Touratech Expedition Shock – R1200GS

The Touratech Expedition Shock offers adjustable high-speed and low-speed compression damping and a remote fluid reservoir in addition to the features found on the Touratech Explore HP shock which include: adjustable rebound damping, 15mm of hydraulically adjustable preload, floating piston superiority and low-friction seals.

The Touratech Expedition Shock is a great choice for the R1200GS rider who plans to do an extended trip or wants to ride a Backcountry Discovery Route. For the rider who wants absolute control over suspension set-up and high performance, this shock is a great choice.

This Expedition shock is available in both a standard height and a low version which drops the seat on the standard R1200GS by 2 inches. Use the drop down menu to select the standard or low version. It’s recommend to upgrade to an Explore front shock, when you upgrade the rear shock. Click HERE to see Explore front shock.

“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

•Remote reservoir, made from high-strength aluminum, keeps the fluid cool and ensures pressure stability in the shock which results in better performance and longer shock life.

•Adjustable high-speed and low-speed compression damping allows absolute control of shock tuning to give you the precise handling characteristics you want in any conditions.

•Adjustable rebound damping allows you to fine-tune the ride characteristics to meet your preferences.

•Hydraulic Preload Adjustment is easily done by turning the knob with your hand.

•50% more spring preload adjustment than other shocks on the market. A generous 15mm of adjustment allows proper pre-load set-up for a fully-loaded R1200GS. Most shocks have 8-10mm which is not enough to accommodate long-distance quantities of luggage or a passenger.

•A floating piston separates the air 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 that 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.

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

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

•Damping set up for fully-loaded R1200GS right out-of-the-box.

Why do I need this?

Motorcycle Manufacturer’s Shocks - The shocks found on new motorcycles are 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. With heavy loads, stock suspension “bottoms out” easily and doesn’t offer sufficient preload or damping adjustment range. They aren’t serviceable and, with heavy loads, are prone to blown-out seals and other failures. The rider often feels that the bike is too spongy and doesn’t handle properly.

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

Key issues to consider when selecting a shock

•Remote reservoir –This piggy-back style remote reservoir, made from high-strength aluminum, is designed to keep the fluid cool and ensures pressure stability in the shock which results in better performance. The increased oil capacity results in longer shock life.

•Adjustable high-speed and low-speed damping – Separate adjustments for high-speed and low-speed compression damping allow absolute control of shock tuning to give you the precise handling characteristics you want in any conditions. This allows you to control how the bike handles in a high speed corner separately from how it behaves absorbing a pothole.

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 R1200GS. The rebound damping can also be easily customized to your preferences.

Hydraulic Preload Adjustment - With a Touratech Expedition Shock, the spring preload can be hydraulically adjusted by turning the knob with your hand.

50% More Spring Preload Adjustment- When you load your R1200GS with luggage and all the gear for a weekend trip or extended tour, the bike will sag under the weight of the load. Most shocks are NOT designed to handle this. With Touratech Suspension, you can adjust the pre-load to bring the bike back to level. Because of the full 15mm adjustment you can raise the back of the motorcycle as much as 1.8 inches to compensate for the load which restores proper geometry for optimum handling and overall feel of the bike. Most shock preload adjusters only have 8-10mm of adjustment which can only raise the back of the bike by 1.2 inches.

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 your R1200GS, 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-corrosive stainless steel. This creates a strong and rigid connection which is important for loaded touring motorcycles. 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 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.

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.

Custom Springs – Touratech Suspension is available in a range of spring rates so we can ensure your shock has the proper spring rate for your application.

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

Summary - Touratech Expedition Shock:

The Touratech Expedition Shock offers adjustable high-speed and low-speed compression damping, a remote fluid reservoir, adjustable rebound damping, floating piston superiority and low-friction seals which add up to a highly refined shock that can be tuned with precision to meet the ride style and handling characteristics you prefer.

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 your R1200GS, even while hauling luggage.

Over-built by design, the Touratech Expedition Shock is constructed with heavy-duty materials, over-sized components, 50% more spring pre-load adjustment, and fully adjustable compression and rebound damping that’s engineered for optimal performance with a fully-loaded R1200GS. With the Expedition Shock, the preload can be quickly adjusted by turning the knob with your hand.

The Touratech Expedition Shock is a great choice for the rider who plans to do an extended trip or wants to ride a Backcountry Discovery Route. For the rider who wants absolute control over suspension set-up and high performance, this shock is a great choice.

Note: If you want the ultimate in bottoming control, you’ll upgrade to the Touratech Extreme Shock which has all the same features of the Expeditions, plus it’s equipped with secondary compression damping technology which prevents the shock from bottoming out. The (PDS) Position Dependent Damping is like a hydraulic pillow at the end of the stroke.

For a step-by-step installation guide complete with pictures click HERE.