Source for rear shocks for 1983 R100RT

[schrader7032]

Correct on the 4.00x18 tires...they are definitely available. I just ordered a Michelin Activ for my rear to match the front Activ. Avon makes decent inch-sized tires. Benefits of using the proper tires: shock clearance, swingarm clearance, ease (or at least easier) removal of rear tire when fixing a flat or servicing the splines, proper geometry for good handling and stability, and proper actuation and support of sidestand. I really noticed this last thing when I had metric tires front and rear. Metric tires are smaller in profile, so the bike was somewhat closer to the ground. That meant that the sidestand would enounter the ground sooner, and thus the bike stood more upright when on the sidestand...that actually resulted in it falling over at one gas stop...kind of embarrassing.

So what tire are you running in the rear? If it's a 120 sized tire, that is way to big for the twin shock Airheads. A fat tire does nothing for handling...a fat tire in the front actually hurts handling because of the extra distance needed to move the tire off the center patch. As I said, it gets into the fine details of steering geometry.

[c.d.iesel]

Jim, Nikormat = a camera

[c.d.iesel]

back to the NIVOMAT, self-leveling single shock

I just installed a new one ordered from MAX BMW Danbury CT
on my 1986 R65 and love the improved handling and ride
quality. The Boge NIVOMAT single shock is listed as an Option
for all mono-lever, single shock air heads.

There's a different Nivomat shock for earlier Twin-Shock models.
Original BMW standard equip on R100RT s

up to 1984 R100RT w/ twin-shocks 33.53.2.301.545 = N.L.A (no longer available)
look for good USED Nivomats as replacement. Many were removed infavor of
conventional shock with coil springs thinking that improved handling resulted

1985>on R100RT w/ single-shock 33.53.1.452.351 = $475 from any BMW Dealer
Actually not a bad price considering alternative of regular shock with
coil spring(s). The NIVOMAT is a high tech suspension unit.

not rebuildable