I have a 2003 K1200RS (manufacture date Nov 2002) with 51,000 miles and original front and rear shock absorbers. I purchased a set of front and rear shocks at a very good (low) price that had been taken off of a 2002 K1200RS (manufacture date Jun 2002) with 11,000 miles on them. I compared the VINs from both bikes and confirmed that BMW listed exactly the same part number for both front and rear shocks for both of the bikes before purchase.
This pic is the original rear shock from my bike, oriented as though it were mounted on the bike and you were viewing it from above and from the rear of the bike. Note that the dampening adjuster knob protruding from the lower right side would be pointing outboard on the motorcycle and the port where the remote hydraulic spring preload hose attaches to the top of the shock body would be towards the inboard area of the motorcycle. In other words they are positioned on opposite sides of the shock.
This pic is of the shock I purchased and the dampener adjustment knob and hydraulic hose attach point are both located on what would be the inboard side of the bike when mounted. In other words they are on the same side of the shock. (Sorry it came out upside down)
I imagine that with a suitably large spring compressor the newer shock could have it's spring compressed enough to disengage the lugs on the lower spring end plate and the shock lower mounting clevis rotated 180'.
The seller of the shock assured me that this is how it came off his bike. It is mandatory that the dampening adjuster knob points outboard to install the shock and it appears that the shock might install with the upper hydraulic hose either inboard or out board, although in an outboard position this would alter the hose run from the stock BMW location.
Does anyone have any comments regarding two shocks with the exact same BMW factory part number that are assembled differently?
This pic is the original rear shock from my bike, oriented as though it were mounted on the bike and you were viewing it from above and from the rear of the bike. Note that the dampening adjuster knob protruding from the lower right side would be pointing outboard on the motorcycle and the port where the remote hydraulic spring preload hose attaches to the top of the shock body would be towards the inboard area of the motorcycle. In other words they are positioned on opposite sides of the shock.
This pic is of the shock I purchased and the dampener adjustment knob and hydraulic hose attach point are both located on what would be the inboard side of the bike when mounted. In other words they are on the same side of the shock. (Sorry it came out upside down)
I imagine that with a suitably large spring compressor the newer shock could have it's spring compressed enough to disengage the lugs on the lower spring end plate and the shock lower mounting clevis rotated 180'.
The seller of the shock assured me that this is how it came off his bike. It is mandatory that the dampening adjuster knob points outboard to install the shock and it appears that the shock might install with the upper hydraulic hose either inboard or out board, although in an outboard position this would alter the hose run from the stock BMW location.
Does anyone have any comments regarding two shocks with the exact same BMW factory part number that are assembled differently?
