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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Huzo on May 18, 2026, 11:25:45 PM
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Has anyone put an Ohlins rear shock on a Norge ?
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Huzo, it costs more than the bike, mind.... :)
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Huzo, it costs more than the bike, mind.... :)
I definitely paid more for the bike than an Ohlins unit. You might be making the point that a 2007 Norge is not valuable enough to deserve one ?
Possibly so, but what should I do now that the bike needs one ?
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Any other options or anything else that will fit?
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If you plan on keeping the bike, go for the Ohlins. Life’s short.
Pete
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Hmm…
Both excellent replies, I agree with both.
This is a bike I will never sell, I’ve proven that.
So do I follow heart or head?
I want to get it to 300,000 k..
It turned 100,000 outside Paris in 2016
(https://i.ibb.co/Y4nbkq9Q/IMG-4081.png) (https://ibb.co/Y4nbkq9Q)
and 200,000 at Como in 2022.
(https://i.ibb.co/fzMnt6xq/IMG-4079.png) (https://ibb.co/fzMnt6xq)
The intention is to turn 300,000 in Australia this time.
Now what was that comment about the shock being worth more than the bike ?
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! have a Penske on my 1200S. I like it and it is a huge improvement over the stock shock. With luggage at speed on rough roads the stock set up would wallow, nothing dangerous just slightly disturbing.
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Back when I had the 07 Norge, Wilbers was the hot setup out in SoCal.
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I have read a lot of negative comments about Wilbers, and if the Wilbers-equipped Triumph Tiger my brother owned is representative, I would say they deserve the negativity.
The Ohlins shock on my BMW F800ST was simply superb. Utterly comfortable yet total control on every kind of road. Regardless, getting the shock made for your needs is probably more important than the brand.
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I've had them and since riding is a sensory experience, I felt they were worth the high price. Keep the old stock shock and if for some reason you sell the bike, put that back in and sell the Ohlins separately. Also, they are rebuildable. Life is short.
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I had one in my Norge. Transformed the bike. Assisted Hamlin in installing quite a few of these into the Norge bikes he sold. Nobody complained.
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I had one in my Norge. Transformed the bike. Assisted Hamlin in installing quite a few of these into the Norge bikes he sold. Nobody complained.
Ohlins or Wilburs?
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I just bought another Shock factory shock for my new v85. $575 to my door with all fees. Great deal and a good shock. I've got 40,000 on my other one.
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Personally I’d do the Ohlins if able to. Life is SHORT. Take an already fantastic motorcycle to the next level
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Personally I’d do the Ohlins if able to. Life is SHORT. Take an already fantastic motorcycle to the next level
I know what I’ll think if I don’t and it’ll drive me (more) mad…
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Here ya go Pete,
No tariff nonsense for you to deal with for a pair of Norge shocks..
https://www.bikehps.com/acatalog/Nitron_Adventure_Series_Shocks_for_Moto_Guzzi_Motorcycles.html
https://www.brooksuspension.co.uk/motorcycle-shock-absorbers/moto-guzzi-norge-1200-nitron-r3-shock-absorber-06-14
https://www.gutsibits.co.uk/pr/TheShop/index.php?f=e&Shnew=&Model=&ModelName=All+Models&Cat=SUA&CatName=Suspension&spPage=4&Sort=TitleDesc
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Shock Factory are the go to brand with allthe French guzzistis : great performance at a very keen price.I dont think that there is a more competitive manufacturer around
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:cry:I’d love to have my current Nitron refurbished, but I just don’t trust anyone to do it properly. It’s just so damn easy for them to pull it apart, spray it with WD40 or similar and give it back to me.
I won’t know I’ve been ripped off until I head off down the road on it…
The new Nitron is tempting, I have not seen a definitive price to my door on a comparable Ohlins product.
But I think it’s Nitron or Ohlins.
Thanks SemperVee and others for your collective input.
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I think this is the one..
