Nitron Shocks - Word Of Warning. Closure! :-)

Thanks for taking the time to post these, appreciated.

 

No real update yet apart from Nitron being in receipt of shocks with a view to modifying them, much the same situation as K-Tech. Nothing on frame damage yet although they have been advised that it needs addressing.

 

Well there's news, I have the shocks back on the back now. The clearance is probably on the economical side of generous, see what you think:

I'd put it at about 2mm. I think that with minimal rotation around the lug as the swingarm moves it might be OK. I need to go back into the garage and disconnect the bottom fixing and rotate the shock through a few degrees either way and observe clearance.

I'm also curious about how they've achieved this. I think they have sourced an alternative top section which they've simply fitted to the shock body. I'm not sure what may have changed regarding the dimensions in doing this.

When you look at the before and after photo's you can see key differences. When I lay the OE shocks next to a Nitron it's obvious that the Nitron are around 10mm shorter and the bike is noticeably lower when you sit on it.

I asked for all settings to be recorded before being worked on so they could be returned me in the same state after SJ set the suspension up with me on the bike, pre-load seems to have been overlooked.

Before modification there were 22 threads above the adjustment collar, there's now 17. With the apparent differences in mind I'm unclear if I'll be upsetting the pre-load setting to get the ride height back as the bike or whether it'll simply be as was. I've sent a mail but won't see a reply till next week so I thought I'd see what you lot have to say

Before:


After:

 

They said they've got all the settings put back on but the pre-load was set with me on the bike and noted by measuring the sag with me on the bike with both feet up. I checked this afternoon and clearance won't be a problem so it's just a question of getting this bit right and then getting the powder coating sorted out.

 

I'm utterly done in with this. SJ are referring me back to Nitron with this now, I've not even had an apology for fitting parts which clearly didn't fit properly.
The problem being that the bike felt lower than it was before this work was done and having taken one of the shocks off and comparing it to an original part it looks like this:

Now in my simple mind I believe that these should at least be of equal length on the floor off the bike. Or am I wrong in thinking this? Nitron have given the following explanation:

'Shock open length should be 348mm +10-/0 which should be the same as OEM. The end caps were changed from part number 030332 to 030176. End cap 030176 is 11.2mm taller than 030332 so the shocks should have been rebuilt with 10mm shorter body tubes – this is why the distance between the end cap and spring platform is smaller. The installed spring length however should be the same as before modification and for reference the standard installed spring length would be 180mm and preload 20mm. Length adjustment for twin shocks is actually 10mm'

For the sake of accuracy the handbook states 7mm of adjustment, not 10mm as this extract states.

I've had enough of people f****ing things up that I spend great effort caring for and investing in. It really hacks me off, I'll probably do something stupid like selling it

Oh, and Nitron only offered to pay for materials for the repair. Namely a tin of paint. I've had professional advice which says that paint is at best a temporary repair and that they wouldn't undertake the repair because powder coating a small area isn't possible and painting doesn't always go well in the long term.

 

I'm a realist and I most definitely don't want to get into powder coating the frame but I'd like them to acknowledge what they've done. Something along the lines of 'sorry about that, we cocked up. Here's £200 and a correctly manufactured shock/refund'. Random figure in there but that would probably be determined by potential cost for repair - that's how damages are worked out although I have no intention of going the powder coating route. Neither SJ or Nitron have actually apologised for this and Nitron will tell you that they don't have parts for a 2018 Bonneville.

I'm going to push for a refund and meaningful compensation for the frame damage.

 

I'm going to busy for the remainder of this weekend and so won't probably be back here till next week. I would just like to thank everyone who's contributed for their support/advice, it's appreciated and noted.

 

You'll all be bored of me and this subject by now I'm sure but here's a question...

What shock options are there available which are a good fit without modification for a 2018 T100?

For info I have Ohlins cartridge inserts and I'd like to have something of parallel quality. Ohlins do have an option called STX 36 but I'm unclear on compatibility.

Maybe Hagon have something? Any experience with their Nitro options here?

Thoughts please folks!

 

Thanks for your best wishes. I would add that it's early days for closure but SJ are responding pragmatically and my formal notice to them for refund has been acknowledged rather than disputed. I'm at a point where I need to decide whether or not I engage with Nitron and allow them to resolve the problem. At present I'm inclined to source an alternative part.

 

It looks like I'm getting my refund, so what's next I wonder. I'll need something to replace these with, probably Hagon of one flavour or another. 2810 seem like good value and might suit the bike well. They'll probably look a little less hi-tech than the Nitrons did.

All this has got me back to reviewing my bike situation again. I've found myself with three and from time to time (mainly in the winter when not using them so much) I get to working out what it costs to keep them in the garage. Then I start thinking about having one bike. This time around it's a BMW R1250R in HP colours (shaft drive...like that idea) so I guess it's time to get out there, rain or not, and settle down again