Racetech vs touratech vs wilbers

Ok I’m posting again for shocks.
Have 19 r1250gsa and my oem shocks keep giving me strut adjustment faulty warning when it got too much heat on trail. And don’t like limited adjustment of esa.
So I want non esa fully manual shocks.
Seems touratech has name but it’s ridiculous price.
I’m looking racetech or ohlin bm148,bm149
I know ohlins is best but bit suspicious since ohlins is more based on street race.
Anyone have experience either brand on off road?

I too, am interested in this topic. I'm a fairly robust dude, 6'3" and about 255 in my birthday suit. So, on road, just me riding, I find that the ESA is a bit mushy on my '19 R1250GSA. Set up on "Road" and "Auto", it's WAY too pogo-stick-esque for me, and I find that I ride with it on "Dynamic" and "Auto". When going to the Enduro Pro setting, the suspension bucks me like a rocking horse. Even unloaded, I can feel the bike bottom out.

So, I'm considering doing the springs first, matched to my weight. If that does not cure it, I will switch to full manual. As stated, one up, on the road, the suspension in "Dynamic / Auto" does a well enough job. Throw my wife on two up, then "Dynamic MAX" even becomes over worked.

Thanks for starting this thread. Suspension is the best money spent on a bike, in my opinion. This is my first BMW, my first Boxer and my first "Adventure" bike. I've ridden sport bikes my entire life. Always did the suspension on them. I look forward to the input here. Cheers!

The idea that Ohlins are the best shocks for consumers is just marketing hype. Unless you are a high dollar race team, the Ohlins you are buying are stock off the shelf, identical to the next pair on the shelf with the exception of choosing your spring rates.

Most of the other first tier shock makers will valve them for you based upon riding styles as well as spring rates. Big difference.

Not trying to rain on your parade. I have no dog in this fight but I have used custom Wilburs and Ohlins on a number of bikes over a number of years. There are day and night differences between them.

Hum.. then might be racetech is better choice. Or just spring

I would choose Racetech over Ohlins. I would also choose Wilburs or Touratech as well over Ohlins. Just my .02, YMMV.

You might want to give Ted Porter at the Beemershop a call. He sells all the big brands and will give you solid advice on the pros and cons of each.

Ok then I’m gonna change topic to racetech vs touratech vs wilbers lol

Only partially true - exterior of the shocks is the same but interior ie. type of valving and all other bits and pieces, beside the springs, vary depending on how one orders the shocks ie. type of riding etc etc etc...

Last time I modified Ohlins shocks made for BMW (proprietary deal for one of the limited production earlier hexheads bikes), I've gone through great length of discussing and specifying everything I wanted shocks to do with one of the Ohlins specialists.

So, the specific inner workings of the shocks plus specific spring rate for specified weight, is what makes custom shocks specific to one's needs ie. non-identical to next set on the shelf...

There are bulders who can and will customize a set of shocks for you but the fact that most Ohlins can be purchased from retail distribution indicates production manufacturing with no valving customization.

I have three bikes with Wilbers and Ohlins on them. I honestly couldn't say i have a preference between the two brands. One point to note is that Ohlins always seem to supply a shock with the minimum rate spring they can get away with fitting. So you will likely be up $$$ for another spring once you figure out that the spring it came with was inadequate. Wilbers are far more negotiable in the sizing and needs of the customer.

I just talked with racetech and latest gs shoks they've done is 2012 so they need my oem shock to build custom one to be sure fitment and it'll take about 6 weeks... too much works. if i have my own garage then yes I want to try racetech since I heard so many good thing about them...

so guys, Here is my final decision after spending day of research and few phone calls with ohlins, racetech, Beemershop.
I talked lastly with Ted from Beemershop and he is very kind and really professional. he said after 2017 model you can't use non ESA shocks. there are no cancelation warning module yet for non esa shocks to make computer happy and after 17 esa system is auto damping adjustment (forgot exactly what it was )which is different than previous one.
and also he said basically Ohlin is street based company and he havn't seen any good one for adventure bike from Ohlins. Touratech one made by Tractive and Tractive is only company who is making shocks that fully compatible with after 2017 R1200.1250 gsa ESA Dynamic system which is new generation.
Ted will customize shock depends on my minimum and maximun riding weight.

I'm going to figure out what my minimum and maximum weight is and will order from Ted. and estimation is for both front and rear - $3300 which is about $700 cheaper than Touratech. basically touratech charging $700 for their sticker he said.
Thanks guys and hope this help you

Good choice. Exact route I went on my '16 GSA after consulting with Ted. With the exception of having to get a 2nd mortgage to pay for them, you won't be sorry going with Tractive.

@tk1250gsa

Thanks for the update. I will also go this route. After my pogo-stick experience yesterday on some double track, I know I am way too heavy for the stock spring rates and the damping can't keep up. I was solo, and my boxes were not loaded. I could feel the suspension bottoming out. This bike is brilliant, and when I ride "normally" on pavement, not a big deal. But aggressive riding, and anything bumpy off road, it just can't keep up. Compression is too soft and rebound is almost non existent. I will give him a call and discuss as well.

Thanks again!

What you really want to do is call Ted Porters Beemershop in CA. as appears to guessing and buying off the shelf.
He can set you up with exactly what you need. Unless you’re a racer he won’t suggest Ohlins for your GS though he handles almost all brands including Touratech.

JR356

When everything else fails, talking to suspension specialist instead of random retailer always leads to success - well done!!

Hope you'll update the post once you get and install the new shocks so you can tell us what we're missing... Some of us will most likely follow the suit...

I'll! let me save some more $$ lol

tk1250 .. I put a brand new set of rear and front Touratechs on my '18 GSA (1200) in June this year... had to abort the TAT in Oklahoma in July and cancel the continental divide in August due to constant issues with them .. the bike is just now going back to the original BMWs at the dealers and the Touratechs are being returned. I really had no issues with the BMW suspension and completed the MABDR and most of the SEAT in 2018 with them but just wanted a 100% better option for the TAT and CDR .. be careful what you wish for is a good statement !!.

The issue is not as much with the Touratech suspension but the fact that BMW has had a lot of trouble with the stock suspension and so much so that any new software download increases the voltage that goes to their own suspension but the Touratechs cannot handle the increased voltage. Touratech will send a new controller once they have tested to the new voltage but cannot warranty against any further changes that BMW makes so in effect if there is a problem a year down the line then there is no backup and you going to be stuck where you are at.

I did approximately 80 miles before the suspension kept continually erroring .. stop ... reset and set off again ... 20 miles later the same issue. The controller eventually burned out and then it affected the front and rear suspension rather than just the rear.

I am not sure there is a good aftermarket suspension for the GSA or GS .. and as I say it really is a BMW issue rather than the aftermarket supplier as they build for the present bike but BMW change the software and other items just to satisfy their own products on the bike and care little for the aftermarket suppliers products.

There are different versions of the Touratech piggyback box. The version must fit to the software release of your BMW. If your local suspension shop tells you the 1200 Touratech package will fit to your 1250, just run and go to a more knowledgeable dealer otherwise you will face the same issues as written above.
Kind of funny discussion here about the different options and biased opinions. Overhere any aftermarked suspension comes with a questionaere first and you receive the suspension setup for your specific requirements. Thats the whole point of having another suspension ...