Wilbers’ new Nivomat suspension system promises a perfect set-up in all conditions without the need for electronics

Getting the tools out to adjust suspension can be a drag while fancy Skyhook electronics add cost and complexity – but now German suspension firm Wilbers say they have come up with a solution.

Rather than requiring preload adjustment to suit different loads, the firm’s new Nivomat suspension is claimed to maintain perfect sag, without the need for electronic actuators, or a lean-sensitive IMU.

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To achieve this, Wilbers have called upon ‘hydropneumatics’ pioneered in the passenger car industry, then scaled the design down to fit into a motorcycle shock.

The system uses a combination of two separate oil chambers – one low-pressure (which acts as the oil reservoir) and one high-pressure (which contains a gas cushion), a single-tube damping system, and a pump rod with control sleeves including valves.

As load is applied to the rear shock – such as a pillion mounting the bike or hard luggage – the pump rod, actuated by the natural movement of the motorcycle, automatically regulates pressure between the two chambers.

To do this, oil is pumped into the high-pressure chamber, exerting force on the piston rod causing it to extend. This in turn causes the spring rate to increase and the shock body to lengthen – all within a couple of hundred metres of you riding away down the road.

The pumping effect continues, Wilbers say, until the suspension is back at its predefined level – meaning whether you’re riding solo, with luggage or with a pillion, the bike will maintain the same geometry and suspension sag.

As load is reduced, oil moves back into the low-pressure chamber causing the shock to soften.

Darren Wnukoski, owner of MCT Suspension and a Wilbers suspension specialist, said: “It really is revolutionary. The user no longer requires years of knowledge to achieve the best set up.

“You’re taking the need for that away, just put it in and forget about it. It’s not low maintenance, it’s no maintenance,” he continued. “The idea is that you’ll never need to make any changes. As it comes, it should be everything you could ever need on your bike.

“Electronic semi-active suspension has its positives too, but the problem you get is a lack of consistency because it is trying to constantly analyse limited information and make changes to the settings accordingly.

“With this, the parameters are set, so the suspension will always respond the same way, whilst maintaining the geometry of the bike exactly how it should be.”

Wnukoski added: “The problem has always been scale, manufacturers have been looking at how they could make this happen for years, but until now, nobody has been able to make something that’s compact enough.”

Each unit is built to order with Wilbers gathering information on the rider and pillion weight and the normal riding style the bike will face – so each shock is tailored to the customer’s needs.

Nivomat is aimed predominantly at the touring market, especially for riders who cover considerable miles in a range of conditions. Compression and rebound dampening are non-adjustable. Both are ‘active’ however and adapt to riding conditions automatically.

Innovation naturally comes at a price. Costs vary by model, but Nivomat rear shocks start from £975, with most units costing around the £1500 mark. Visit wilbers.de for more information on the system.