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new bike / shocks / nose dive?

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 2:58 pm
by tedsalt
Just picked up a 98 R1100R Anniversary Edition. Noticed that when I let off after juicing the throttle, the front end takes a nose dive and bottoms out the front shock. Is this normal?

Re: new bike / shocks / nose dive?

Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2016 1:46 pm
by smutny
Bottoming out? No, not normal. May need to service the struts or repair/replace the shock.

Re: new bike / shocks / nose dive?

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2016 10:58 am
by rsc
The front end design counteracts dive while braking. However, it seems to increase dive when the throttle is chopped. If you are smooth letting off the throttle it won't dive like that. But, bottoming out is not normal. The stock shocks start losing damping about 20k miles, not sure how long the springs last before going soft. I've replaced the shocks with Öhlins units well before then.

Re: new bike / shocks / nose dive?

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2016 1:04 pm
by peels
compresses a little bit... maybe.

Bottoms out?! nooooo! even if the shock is bad that still sounds wrong. mine wont even do that under HARD braking. that is BAD. if you shock is fully compressed during deceleration, its not absorbing bumps and you could be thrown.

get it looked at.


curious, does it make any noises? maybe you have a dragging front brake?(it happens) just letting off should be smooth with the telelever.

Re: new bike / shocks / nose dive?

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2016 9:22 pm
by rsc
Just curious, how do you know it bottomed out? Have you tied a zip tie around one of the chromed fork tubes and seen that it actually was pushed up to the top?

Re: new bike / shocks / nose dive?

Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 8:54 pm
by tedsalt
sorry guys, I need to check it a little closer. I'm not sure it's bottomed out. It just seems like a fair amount of dive. I'll have to do the zip tie thing around the fork tubes that rsc mentioned. I am a big guy, and that may not help. I'd like to go to Wilbers or Ohlins, but they're not in the budget right now.

Re: new bike / shocks / nose dive?

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2017 4:18 pm
by daytonaredeye
Haven't been around here for years (and sold my 2000 R1100R a few years back) but keep in mind that the whole telelever front end is meant to prevent nose dives. So, while the zip tie might be an easy test, pay attention to the entire front end geometry when evaluating a dive problem. I actually was never able to induce a nose dive with front braking only (from high speed) or sudden throttle release.

Good luck and keep us informed of your progress.

Re: new bike / shocks / nose dive?

Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2018 1:09 am
by tedsalt
I did pick up some used Ohlins and have installed the rear. The front has a leak and will need to be rebuilt. I am enjoying the rear so far. Much firmer ride and don't notice the rear end bottoming out anymore on hard bumps. Need to test it two up. I do still need to adjust preload / sag ...

new bike / shocks / nose dive

Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2019 6:26 am
by Henrysheem
Hi All,

I'm a new member coming over in May. Does anyone know where I might be able to hire a bike for a few days during my stay

cheers
John