Choosing Shocks and Springs for Your Motorcycle 

When I went to buy a Bmw Lt 1200 many people told me about the maintenance, it was very complicated and difficult, but I bought it anyway. I was a truck mechanic. I understand the mechanics and a lot of things on that bike I got doing looking at his videos that are simply fantastic and enlightening to how To do these maintenance I am replacing the clutch disc by looking at your videos. Many thanks for posting these great videos, it was difficult because I'm Brazilian and I know a little English, I'm your number one fan.

Good info. My LT is getting a little soft in the suspension and I've been considering a spring upgrade. I'm not inclined to go with the "progressive" spring coil as it would seem to me that the short section of the looser coils will be absorbing the majority of the flexing and eventually weakening the most. If this were used in an industrial setting that high flex area would be the point of fatigue and breakage As I noticed, the original and the Olin spring is designed to be flexing equally along its entire length, getting soft over time but not breaking at a high flex point. Just my experience. I realize that a motorcycle spring isn't expected to function constantly for years on end but that progressive logic smells a little like marketing hype to me. Good video. Thanks

Best explanation I've heard for a while. Very helpful thank you.

Hi Kirk! Love all your videos! Newbie question here....how do i even know if my springs/shocks are worn? i have 42K miles on my 99LT but have not experiences any of the symptoms you mention. In addition, looking at the prices, these things are pretty expensive! Thanks!

Hi Kirk, thinking now to go for hyperpro springs but keeping for some more time the oem shocks. Thank you for the video to support my decision. For any instance do you know if hyperpro springs will maintain or increase the bike height? Sincerely I'm willing to find a solution to increase it to have center stand more far from the road, mine scratches too many times. Any opinion is welcome. Thank you 👍

Hyperpro shocks greatly improved my suspension and made my R1200cl a completely different bike!

I'm curious why some manufacturers make their aftermarket shocks without the rubber bushing, and only a metal bushing. All OEM shocks come with a rubber bushing and metal bushing inside that. If you want to add a rubber bushing to the eyes you have to drill them out. If the eyes are aluminum that would weaken the eye. Sounds like a cheap way of making a shock.

i am looking at buying the YSS shocks for my 96 r1100rt.

Everything with BMW means more money. You said it. I have a BMW helmet and it's £70 just for a replacement visor, and £25 just for the pinlock anti fog insert.

Great video Kirk. I just put a set of Ohlins on my LT. What brand did you end up with on yours?

Where did you get new springs? I just purchased a 2002 k1200lt with 51K miles on it and I know that I need new springs. Do you have a website that I can look it up? Did you put also a new spring on front one as well? Great video and thank you for all your help.

2001 K1200LT 60,000 texas miles. It can scrape on turns and frontal impacts on potholes does feel harsh. i want to ride safety and trust the bike 100%. what is the overall shelf life on both original bmw shocks ? looking to either buy and upgrade spings if the original shocks are still good or If the shocks need changing then ill call hyperpro or ohlin to buy a set

one more question, why does my k1200lt shake quite hard when I let both hands off the handlebars. I thought the bike was going to lost control. what can i do to have a safer ride .

Hello Kirk, my wife just bought BMW 750 GS and the problem she has is no sag, she is only 105 lbs, the bike came w ESA rear shock, looks like she needs coil for lighter person; what brand or type would you recommend and do you know anybody who do it Colorado, thank you

If you put new springs or shocks on, you MUST set them up properly, ie set the SAG (see Ted Porter for detailed info) to optimise suspension performance. Love your videos Kirk, I just thought this essential detail was missing😉