming?  

[johnny]

i would blast out the twisties fiddling with that stock shock and see if it works for you at this point in time...

if not... works... ram... hyperpro... wilbers... yss... ohlins...

j o

[pfy50]

i would blast out the twisties fiddling with that stock shock and see if it works for you at this point in time...

if not... works... ram... hyperpro... wilbers... yss... ohlins...

j o

TNX   j o  :2thumbup:

That RAM CM380 looks doable in month or 2: sent them an inquiry for my specific weight range, so we'll see.

Paul  :clap: