Mupo Shock

Greetings!

old topic! Or new topic for anybody that has not done the suspension upgrade!
Being about 200lb with gear I started feeling the bumps on my GRiSO 2017SE. Cranked the pre-load, and played with the rebound and compression as many posts here report -- some improvement.

I was about to pull the trigger on Matris K series when I found the Mupo...

-- Anybody has experience with the Mupo rear shock on a GRiSO??

I found some really good prices... but still very comparable to a Matris K. I do not think I need or would appreciate the Matris R.... -- I am a road only mildly 'aggressive' driver -- doing 3 or 4 trips per year of 2 days, but mainly twisters around the hills where I live.

MUPO AB1 less than $800 with shipping to US CA.

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or
MUPO AB1 EVO.. about $850 with shipping to US CA
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Also -- how hard is it to install it yourself??? I can manage to get the bike up and steady.. Do I need any special tools???

Thank you!
Giuseppe

Hi Giuseppe...can't talk to MUPO performance (I fitted Matris K) but there are lots of threads about fitting methods - none require 'special tools' but just different ways of jiggling and deciding best size standard spanners will fit tight places. It's either top-down that IMHO risks upsetting wiring runs & plastic fittings & PITA getting the airbox inlet rubbers off/on  OR bottom up which is a PITA wiggling shock in/out with various levels of removal (wheel, exhaust) and support stand height options depending how big the shock is. In past I've managed to fit a stelvio std shock bottom up despite it's lot harder to wriggle as it's longer. Believe you can also drop the shock all the way out the bottom if you can get the bike high enough & remove dog-bone (which can be a problem). Check the threads and can PM me if you want a write-up on doing mine (PDF)...no guarantee it's best practice but works for me.

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Thank you so much.... seems quite involved.. will look at threads on this forum then ... I will probe any local mechanics if they are familiar with this type of work....

While it may appear complex it's really pretty straightforward. If it hasn't been done yet fitting a new shock is the ideal time to pull the swingarm for greasing of the shock linkage and swingarm bearings so you can kill two birds with the one stone.

yea that was my goal! I heard that at the factory they dont seem to put a lot of grease...

I will go thru the service manual as well...

Giuseppe

In the service manual I see :
Special Tool 05.91.26.30 for the fork pin ring nut -clutch hub... to take the swing arm out and do the proper greasing.... that I would have to track down.

Giuseppe

Nah, you can easily unwind the spindle with a 'C' spanner.

Would this work:

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Thank you sir!
Giuseppe

Nah. I'll have to find a pic.

Like this.

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Have had the Mupo for a couple years now and it is a HUGE improvement dialed in for my 105kg fat arse.

Now to do something to the front.

Birch wrote:

Have had the Mupo for a couple years now and it is a HUGE improvement dialed in for my 105kg fat arse.

Now to do something to the front.

If you have the means, Matris fork cartridges. They tend to be at the stiffer end of the range in terms of spring rate, so likely better for a more, err, larger-framed gentleman if you will. Got them on my GRiSO and had to wind off all the preload and several clicks of compression damping to make them work. Quality of construction etc is very high if the many internet reports are any guide.

Birch wrote:

Have had the Mupo for a couple years now and it is a HUGE improvement dialed in for my 105kg fat arse.

Now to do something to the front.

The fork is actually very nice (with poor choice of valving).  And since it is Showa any suspension shop used to Japanese bikes should be able to put in proper springs and change the valving.  It is the same fork as a 2006 Suzuki GSXR 600/750.  Well, Suzuki went with different valving, but same model Showa fork.  

Or be thrifty and do it yourself.

My self re-valve was ~$15 (I did not need new springs, that was shims and oil).  I've been very happy with it.

IMO, the fork internals are good, no need to gut it and spend $1000+ on new internals.  

Link to my revalve thread if interested: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I picked up an AB1 EVO from MotoRacingShop in Italy (good experience). They ask for your weight, then order the shock from MUPO which takes roughly two weeks. I also ordered a valve kit for the forks--not quite ready to "spring" for cartridges just yet.

Included documentation is excellent (mainly helpful for the fork valve install), and the parts appear to be extremely high quality. Hopefully I'll have more feedback soon.

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Can't believe it took me so long to get the shock fitted!

However:

Holy shit!!!  [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I have literally done nothing else to the shock but install it, and the ride is leagues and leagues beyond the Sachs, simply an unbelievable improvement! While it will need a bit of tweaking of course, it seems Mupo did a fantastic job with the initial setup.

Predictably, the deficits of the front end are now much more obvious, so next up will be the fork valves, and replacing the awful stock Metzelers for some Road Attacks stashed in the garage.  

The Showa forks are a very, very good fork. It's just the way they are set up on the GRiSO is abysmal. It should be easy enough to find a decent suspension specialist to re-valve them very well without spending a fortune.

Thanks Pete!

I had previously purchased this kit:

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Installed over the weekend, not too bad of a job, once again the most difficult part is cutting a slice of uninterrupted time to do the work! (I agree that a dedicated suspension guy or girl would be optimal, as they know all the little tricks and will do it in a fraction of the time, I just don't have ready access to one in my area.)

You are right about the quality of the fork, and I can only describe the results of the re-valve as a ridiculously amazing improvement. It's firm with little brake dive, yet also very compliant (doesn't rattle your teeth over bumps like the god-awful stock setup).

One thing I really appreciated with the Mupo kit, especially the shock, is that it came reasonably well dialed in per the information given when I ordered. I didn't have to frack about with removing things twice to change springs or shims, and the recommended settings for both ends are very close to optimal.

Installed a new set of Conti Road Attack at the same time, and the bike is simply an utter pleasure now to ride. Twisty roads are a piece of cake rather than tiring, the steering is so neutral and planted I can hardly believe it! Along with Mark's map it's motorcycle nirvana over here!

Just down to the brake and clutch masters, and I think it'll be just about perfect!