(https://i.ibb.co/Zpcv1LH5/IMG-5356.png) (https://ibb.co/Zpcv1LH5)
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:cry:I’d love to have my current Nitron refurbished, but I just don’t trust anyone to do it properly. It’s just so damn easy for them to pull it apart, spray it with WD40 or similar and give it back to me.
I won’t know I’ve been ripped off until I head off down the road on it…
The new Nitron is tempting, I have not seen a definitive price to my door on a comparable Ohlins product.
But I think it’s Nitron or Ohlins.
Thanks SemperVee and others for your collective input.
Mate, try Promecha in Mulgrave/ Melbourne.
He knows what he's doing and been doin it for a long time...
My Hyperpro shock was serviced by Peter and he also modded the forks on the V11 Sport!
I reckon he'd be able to sort your Nitron for you
Cheers
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Mate, try Promecha in Mulgrave/ Melbourne.
He knows what he's doing and been doin it for a long time...
My Hyperpro shock was serviced by Peter and he also modded the forks on the V11 Sport!
I reckon he'd be able to sort your Nitron for you
Cheers
Ok Guzz…
Mulgrave’s pretty close, I’ll give them a call tomorrow..
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One more I forgot is from here in Las Vegas... They carry the Matris shock
https://www.bellissimoto.com/
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I know it’s an affair of the heart, but I see a beautiful Italian lady in a red dress.
(https://i.ibb.co/RGtVJsv3/IMG-0366.jpg) (https://ibb.co/RGtVJsv3)
I remember this wine soaked evening in a warm Southern Italian village and now I can’t imagine her in anything other than gold earrings….
(https://i.ibb.co/Zpcv1LH5/IMG-5356.png) (https://ibb.co/Zpcv1LH5)<br /
I think I’m head over heels.
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Huzo needs (more of) his meds! :tongue:
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My Guzzi has very basic (50 year old) suspension which can be a tad teeth-jarring on rough surfaces but I doubt Ohlins make anything for it so I live with the authenticity but I do have Ohlins shocks on both my Ducatis and they are excellent. So good that I don't even notice them, once setup for my weight etc. they just work faultlessly and no longevity issues either.
I also have Ohlins forks on my 916 which also work perfectly being both supple and firm at the same time but they do require new seals every few years as they start to leak.
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For keeping the bike long term, another potential benefit to the Öhlins is that they can be serviced and rebuilt. Once some motorcycles become "vintage", it can otherwise be especially hard to address things like a factory shock leaking oil. Öhlins do tend to recommend rebuilding the suspension every 20k-30k miles on street bikes though. My experience with having a rear shock rebuilt (mono shock bike) at 25k miles was that it ran about half the list price of the shock.
Certainly not Guzzi content, but I have Öhlins front and rear on a 2021 Honda Trail 125. $1,200 suspension into a $4k MSRP bike. Very happy with the setup as that's what was available of reputable quality at the time the bike had just come to the USA. It's provided enough comfort to ride the bike coast to coast across the USA, and quite a few other long distance trips the past few years. IMO the value of the bike it's going into isn't as relevant as the use you will get from it. I would likely not buy it again on a new CT125, not because it's not been a good setup, but because cheaper options of good quality have hit the market in the years since, and with emulator valves (e.g. RacingBros).
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IF I were to purchase a new shock for my Norge this is where I would be spending my money... $400 USD/390Euro
https://www.windingroads.co.uk/brand/shock-factory-uk/moto-guzzi-shock-absorbers/moto-guzzi-uk-shock-absorbers
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Well…?
At least the spring is the right colour.
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Okay…
Suspense is over, I bought this today.
(https://i.ibb.co/bjWjpdVx/IMG-5361.png) (https://ibb.co/bjWjpdVx)
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Nice, you know it makes sense. :thumb:
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Nice, you know it makes sense. :thumb:
It was going to be one of three options.
#1
Have the current Nitron rebuilt, with the consequent uncertainty as to whether the people have done it right or short cut me. Around $600
#2
Go the new Nitron which is a better unit than the one that I wore out (apparently…) :rolleyes:
Around $1,400
#3
Do the Ohlins and carry the notion that I have not made any compromises on quality, but also completely satisfy the “I wants..”
Around #1,700
(Oh…and it’s a really nice gold colour..) :drool: :rolleyes:
I did put one on the V85 and it’s sensational and I reckon it looks good against the red..
(https://i.ibb.co/Z1FS2pxV/IMG-5257.png) (https://ibb.co/Z1FS2pxV)
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I have one on the back of a KLR.
Superb.
Spendy, but worth every nickel.
-Stretch
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I have one on the back of a KLR.
Superb.
Spendy, but worth every nickel.
-Stretch
Yeah.
Very supple and compliant aren’t they ?
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Oh, yeah - very supple indeed.
When I first installed the altered suspension, I went straightaway to
a notoriously bumpy local railroad crossing. Went over it at about
45MPH and felt - nothing. Wha - ?! So, I turned around and went over
it at 60MPH or so. Smooth as a baby's bottom. 65MPH? Same.
My big 1400 Cali is very comfy, but the suspension on it feels like it
belongs on a dump truck after riding the KLR. Objectively, it's not
really that bad, but it could use some improvement. It's a lot of work
and money, and isn't worth it to me right now. Time will tell.
-Stretch
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Oh, yeah - very supple indeed.
When I first installed the altered suspension, I went straightaway to
a notoriously bumpy local railroad crossing. Went over it at about
45MPH and felt - nothing. Wha - ?! So, I turned around and went over
it at 60MPH or so. Smooth as a baby's bottom. 65MPH? Same.
My big 1400 Cali is very comfy, but the suspension on it feels like it
belongs on a dump truck after riding the KLR. Objectively, it's not
really that bad, but it could use some improvement. It's a lot of work
and money, and isn't worth it to me right now. Time will tell.
-Stretch
Yep.
I find on my V85 that I take (almost) no notice of upcoming irregularities in the road surface, I have inherent confidence that the rear will cope with any foreseeable roughness with consummate ease.
It is only a motorcycle shock after all, but I cannot fault anything about it and well…
It looks nice. 👍
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Ultimately it looks like the Ohlins is similar in price to the Wilbers...
Is the Ohlins actually tailored to your weight as the Wilbers is customized...
Gold always looks good...no doubt!!
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Ultimately it looks like the Ohlins is similar in price to the Wilbers...
Is the Ohlins actually tailored to your weight as the Wilbers is customized...
Gold always looks good...no doubt!!
The one I bought was specified for the Norge, Paul. My weight is 90 kg, so that’s near enough given that there’ll be gear loaded at various times.
I’m kind of keen to start racking up some more kilometres on it.
I have a target of 300,000 but time will tell I guess. I have retired it from Europe tripping, so there won’t be the rapid escalation of totals.
Australia is as big as continental Europe though (discounting Russia), so it’s entirely possible I can get there.
Those injectors are fantastic I might add and if you do take your bike to Europe in a couple of years, it might be fun to meet you at Heathrow ?
What bike would you take…? :popcorn:
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That's great to hear Peter!
It would definitely be the Norge...fits like a glove and with only 100K kilometers on the clock, it has a lot of life left in it...just took it out yesterday for a nice spin. The Griso is a very close contender, but with the top case on the Norge and the panniers, it would be a better choice. Glad to hear the injectors have worked well!
Will be in Mandello in a couple of weeks for a nice few days as part of a longer Italian trip, will have some fun chatting with the folks at Agostini's...I wonder if they could find me a nice Silver 2008 Norge they could lend me for a 1/2 day while I'm there with the family to at least ride a bit.
If I do make it there...will be sure to arrange a rendezvous!
Cheers!
