Anyone willing to help a former R1100S owner?

[Boxer@last]

Sold my beloved R1100S a couple years ago. Had some bits and pieces lying around which I recently put out on eBay. One of those items was a nice front shock that I purchased from Robert Poe III (on here) for $75. I never did mount the shock. It was in nice shape with less than 15k on it. A gentlemen on eBay purchased it for $22 and is now claiming I sold him an incomplete shock "without the preload mechanism" and he sent a picture of the end of the upper stem. There is an internal hex on these and as far as I know, the R1100S damping knob simply engages this hex. Am I missing something here? Did I unknowingly cheat this man out of parts for his shock? It was sold exactly as I received it from Robert so I felt it was complete. Hope one or two of you guys can help! Thanks.

[bradzdotcom]

are you talking about the stock shock?
you said it was a "nice front shock", so i'm confused, especially having met the stock front shock.

can you slip us the picture you used on e-bay and the one this guy sent ya?

somebody in here is probably itching to call it first.

[Boxer@last]

Yes, front shock. By "nice" I just meant nice condition, not as in nice aftermarket. I don't recall how to post pics on here. Here's a link to the auction:
BMW R1100S Front Shock Standard Height | eBay
eBay item number: 111837062674
Thanks for any help!

[Boxer@last]

OK, here is a link to picture he sent me on ebay:
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/2VcAAOSwk1JWceMO/$_12.JPG?set_id=2

[wswartzwel]

Front shock has no preload adjustment.. only a knob for damping

[Boxer@last]

Bill, can you (or anyone) look at the pictures and/or tell me if there is something missing from the stock shock I sold?

[TX_Biker_Scum]

No adjustment knob, and no adjustment push rod. Push rod is aluminum, 5.572" long, 0.157" dia.

[Groceryrun]

Hope this Fiche of the Front Spring Strut helps.

R1100S 01/1997 - 09/2004

[Boxer@last]

You guys are fantastic. OK, if one were to buy a new stock shock from BMW (yes, I know there are few who would do such a thing) it would seem to me that the knob and its sundry hardware presently on one's bike would be re-used with the new shock, and therefore would not be included with the replacement? Or would, perhaps, just the aluminum rod be included?
I just need to know if the gentlemen who bought my shock to install on his BCR is somehow unable to do so. Would he not have the necessary parts already? The knob assembly and aluminum rod are not wear items or, as I see it, normally part of the shock itself. Is that a correct assumption?

[TX_Biker_Scum]

That seems like something for you and the buyer to work out.

[Boxer@last]

That's a fair statement. Thanks gents. I sincerely appreciate the information. Great community here!

[johnty288]

Shocking!

[Groceryrun]

I never knew the bike had a hollowed out shaft with an aluminum rod .

Do aftermarket shocks (Ohlins, Nitron, Elka, Works, etc. ) that you guys have used as a replacement , also have a hollowed out shaft, and did it come with an aluminum rod ?

Do the aftermarket shocks utilize the "adjustment rebound travel regulator unit" (part #9 in the BMW Fiche) also or do they come with their own unit ?

[Boxer@last]

No, only the OEM shock utilizes the dampening adjustment knob, as far as I know. I believe it is possible on most (all?) aftermarket shocks to put the knob back in place for "original appearance" aesthetics, but it will not of course perform its former function.

[Groceryrun]

Thank you for the aftermarket shock info.

Your ebay listing didn't show nor mention a dampening adjustment knob.
It was only listed as a shock with an accompanying photo of just a shock.

[Boxer@last]

I'm not sure what your point is about my listing...

[Groceryrun]

Boxer@last:

I've done quite a number of deals on Ebay as everybody has.
Sometimes the seller will just use a stock photo that's been copied over and over again.
Sometimes the seller will use an actual photo of the item that's being sold.
I think in your case your listing and photo just shows a shock (spring strut).
I do not see mentioned or see any photo of a preload mechanism.

[Boxer@last]

Originally Posted by Groceryrun

Boxer@last:

I've done quite a number of deals on Ebay as everybody has.
Sometimes the seller will just use a stock photo that's been copied over and over again.
Sometimes the seller will use an actual photo of the item that's being sold.
I think in your case your listing and photo just shows a shock (spring strut).
I do not see mentioned or see any photo of a preload mechanism.

Groceryrun: I can assure you I know what's in the photos. They were taken by me, for the item I was selling. The description likewise is of the exact item depicted, nothing more, nothing less. No mention of a "preload mechanism" because... there isn't one.

It was my buyer who claimed the "preload mechanism" was missing. As wswartzwel has also pointed out, there is no preload adjustment, only the dampening adjustment which is accomplished through the knob on the bike in front of the gas cap.

My buyer saw the hollow shock stem and assumed he was missing parts (he's an airhead guy and his R1100S was new to him). Since I never did a shock swap on mine I needed to learn from folks here what goes down inside that hollow stem.
TX_Biker_Scum was most helpful in showing us the aluminum rod. My buyer now understands his shock, has installed it, and is quite happy. Thanks again guys!

[sgoodwin]

Just a fyi, my Ohlins have their own damping adjustment knob same as stock & it very much is a working item that actually varies damping unlike the stock pos.

[bradzdotcom]

got that right!
when you put a real shock on there and tickle the pretty gold knob, it's a "Well, well, so that's what it's supposed to do" moment.