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Touratech Explore Front Shock, BMW R1150GS & Adventure

Touratech Explore Front Shock, BMW R1150GS & Adventure

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Touratech Explore Shock, Front – BMW R1150GS /R1150GS Adventure

Why Touratech Suspension?

Touratech Suspension is the world’s first purpose-built shock absorber for long-distance touring with a fully-loaded motorcycle. Right out of the box, it has the strength, features and adjustments to go the distance on the R1150GS or GSA with luggage.

The Touratech Explore front shock is over-built by design with heavy-duty materials, over-sized components, spring pre-load adjustment, and adjustable rebound damping. This shock has been specifically developed for optimum performance on BMW’s Telelever front end. We’ve put the shock through rigorous testing in real-world adventure touring environments to make sure it functions well on your R1150GS or GSA.

It’s recommended to upgrade the rear shock at the same time you upgrade the front shock. Click HERE to see the Touratech Suspension options for R1150GS or GSA or GSA rear shocks.

“I could not be more satisfied with my Touratech Suspension. It worked flawlessly for 15,000 miles on my journey from Seattle to the southern tip of Argentina. I now recommend it for my GlobeRiders clients and any adventure motorcyclist that is heading out on a serious ride.”

–Helge Pedersen

Why do I need this?

Motorcycle Manufacturer’s Shocks - The stock front shock found on a new R1150GS or GSA is designed to be inexpensive and fit the needs of the average 170lb rider with 15lbs of luggage. As a result, they often meet the minimum standard for function. The performance of a stock shock is typically not confidence inspiring. They aren’t serviceable and, with heavy loads, are prone to blown-out seals and other failures.

Aftermarket Shocks - Most after-market shocks are made with performance riding in mind, but aren’t built for use on a fully-loaded R1150GS or GSA or GSA. Most can only withstand the weight of the rider and don’t offer good handling, or have adequate adjustments. They also aren't durable enough to go the distance with a fully-loaded touring bike.

How is Touratech Suspension Different?

Engineered and tested for unique demands of BMW’s Telelever front suspension design

Damping set up for fully-loaded R1150GS or GSA right out-of-the-box.

•Oversized 16mm high-strength shaft made of chrome-moly steel for maximum strength and durability.

A floating piston separates the nitrogen and the oil to prevent oil foaming. This technology ensures that your shock will have smooth and consistent performance even in punishing environments.

Cold forged 6082 T6 aluminum shock body machined to exacting standards offers high-strength and maximum heat dissipation.

High-strength stainless steel bushings ensure the mounting points of the shock will go the distance.

Low-friction seal with integrated Teflon back-up ring maximizes performance and extends the life of the shock.

Adjustable preload to accommodate long-distance quantities of luggage or a passenger.

Available in a range of spring rates to match the rider’s weight and requirements.

Key issues to consider when selecting a shock:

Aluminum Shock Body – Some manufacturers use a steel shock body to reduce cost. Touratech suspension uses cold-forged 6082 T6 aluminum for the shock body because it’s lightweight, strong and durable. It also dissipates heat 30% more effectively than steel, which results in more stable and predictable damping, delivering better handling and a smoother ride. A cooler shock will also have more consistent damping and a longer service life. This shock body is further protected with a high-quality black anodized finish inside and out.

Floating Piston Superiority – Touratech Suspension uses a Floating Piston design which offers the best damping performance because it physically separates the nitrogen gas from the oil. Most shocks use oil emulsion damping which allows oil to mix with the nitrogen gas in a foaming process that basically ‘thins’ the oil and prevents the shock from working properly. When the oil is 'foamed' the bike bottoms easily and also springs up too quickly resulting in erratic handling and an unsteady ride.

With the floating piston design of Touratech Suspension there is a physical separation of oil and nitrogen gas which means you can ride rough roads all day long and enjoy consistent high performance. Why buy a shock whose performance gets worse the harder you ride it? Before you invest in new suspension for the front of your R1150GS or GSA make sure it’s a floating piston design.

Stainless Steel Bushings - While many aftermarket shocks use aluminum bushings where the shock mounts to the motorcycle, Touratech Suspension uses high-strength, non-corroding stainless steel. This creates a strong and rigid connection which is important for a loaded R1150GS or GSA. The stainless steel bushings protect against corrosion and seizing and offer low maintenance and longer life.

Low-Friction Seal – Our seals have a backbone that virtually eliminates friction interference on the damping activity. On other shocks, the seal deforms as damping pressure increases and causes stiction on the shaft. Touratech Suspension is equipped with a proprietary low-friction seal that is supported by a Teflon back-up ring. This Teflon backbone keeps the seal from deforming and eliminates stiction on the shaft even at high pressures. The result is better performance, increased reliability and longer service life, even in harsh environments.

Oversized high-strength shaft – While most manufacturers use a 14mm carbon steel shaft, Touratech suspension uses a 16mm high-strength chrome-moly steel alloy.

Adjustable Rebound Damping – Right out of the box, this shock is ready for adventure with its rebound damping levels set for touring on a fully-loaded BMW R1150GS or GSA or GS Adventure. The rebound damping is also adjustable so the ride can be customized to your preferences.

Adjustable Preload – The spring preload on the front Explore shock can be adjusted by spinning the threaded collar with the supplied tool. This allows you to fine tune the front shock in concert with the rear shock to get the ideal set-up.

Custom Springs – Touratech Suspension is available in a range of spring rates so we can ensure your shock has the proper spring for your intended use and rider profile.

Fully Serviceable – All Touratech Suspension is fully serviceable and can be customized or re-built by Touratech-USA or any certified Touratech suspension technician.

Summary – Touratech Explore (Front) Shock, R1150GS or GSA or GSA

The Touratech Explore is a significant upgrade from a stock R1150GS or GSA shock and a great alternative to other aftermarket shocks most of which only have oil-emulsion damping and are not purpose-built for adventure touring with luggage. If you need a shock that can perform well for fully-loaded touring, this shock will improve your ride right out of the box. For best results upgrade to one of the Touratech Suspension rear shocks at the same time. Click HERE to see the Touratech Suspension options for R1150GS or GSA rear shocks.

Please see our Sag Setting Tutorial, and Shock Adjustment Tutorial on the Touratech blog to learn how to tune your shocks for the best comfort and performance.

Product Features
  • Under the 'Instructions' tab please click on the link for the rider's profile, answer the questions, and paste them into the comments field during checkout, or email to sales@touratech-usa.com . This will help us ensure your shock is sprung specifically for your application.
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