Tl1000 Bitubo coil-over in the country

[lankyman]

Got the letter from customs today, payed my duty/GST (which was bugger all coz it was declared it as costing way less than it actually did, cheers Hermy!) and it should be here in a few days. Very happy with all my dealings with Herdan Corporation (the USA Bitubo distributor based in Port Clinton, Pennsylvania, see http://www.hermys.com) All going well the install will be happening this weekend. I've read up on all the do's and don't's on the American TL forums, apparently it's a bit of a mission but we'll see how we go. Can't wait! It's gonna be a great felling hiffing that rotary damper in the bin, then it will be off to the next track day to twiddle some settings to get things feeling spot on. I will post photos of the install in the coming weeks....

[wilber]

Only really fun bit is getting the damper into place and rap some tape over spring otherwise you'll mark and take paint off the spring .
Had mine installed a couple of months should have done it years ago .

[98tls]

Enjoy,can still remember the first time i sat on mine after replacing the rotary,weird feeling of movement,wonderful.

[Robert Taylor]

Got the letter from customs today, payed my duty/GST (which was bugger all coz it was declared it as costing way less than it actually did, cheers Hermy!) and it should be here in a few days. Very happy with all my dealings with Herdan Corporation (the USA Bitubo distributor based in Port Clinton, Pennsylvania, see http://www.hermys.com) All going well the install will be happening this weekend. I've read up on all the do's and don't's on the American TL forums, apparently it's a bit of a mission but we'll see how we go. Can't wait! It's gonna be a great felling hiffing that rotary damper in the bin, then it will be off to the next track day to twiddle some settings to get things feeling spot on. I will post photos of the install in the coming weeks....

I will be very interested to see that shock. One issue Id like you to consider without malice. Is it really fair that when commercial operators pay the going rate taxes etc on the true value one off private imports can often have the invoice underwritten to evade as much tax as possible?
Everyone is in all fairness guilty of various forms of evasion here and there but it does seem the playing field is not level.

[White trash]

I will be very interested to see that shock. One issue Id like you to consider without malice. Is it really fair that when commercial operators pay the going rate taxes etc on the true value one off private imports can often have the invoice underwritten to evade as much tax as possible?
Everyone is in all fairness guilty of various forms of evasion here and there but it does seem the playing field is not level.

My point exactly. Not only unfair and contributing to the downfall of local dealers, quite illegal.

Someone who was so inclined could mention to NZ Customs that they should gain proof of transaction to match commercial invoice for all future shipments from Herdan Corp on any furture shipments. As they now have a unique supplier code with Customs it's very easy to flag future shipments.

If someone was so inclined of course...........

[R6_kid]

Everyone is in all fairness guilty of various forms of evasion here and there but it does seem the playing field is not level.

Do you want me to import some heavily discounted one offs for you Robert?

[lankyman]

I will be very interested to see that shock. One issue Id like you to consider without malice. Is it really fair that when commercial operators pay the going rate taxes etc on the true value one off private imports can often have the invoice underwritten to evade as much tax as possible?
Everyone is in all fairness guilty of various forms of evasion here and there but it does seem the playing field is not level.

Sorry Robert, the shock arrived this morning and went in the bike this arvo. I was a little too keen to get out and play with some settings tomorrow. Even sitting on the bike it feels like a vast improvement already. I will happily bring the bike up to show you although i realise this is much less helpful.

As I have said, I would have loved to support the local guy, but in this case it just wasn't economically viable. The top bracket for the rotary damper had cracked which would have required repair before installation of the Ohlins unit, and also the standard spring unit was in need of replacement at a cost of over $600. All up this Bitubo install has cost me a little over $900 as opposed to upwards of $2500 for the former option, an easy decision for a salaried worker/student. I realise you supply warranties and valuable ongoing support, but look at it this way....If my Bitubo unit fails (which by all accounts is very unlikely) I can replace it, and if that one fails, I can replace it again, and still only have spent a little over the price of the Ohlins install. Undoubtedly Ohlins gear is the best stuff in the world, but I'm not out to shave seconds off my lap times...All I want is a safe reliable ride without spending nearly half of what I paid for the bike in the first instance.

[lankyman]

Soooo.....The install went acceptably well with only one major hick-up. With the top of the upper rotary damper bracket (on the frame) cracked right through, the movement and extra load on the lower bolt had caused the head of bolt to shear off....bugger. An easy-out was employed with little success due to inaccessibility issues, so we had to resort to drilling out the stud where the head had sheared off, then slide a hacksaw blade down the other side of the damper where the bolt threads through. Sounds highly rugged, but keep in mind that all of this hardware was to become void after the installation of the new unit. With the rotary unit out, the frame had only sustained very minor battle scars.

The rest of the install was straight forward. Contrary to the Bitubo instructions, we were able slide the new unit in from the bottom of the frame and then assemble the gas cylinder and mounting bracket in place. This avoided the need to remove the tank, and also seemed to circumvent the much talked about "scraping up" of the shiny new spring unit (Although I still wrapped it up just in case). Only had to remove the rear fairing and splash-guard (and also the rear wheel, but that was only to get access with the hacksaw blade). Also took this chance to attack the swing arm, inner frame, and subframe with a rag and some kero to remove years of built up tar and chain-lube scunge. Also gave the splash-guard a bloddy good scrub with some warm soapy water.

