OP
@rmwill avatar
UTC

Hooked
Too Many Bikes!
Joined: UTC
Posts: 109
Location: Huntington Woods, MI
 
Hooked
@rmwill avatar
Too Many Bikes!
Joined: UTC
Posts: 109
Location: Huntington Woods, MI
UTC quote
Despite watching Robot's video, I learned that installing a Bitubo front shock would require dropping the fork to raise the fender to reach the nuts holding the upper mount. The spring is wider than stock an even a swivel 13mm cannot reach the nut. The later designs that use a hex bold make the job much easier.
@shebalba avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
2009 GTS250, Ducati Monster M900, KTM 390 Adventure, Honda CR125
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1781
Location: Oceanside, CA
 
Molto Verboso
@shebalba avatar
2009 GTS250, Ducati Monster M900, KTM 390 Adventure, Honda CR125
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1781
Location: Oceanside, CA
UTC quote
Can you get a 13mm crowfoot socket to clear?

I used a combination of wobble extenders and u-joint sockets to get into hard to reach spots and it worked surprisingly well.
OP
@rmwill avatar
UTC

Hooked
Too Many Bikes!
Joined: UTC
Posts: 109
Location: Huntington Woods, MI
 
Hooked
@rmwill avatar
Too Many Bikes!
Joined: UTC
Posts: 109
Location: Huntington Woods, MI
UTC quote
Possibly, but the nut sits recessed in the mounting flange. A full bite would be difficult.
Shebalba wrote:
Can you get a 13mm crowfoot socket to clear?

I used a combination of wobble extenders and u-joint sockets to get into hard to reach spots and it worked surprisingly well.
@rickster333 avatar
UTC

Hooked
2001 ET4 "Mona"
Joined: UTC
Posts: 236
Location: South Jersey
 
Hooked
@rickster333 avatar
2001 ET4 "Mona"
Joined: UTC
Posts: 236
Location: South Jersey
UTC quote
Man, I feel your pain. Changing the front shock on my ET4 was the most difficult thing I've had to do.

I wonder if you could try to back off the preload of the shock all the way which might allow you to push the spring out of the way. Then you still have to get by the top washer of the shock mount.

Alternatively, perhaps you could crank the preload all the way on, then strap the spring in the compressed position with some big assed wire ties, then with the spring fully compressed (or as much as you can get it to compress) back off the pre load so the spring drops down out of the way.

My experience was with a YSS shock. This might not work with your Bitubo.

In any event, good luck!
@hairapy avatar
UTC

Lurker
2023 Sprint 150S
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4
Location: Honolulu
 
Lurker
@hairapy avatar
2023 Sprint 150S
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4
Location: Honolulu
UTC quote
What bike did you install on? I had a very easy time of it a couple weeks ago on my 2024 Sprint 150s. Recently also installed the rear Bitubo, also with no problem. I used ball-end allens with an extension but didn't even have to bend the angle much at all.

The hardest part for me has been setting the static/rider sag appropriately. I'm starting to realize that the spring is for riders weighing 150 lbs+ but I only weigh 135. I've written to Bitubo about this issue asking if they offer a different spring rated for lighter riders but they haven't responded. For now I'm just going by "feel" as I'm pretty sure just about everybody does anyway.

Every video says you need two people to measure and set the sag but I beg to differ:
Plastic T-square, measurements recorded on iPad.
Plastic T-square, measurements recorded on iPad.
Bike is near something solid to hold the balance.
Bike is near something solid to hold the balance.
@motovista avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
GT 200
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9256
Location: Main Street, Watts
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@motovista avatar
GT 200
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9256
Location: Main Street, Watts
UTC quote
Hairapy wrote:
I've written to Bitubo about this issue asking if they offer a different spring rated for lighter riders but they haven't responded.
Did you send them the picture of you on the bike with all the painters tape attached? They might respond to that.
@hairapy avatar
UTC

Lurker
2023 Sprint 150S
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4
Location: Honolulu
 
Lurker
@hairapy avatar
2023 Sprint 150S
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4
Location: Honolulu
UTC quote
I didn't even think of that, thank you that's a damn-good idea!

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