Thanks for this write up Kinga OnHerBike ššš¼
Have a read to see what she thinks of our TFX shock absorber:
‘Many of you have asked me how my new suspension is performing and why I changed it. So it’s time for a 9-month 15000km review.
As you may have noticed, I’m not travelling light. The combined weight of the bike with add ons, luggage and myself is over 320kg. If I stuck to nice paved roads, my original BMW shock would probably be good enough and likely never fail. But my routes are far from perfect conditions, and I’ve already blown one original shock absorber in Tajikistan. I didn’t want to experience that possibility again in Africa.
I chose to install the @tfxsuspension 140 mono shock-absorber, which has a single gas-charged tube. It comes with an internal floating piston to separate the gas and oil. It’s got the same technology in it as the more sophisticated versions, but the difference is that it doesn’t include a compression reservoir. Thus no option for adjusting between high and low-speed compression. It’s specifically designed for recreational use and long-distance touring.
It’s got two adjustment rings to set the spring preload depending on if you’re riding alone, with a passenger or with luggage. My original ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment) no longer works, but to be honest, I never used it anyway (I couldn’t feel the difference between those modes). All TFX shock absorbers are custom made and built according to your specifications. My bike is set up now precisely the way it should be for the weight it carries.
Handling, braking and ride comfort are improved, and deep holes at high speed are no longer a worry. This modification has been the most important one I’ve made. Thumbs up for TFX Suspension Technology š’