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Why did BMW stop using the telealever front forks? I had a 1150R.
Now the 1300GS is bring it back. What is the differant between the two?
Why did BMW stop using the telealever front forks? I had a 1150R.
Now the 1300GS is bring it back. What is the differant between the two?
A lot of people don't like the telelever... especially those that like sport bikes. The telelever tends to have a vague feel to it, hiding a lot of the "road feel" of a conventional fork.
In the end, it turns into a love it or hate it situation. Apparently BMW has decided that more people hate it than love it so it's going away on machines that are set up for performance instead of comfort.
Personally, I'm in the love it camp... especially the lack of dive under hard braking.
Why did BMW stop using the telealever front forks? I had a 1150R.
Now the 1300GS is bring it back.
I'm also on the love side. Never been a fan of a lot of plastic on a motorcycle. I do want some wind protection. Therefore, I use handlebar shields. These often cause high speed handling problems on bikes with conventional forks. My 2004 R1150R with telelever feels like on rails at any speed.
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I've had Telelever, Duolever and now conventional USD forks. The USD forks simply work better.
But OldCamper makes a valid point regarding premium motorcycles.
One's opinion may differ than mine.
The Duolever on my K1300GT is, IMHO, the only fork BMW has produced that is worse than those of the 81-84 Airheads (R80G/S excepted). Even a top-notch aftermarket shock hasn’t fixed the harshness and poor feedback from that front end.
But, as you so clearly pointed out, one’s opinion may differ from mine.
So what is so different about the R1300 GS front end from the past models?
So what is so different about the R1300 GS front end from the past models?
Do you really not know that a R1150R and the new GS both have a Telelever system?
The telelever lower ball joint moves in an arc as the front suspension compresses, so the top suspension tube mount has to allow for slight angular movement.
The new 1300 GS apparently (and someone please correct me if I am wrong) has a “flex plate” at that junction, which might stiffen that connection a bit and improve feedback. This is entirely speculation on my part, BTW. I have not ridden or even seen the new bike yet.