Huzband Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 I plan on ordering a set of Hyperpro shocks in the next few days. After 44k on the originals, I figure it's time. The price of the shocks isn't bad, but they want an additional $241 to switch the ESA components over. Additionally, I'll obviously have to send them mine, so I'd be bikeless for at least a week. Can I do this myself & save some serious time & money, or is it really that specialized a procedure? Any special tools required beyond a spring compressor? I appreciate your input. Link to comment
malcolmblalock Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Great question! I have a set of Hyperpros from a previous bike and will need to mate them to the ESA in a year or so. If it's something I can do, I'd like to save the $$. I'll be watching for an answer... Link to comment
Huzband Posted February 10, 2012 Author Share Posted February 10, 2012 It's getting late, & I'm getting nervous that no one knows the answer to this question. Will I be a pioneer? Will I be successful? Will I blow off the eighteen hundred dollars I spent on ESA? Or will I blow a load of money on a pair of shocks that don't work? Stay tuned & read how this reality thread works out. Oh, I forgot to mention that I have to have this done before I leave for RideSmart on 3/29. It takes them four weeks to build the shocks, then another week to do the ESA retrofit. Plus shipping time. Plus my own R&R of the shocks on the bike. I'm pushin' it, & I'm waiting on some kind of answer. I feel like Monday is my deadline for placing the order & having it done. Link to comment
Rotor Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 I do alright with a wrench, nothing special but I get along with things I understand. In your case, I have no experience or knowledge with regard to what it takes to do this myself. I have had my shocks upgraded (Works) and they did the ESA for me. Without having some guidance, diagram or instruction by a competent person I personally would not attempt this one. Maybe others with more knowledge of how these parts work together would but I tend to hedge by bets. I know I – and I’m sure many others – have spent a dollar trying to save a dime; and, it’ll likely happen again. But, if I were on a time schedule for completion I would not attempt a procedure this critical to the bikes performance without being relatively certain how it would come out. My .02 – pay them to do it. The shock R&R for F/R is pretty straight forward but I'm sure you know that. Link to comment
Bernie Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 No experience with the Hyperpro shocks. I installed Ohlins and they are not ESA compatible. Now Wilburs makes a set for the GS, that incorporate the ESA. Not sure if they also make a set for the RT. But everyone that has bought Wilburs, like them and the guy is down the road in Edgewood, FL. Now if you need to borrow a set of standard shocks for the RT, let me know, I have my old ones sitting on the self. Link to comment
Rinkydink Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 As far as saving money I can't help you but with Bernie being in FL I think you should take him up on his offer and install his stock shocks temporarily. You're already in there taking the old shocks off. With your big trip looming you won't be rushed and at least you'll know where you are suspension wise from previous experience. Enjoy your trip, get your Hyper-pros back and swap em out, no pressure, and then show Bernie your appreciation and rest easy. Keep us posted Link to comment
Guest Kakugo Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Hi. I am currently waiting for the local Wilbers dealer to ring me up to say the shocks have arrived. Since I will be taking the shock directly to them I'll be sure to ask if there's some sort of particular procedure to swap the ESA components. Link to comment
Gene#3 Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 No experience with the Hyperpro shocks. I installed Ohlins and they are not ESA compatible. Now Wilburs makes a set for the GS, that incorporate the ESA. Not sure if they also make a set for the RT. But everyone that has bought Wilburs, like them and the guy is down the road in Edgewood, FL. Now if you need to borrow a set of standard shocks for the RT, let me know, I have my old ones sitting on the self. +2 on HermanUSA.com aka Wilbers Edgewood. I can't imagine why you wouldn't check out with him since he's only a short ride away. Wilbers are available for all RT's with ESA. If Herman does the install, he'll even give you a loaner bike! No affiliation, just a satisfied customer! R1200RT 2006 w/ ESA "lowered" by Wilbers Link to comment
OoPEZoO Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 It's getting late, & I'm getting nervous that no one knows the answer to this question. Will I be a pioneer? Will I be successful? Will I blow off the eighteen hundred dollars I spent on ESA? Or will I blow a load of money on a pair of shocks that don't work? Stay tuned & read how this reality thread works out. Oh, I forgot to mention that I have to have this done before I leave for RideSmart on 3/29. It takes them four weeks to build the shocks, then another week to do the ESA retrofit. Plus shipping time. Plus my own R&R of the shocks on the bike. I'm pushin' it, & I'm waiting on some kind of answer. I feel like Monday is my deadline for placing the order & having it done. Good luck......take pics Link to comment
Huzband Posted February 10, 2012 Author Share Posted February 10, 2012 Thanks guys. Bernie, shoot me a line with his contact info. I'll give him a call before I pull the trigger. Link to comment
Huzband Posted February 10, 2012 Author Share Posted February 10, 2012 Bernie, shoot me a line with his contact info. I'll give him a call before I pull the trigger. Never mind, I found it. Link to comment