So it's all complete! and the underside of my bike is the cleanest it's probably been since leaving the factory. I will take her for a gentle spin tomorrow to observe for problems and get a bit of a feel for it. Maybe play with the compression and rebound setting a little to see what differences this make to the feel of the bike. Got most of Feb off work so will have to get along to a tack day to see how it really performs (anybody know of any happening over this period???)

I will keep you informed....

[Sensei]

Lets know when ya heading out & I can ride along with ya , may be able to help & always up for a ride .

[PeeJay]

My point exactly. Not only unfair and contributing to the downfall of local dealers, quite illegal.

Someone who was so inclined could mention to NZ Customs that they should gain proof of transaction to match commercial invoice for all future shipments from Herdan Corp on any furture shipments. As they now have a unique supplier code with Customs it's very easy to flag future shipments.

If someone was so inclined of course...........

Yes and Herdan corp will find themselves on the reciving end of mail fraud charges. Federal offence in the states so the FBI, CIA, NSA, Delta Force, DEA, SAS, SBA, DHS, INS, will all come knocking on your door. And as a willing participant you will find yourself on the no fly list.
On the other hand it might be like this. The customs declaration only asks for the value of the goods, not what it was sold for. They can put there whatever they like. just beacuse you paid $1000 doesnt mean its worth $1000. This value is used for insurance, so in the event of the parcel going walkabout, as long as the company can claim so they're not out of pocket they will be able to send you another one.
A well established business would have to be a bunch of fools to actually include a false invoice. Not only mail fraud but dodgy accounting. The IRS can wipe their business out.
Risk it all when there is absolutely no benefit to them, just so some guy at the bottom of the world can save $100? you could be the USPSIS for all they know. USPIS ..US post has its own federal police force, guns and badges and lots of power.

And you havent 'fooled' customs, they have been doing this for quite a while and have a fair idea what things are "worth" and will charge accordingly..

[Robert Taylor]

Sorry Robert, the shock arrived this morning and went in the bike this arvo. I was a little too keen to get out and play with some settings tomorrow. Even sitting on the bike it feels like a vast improvement already. I will happily bring the bike up to show you although i realise this is much less helpful.

As I have said, I would have loved to support the local guy, but in this case it just wasn't economically viable. The top bracket for the rotary damper had cracked which would have required repair before installation of the Ohlins unit, and also the standard spring unit was in need of replacement at a cost of over $600. All up this Bitubo install has cost me a little over $900 as opposed to upwards of $2500 for the former option, an easy decision for a salaried worker/student. I realise you supply warranties and valuable ongoing support, but look at it this way....If my Bitubo unit fails (which by all accounts is very unlikely) I can replace it, and if that one fails, I can replace it again, and still only have spent a little over the price of the Ohlins install. Undoubtedly Ohlins gear is the best stuff in the world, but I'm not out to shave seconds off my lap times...All I want is a safe reliable ride without spending nearly half of what I paid for the bike in the first instance. Thats all relevant fair and reasonable and as you well realise I pointed out the issue with the side spring carrier unit and that in this instance Bitubo was likely a great solution at a lesser cost. It wont have the performance level of the Ohlins damper but then Ohlins only do the damper, not the side unit and that is whay I pointed you to Bitubo.

[cowpoos]

$2500 for the former option, .

Robert did me a rear ohlins and traxxion re valved front on my TL1000 for that [including springs]
and I got a heavier rear spring from Liehimen [probally selt wrong] suspension in the states delivered for $200nzd specifically for TL1000's.

[Kickaha]

I got a heavier rear spring from Liehimen

Because you're a fat bastard?

[cowpoos]

Because you're a fat bastard?

thats a stunning acusation mr Pot?

[pritch]

I have been noticing of late that there are usually more visitors than members on KB. At first this struck me as odd, then I realised that of course it's the ACC, the Police, the Diplomatic Protection Squad, the SIS, the IRD, CYF, WINZ, the Justice Dept, the Business Roundtable, Plunket, and now, thanks to our colleague Lankyman, the Customs Dept.

No, I'm not paranoid. I took the pills. :whistle:






[/PT]

[lankyman]

No, I'm not paranoid. I took the pills. :whistle:

Haha...Yea I had a dream the other night...A section of Navy Seals abseiled from a chopper onto my roof and smashed their way in through every window. Before I know it I'm on the floor with a sub machine gun pressed into the back of my head, and DEA and NZ Customs officials are tearing my house apart in search of the said Bitubo shock. Next thing I look up to see a Customs guy sliding on white rubber glove with sly smile on his face....and just before I wake up, he says in very stern voice......"YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BELIEVE ALL THE BULLSHIT YOU READ ON KB!!!"

[HenryDorsetCase]

Not the business roundtable!

I imagine them as the Monty Python Spanish Inquisition sketch: "No one expects the Business Roundtable"!

[pritch]

A section of Navy Seals abseiled from a chopper onto my roof

The SEALS are pussies. Worry about the SBS :whistle: