Sort the tyre and check the head races first.

Now, I have to say I am definitely no suspension geek. I know what works for me and what doesn't. Suspension set up is rather like choosing tyres; what suits one person, may not suit another. All I can give is an opinion based on my own experience.

Anyway here's my 2p...

Just bear in mind that the damping on the Sachs shock is less than adequate even when brand new.

Will make a difference but you've got a 26K mile shock body with, quite probably, damping characteristics which are non-existent! Mine had started to deteriorate to the point where the ride and handling were going noticeably squiffy shortly after 10K miles!

If you get the shock rebuilt and fit a Hyperpro spring at the same time then you might be getting somewhere, but still the damping is going to be a weak area. Plus, at �290 for the spring and rebuild, your almost in the same territory as a new after-market shock which will be a much better proposition (and last a lot longer too).

Firstly, whatever you do, don't buy suspension from Touratech - you will pay massively over the odds. If you must buy Ohlins, then there are plenty of other suppliers who will charge not far off half as much.

There are plenty of other alternative shocks out there which are perfectly good enough for the Ten. Try Hyperpro, Yacugar, Nitron and Wilbers. Personally I went for a Yacugar ER-S (which is the same as the Hyperpro shock, just re-branded). It cost �379 and I'm chuffed to bits with it's performance - an infinate improvement over the OE shock (even new).

The Hyperpro and Yacugar are fitted with progressive springs, the Ohlins, Nitron and Wilbers are linear. If you ride solo and without luggage most of the time then I would err toward a linear spring. However, if like me (and you by the sound of it), you load up with luggage a fair bit and carry constantly varying weights, then the progressive option is probably going to be a better bet as it compensates for varying loads better - saves pi55ing about with preload adjustment all the time.

Whilst good (I have one), they really aren't worth �300+. Get to the root cause of the problem - fix the suspension! All that getting a new seat will do is disguise the symptoms - it won't improve the handling at all!

If it were my money - I'd be going the route of a new after-market shock. But it ain't my money!

BTW - Did you sort out your engine rattle?

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