tallman Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Danny, Herman did the refresh on my Wilbers. Good guy. Link to comment
Huzband Posted February 10, 2012 Author Share Posted February 10, 2012 Just got off the phone with Herman. He has what I need on the shelf & can do the swap in an afternoon. Beats Hyprpros cost by $150, too. Wilbers it is. Link to comment
malcolmblalock Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Glad to see that your question is resolved. However, if anyone has an answer as to what is involved to mate the ESA to Hyperpro shocks, I'd still love to hear it. Making that connection is in my future. Link to comment
Huzband Posted February 11, 2012 Author Share Posted February 11, 2012 I expect to have it done within the next two weeks. When I do, I'll grill Herman as to what's involved in swapping the ESA components from one shock to another. I'll report back what I learn. Link to comment
Lone_RT_rider Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 I expect to have it done within the next two weeks. When I do, I'll grill Herman as to what's involved in swapping the ESA components from one shock to another. I'll report back what I learn. I'll be following this as well Danny. Your on exactly the same path I have chosen to go this spring. Shawn Link to comment
Matts_12GS Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Just got off the phone with Herman. He has what I need on the shelf & can do the swap in an afternoon. Beats Hyprpros cost by $150, too. Wilbers it is. He is a good one to deal with, he did my shocks on the GS and I've been quite happy with them. Proximity helps too. Link to comment
Foot Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Danny I put Wilbers WESA shocks on the GS last year. Herman did the work and turned them a round it 2 days. I am very happy with them! Alan Link to comment
Huzband Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 I'm picking up the new Wiber's tomorrow & will be installing them Sat. I'll post pics & what's involved with changing over the ESA when I'm done. Link to comment
Brad J Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Hi Danny. I'm also very interested in knowing how this is performed - I had asked this same question last fall with little response. I've purchased the Hyperpros to install on my 05' RT with ESA as I need the suspension lowered. I'm planning on starting this project in the next 4 weeks, and although I'm reasonably good with a wrench, but just not sure what to expect till its apart. Thanks / Brad Link to comment
Huzband Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 Welcome aboard, Brad. It's been quite an ordeal, but I finally have the the bike back tonight. I'll explain that later. As soon as I have time, I'll post the process, with pics, in a new thread. I'm shooting for tomorrow night, so stay tuned. Link to comment
Brad J Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 Really appreciate this effort Danny. I've been watching for your update every coupla days, keeping my fingers crossed. I'm really really good at taking stuff apart, but not so good at re-assembling without some instructions! I'm guessing there are several other fella's that would be interested in the disassembly/reassembly process for these ESA shocks. Thanks / Brad Link to comment
Indy Dave Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 Here's one - has links in the first post. ESA R&R Link to comment
Huzband Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share Posted March 5, 2012 Sorry I haven't gotten to it yet, Brad. I'm still working to get them right. The front is there, but I've had to order a heavier spring for the rear. Soon as it's done, I'll post a full report, pics & all. Link to comment
Brad J Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Hey Danny - I'm probably going to give this a shot over the next week. I currently have all the plastics off (complete brake bleed), so its a good time to start.. Curious if you know, but can you describe (once the shock is off the bike), how to disassemble the ESA unit from the shock? This is holding me back, but I'm thinking that once the unit is off the bike, and I can see the complete assembly better, it may not be that difficult to figure out. Anyway, appreciate any feedback... Brad Link to comment
Huzband Posted March 24, 2012 Author Share Posted March 24, 2012 Okay, so Herman put the heavier spring on the rear last Friday. OMG, it was like riding a jack hammer. After talking to him Tuesday, I rode down there today. I pulled the shock, he put last weeks spring back in, & added another ten mm of spacer preload. I put the shock back in, test rode it, & VIOLA! It's perfect. Took 150 miles to get the eighty home, & I'm sold. Brad, I didn't watch Herman remove the ESA unit from the shock, but best as I can tell from looking at it, there's an allen set screw that holds it in place. It appears that once you remove the spring, loosen said set screw, & it should come right out. But you'll have to get the lower mount off first, which requires SOME heat to loosen the Locktite. Not too much heat, though. Herman used an infrared guage, but I didn't see the temp setting. Also, cover the ESA cord with a heavy wet cloth to shield it from the heat. I'll cover this more soon. Link to comment
Bernie Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Glad to hear, looks like the bike should be ready now. Link to comment
Huzband Posted March 24, 2012 Author Share Posted March 24, 2012 Glad to hear, looks like the bike should be ready now. Almost. Autocom B2B gets wired tomorrow along with the Zumo & V1, new PR3 goes on the front, new rear Tuesday night. THEN, the bike will be ready. The rider has been ready all week. Link to comment
Bernie Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Glad to hear you ready. I been working on the routes and can't wait till Thursday AM. Sorry about the hijack. Link to comment
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