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From personal experience I can say that cheap-series Ohlins are ...no good.
Have also tried Mupo, italian brand. Not bad
Don't know about Wilbers...
I ended up having the stock shock serviced, revalved and new 100k spring on it. Best solution so far, and pretty satisfiying overall.
It's done by and italian company specifically for Breva/Norge. https://www.oramsospensioni.it/ It costed about 300 euro + shipping
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I just looked back at my records. It's been 10+ years since I bought the Wilbers for my Norge from Ted at the Beemer Shop in California.
Has worked impeccably for 2 up riding, single + gear, single w/o gear. Nothing has gone wrong with it in that time, and I expect it will continue for quite some more miles w/o needing any attention.
Looking back...I paid $850 USD, haven't checked latest pricing, but I'm sure it's gone up since then.
In addition, I changed the front forks springs to Hyperpro and went up a bit on oil weight I think to 15 weight.
Absolutely a different bike for the last 10 years in terms of handlng twisties vs. stock setup I ran for the first 6 years of ownership.
Hope the Ohlins also produces a good effect vs. the current setup.
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I know it’s an affair of the heart, but I see a beautiful Italian lady in a red dress.
(https://i.ibb.co/RGtVJsv3/IMG-0366.jpg) (https://ibb.co/RGtVJsv3)
I remember this wine soaked evening in a warm Southern Italian village and now I can’t imagine her in anything other than gold earrings….
(https://i.ibb.co/Zpcv1LH5/IMG-5356.png) (https://ibb.co/Zpcv1LH5)<br /
I think I’m head over heels.
Huzo,
Ante up the money you filthy rich SOB!
Get some Ohlins forks while you are at it! Otherwise the bike won't look right with just the shock alone...
Life is short, and luckily, you got more money than brains!
"You must have more money than brains!" is generally considered a derogatory statement in the US, but to me, it sounds like a compliment!
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Okay…
Suspense is over, I bought this today.
(https://i.ibb.co/bjWjpdVx/IMG-5361.png) (https://ibb.co/bjWjpdVx)
Did you buy two mate, or just one?
It won't look right with just one new shock on the back of the bike.....
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I have the Ohlin suspension on Nero Corsa Lemans'. If you can afford, definitely worth the upgrade. Some memorable rides with it......1) Milwaukee, WI to the MN bike drowning at the MN MGNOC National rally then onto Sandpoint ID. 2) Sandpoint ID to Libby MT. RT 100mph sweeper. No MT Troopers. Next year to 3) Malibu Hills, CA. After the Malibu MGNOC National Rally. to ship to Hilo, HI. :boozing: :boozing:3) Here at home on the westside of the Big Island riding the mountain volcano roads. :boozing: Definitely better than any of my V11 Sports with the oem suspension. 👍
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"You must have more money than brains!" is generally considered a derogatory statement in the US, but to me, it sounds like a compliment!
Is that compliment complementary..?
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Only if it compliments. :grin:
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Is that compliment complementary..?
If the shoe fits, share it!
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I did put one on the V85 and it’s sensational and I reckon it looks good against the red..
(https://i.ibb.co/Z1FS2pxV/IMG-5257.png) (https://ibb.co/Z1FS2pxV)
That's one of the best looking Guzzi's i have ever seen.
It would look even better with gold Ohlins forks...
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That's one of the best looking Guzzi's i have ever seen.
It would look even better with gold Ohlins forks...
With the possible exception of the pipes, there is nothing that cannot be done by the average Joe if you wanted one the same.
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LMFTFY
With the possible exception of the pipes, there is nothing that cannot be done by the average wealthy Joe if you wanted one the same.
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I did put one on the V85 and it’s sensational and I reckon it looks good against the red..
(https://i.ibb.co/Z1FS2pxV/IMG-5257.png) (https://ibb.co/Z1FS2pxV)
Huzo,
You should Photoshop this bike with all the parts that are currently silver as gold.
That would turn some heads1