Hi all I have a BMW R1150GSA with a Sidecar the bike was marred to the side car some time in the past? I'm the new owner. It looks like DMC or the owner didn't change the shocks Springs to match the new load, so the rear shock is way soft lots of sag and the front has almost no movement as the weight of the side car is overwhelming it. So I need to change the springs. But how do you pick the springs ??? needed . Can you help? the existing shocks are Yacugar E-RS
Thanks Steve
If you're planning to use this rig and keep it for a while, investing in new suspension (instead of just changing the springs) might be a better idea. The first step is to load up your rig with all the gear you'd normally have on board, including passenger and yourself, then weigh the load under each wheel. You'll probably get totals in the vicinity of 50% on the rear, 30% on the front and 20% on the sidecar. Then get on the phone with some sidecar suspension specialists like Klaus Heunecke at EPM Performance or Ted Porter at the Beemershop and see what they recommend.
I used to have a rig similar to yours (2004 GSA with the same sidecar) and I ended up with a 330-lb spring up front, a 913-lb spring in the back, then I just kept using the DMC shock and spring on the sidecar. But that was too much. Shoulda gone softer.
Have owned 5 rigs but Rig #2 is my current one!
Thanks for your help and input Steve
I need to have the rear shock rebuilt so I will most likely send the shocks to Ted Porter to have the spring upgrade completed and rebuild. When you stated that the springs are a bit much? Was that both front and rear? How much do you less weight do you recommend??
Thanks Steve
If they are original equipment shocks and springs, they were junk from 20k even without a sidecar, and not rebuildable. Drone's advice of weighing each wheel is good and Ted Porter's equipment is first rate as are Wilburs and Ohlins.
All of these options will custom build shocks with springs to make the suspension first rate.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
