Shocks

The FSD model is too new for me to comment on. I am used to the "hydraulic" Koni. We had a heavy one ton Ford extended chassis van which was used to transport three PALLETS of batteries. The Ranchos were a slight improvement over Monroe HD gas shocks but the Koni's made a laughing stock out of the Rancho gas shocks. I shared expenses with my neighbor a battery distributor (and a long-term customer). The first time I drove the van with the Ranchos I decided they were destined for the dumpster. Four hundred and some odd dollars later that van drove like a different vehicle. 3-axles of my bus have Konis that had to have highly modified mounts riveted to the frame and axles. More than a thousand dollars for six shock absorbers. Ever see a 2-5/8" diameter rear sway bar? Three hundred pounds. I never have been a talented driver and I need all the help I can get. ;)

I haven't gotten the mount yet, but I suspect you're right, it will need springs. Might be less complicated to get a cheap trailer. Thanks for the input.

As JD stated shocks won't add any capacity to your rear to support 400 lbs. I would look at springs or air bags that can be adjusted for pressure to increase or decrease the spring rate when you are not carrying the 400 lb bike.

David,

The Koni FSD shocks are not adjustable ... but they are sold by vehicle type ... so the factory is most likely using various valving parameters per vehicle weight. I had to wait a long time - and also bug Koni - before they finally introduced a Ford E450 version early last year.

The Koni adjustable shocks are a whole nuther animal - with probably about the same performance as my pickup truck's 10-point adjustable Rancho lifetime warranty shocks - in that both the adjustable Ranchos and adjustable Konis most likely have identical damping action in both directions (extension and compression). I know that the Koni FSD shocks are hydraulic - not gas. I don't know if the Koni adjustables and Rancho adjustables are hydraulic or gas. However, I think that I'm a fan of well made good old fashioned technology hydraulic shocks. As usual, it's probably more expensive to make high quality long lasting hydraulic shocks than it is to make long-enough-lasting-for-the-average-consumer gas shocks ... I'm just guessing on this issue, though.

The adjustable Koni shocks do have a BIG NEGATIVE though, as compared to my Rancho pickup truck adjustables. I think that one end of the Koni adjustables has to be disconnected to adjust them by twisting them. To adjust the Ranchos, I just crawl under the vehicle and turn a knob. I have done this many times on my pickup truck trying and trying to stop it's front-to-rear rocking .... all to no avail. What's up with those extended cab short bed Z71 one-half ton 4X4 GMC pickups .... anyway? I even have special rubber shackles on the back ends of each rear leaf spring to address this issue.

I installed the FSD Konis on the rear of our motorhome to address an issue that's especially - and mostly - a problem with putting a relatively low weight motorhome on a chassis built for much more weight. I wanted the advantages of an overkill chassis but without the rear leaf spring stiffness disadvantage. Short of removing a leaf in each rear spring - which is a poor option IMHO - I finally installed the Koni FSD variable damping shocks back there that on highway cracks and potholes act like no shocks. Spring stiffness on highway cracks and potholes is bad enough without adding shock stiffness to it.

I put KYB gas a justs on my Dodge Van for a significant handling improvement over the fully functional, non worn out Gabriels I had on previously.

Are Bilsteins worth 2x the money, I can't say, only that I love the handling characteristics of the KYB GAJ's, though they are stiff and do not give that floaty/removed from the road feeling that some people desire.

The KYB GAJ's are under 40$ each on my platform, a B250

Thanks for all the replies... I have not looked at the Koni's yet, I am sure I will get "Sticker Shock" .. Thanks again. Bob J.

pnichols, some folks are amazed when they upgrade from Rancho shocks to Koni. The unique valving and control of the Koni is nothing short of a miracle. And after 100,000 miles when things start to wear, simply adjust them up a notch. The Dutch absolutely knew their stuff when they designed these critters. They are like upgrading from a Yugo to a Mercedes.

I just recently installed Koni FSD shocks on only the rear of our motorhome. These shocks function as soft shocks on sharp-edged bumps, and function as stiff shocks for sway control on curves, for controlling air push from passing vehicles, and for controlling the bounce from rough road surfaces, going over curbs, etc..

So far they are performing exactly as advertised and as I had hoped. I intentionally took a trip down a CA highway yesterday with a particularyl torn-up right hand truck lane. The FSD shocks definitley rounded-off the jolting from the cracks and potholes, but continued to maintain sway control just a bit superior to the Ford OEM shocks when they were new. The cracks and potholes on that particular section of highway now feel in the motorhome almost like they do in our family sedan on that same stretch of road.

The Koni FSD shocks carry a liftetime warranty and are expensive. However, you may not feel highway cracks and potholes much in you van with the heavy BMW in the rear. You may need only bounce control when carrying your BMW, and many less expensive types of shocks will control suspension bounce introduced when carrying heavier than stock weight.

rwj146 wrote:
I bought a BMW 650 GS and plan to carry it on a hitch mount. I have a Dodge one ton extended Van. The bike weighs 390. I have a couple of carriers that should work but might need an extender for the bike to clear the spare . . .

It'll be interesting to see how things work if you use an extender. Use of an extender (depending on length) AND 400 lbs. could exceed the tongue weight rating of a CAT III hitch (500-600 lbs.). If you have a CAT IV probably not a concern.

Bilstein 4600 helps control our fifth wheel and ride . Highly recommended.