rear shock dilema
rear shock dilema
Hi all,this is basically a cost over function question.Is it worth putting in a £500 ohlins rear shock which will maybe only see a few track days per year or would a hagon shock do much the same job for half the price?
If it ain't broke,fiddle with it!
I'd recommend to go for compromise.
Get yourself fully adjustable Wilbers or WP for 400 GBP and you will see that not only trackdays will be better but daily comfort will go up by good 50% without compromising handling.
I had both Ohlins and Wilbers and can not really find where Wilbers is worse than Ohlins...probably if my name would be V.Rossi I'd spot 100 GBP worth difference, but it just me and I can't
Get yourself fully adjustable Wilbers or WP for 400 GBP and you will see that not only trackdays will be better but daily comfort will go up by good 50% without compromising handling.
I had both Ohlins and Wilbers and can not really find where Wilbers is worse than Ohlins...probably if my name would be V.Rossi I'd spot 100 GBP worth difference, but it just me and I can't
4 wheels moving body, 2 wheels moving soul
personally, I'd spend the same money as on an Ohlins unit and get a slightly cheaper shock, but set up by a professional like Roger at Revolution.
If you're confident you really know your stuff when it comes to spring rates and damping settings, I'd go for something like a high spec Showa or WP unit. Just as good for road and occasional track and a few quid cheaper than an Ohlins one.
If you're confident you really know your stuff when it comes to spring rates and damping settings, I'd go for something like a high spec Showa or WP unit. Just as good for road and occasional track and a few quid cheaper than an Ohlins one.
Voted most likely to be found dead in park bushes following an act of autoerotic asphyxiation.
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Stormin Ben
- Posts: 1234
- Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2002 12:23 am
- Location: Birmingham
deep breath}
Ok, this question basically comes down to price v's what you are looking to achieve
If you want to transform the handling of the bike, the forks are the place to start. For £200 you will get them setup fabulously
Personally I want the front of the bike to be properly sorted and the back isn't then that important, but that is just my opinion
Shock
If you want to improve the rear of the bike a Hagon with the right weight spring will be an improvement over the standard unit
However,
If it were my money I'd look at picking up a second hand unit on ebay. There's plenty about -there'll be even more when the race season ends
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAXTON-SHOCK-OHLI ... dZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1999-Yamaha-R1-Pe ... dZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OHLINS-FULLY-ADJU ... dZViewItem
Even if its not a Firestorm unit, most of the aftermarket ones can be rebuilt to fit
NB You DO need to make sure you get the right sort of shock though. The remote resevoir needs to be on a hose, not attached to the shock body coz there's not enough room under the Storm (unless you want to remove the battery box and locate it elsewhere)
NB you need to factor this additional cost into the price. There's no point buying a bargain shock for £200 & having to spend another £200 to get it set for your bike if a new one is only £450
NB you also need to double check with the manufacturer/ place you're gonna get it done to make sure they CAN do it
NB I know for sure that Penske can alter their shocks to fit any bike, I'm pretty sure Maxton would do the same, I'm not 100% about Ohlins, you'd need to ask someone like K-tech (don't bother with the official importer,Harris, they were useless when I phoned up -presumably coz they'd much rather sell you a new unit!!)
What do they offer?
The first thing you will notice is that your piles start sending you love letters
A decent shock can use a much softer spring and uses the damping to keep it under control. This manifests itself as a much more compliant ride and you're not constantly thrown out of the seat by bumps
If you only ride on the track and down smooth A-roads you may not notice much difference but most of MY riding is on (hopefully) more license friendly B-roads and minor roads. The Penske I have got on now is a revelation here coz it just floats over the rough stuff and with the rear wheel spending much more time in contact with the road I can get the power on earlier and harder
I'd go so far as to say it could save you money coz the tyres get such an easier time they don't wear out as quick
Cheaper options
It is possible to do a reasonable job on the forks yourself by fitting new springs and oil (£80 ish)
There are some companies out there that can service your standard shock. Even though its not 'technically' rebuildable they can strip it down, rebuild it with new seals, new oil (changing the grade effects the damping) and fitting a new spring.
I've used Revs racing based in Halesowen (Birmingham) for a number of my and other family members previous shocks and been very impressed with the results, especially as its generally under £100
Hope this ramble has helped, if you've any other questions arising from it, feel free to ask
Cheers
Ben
Ok, this question basically comes down to price v's what you are looking to achieve
If you want to transform the handling of the bike, the forks are the place to start. For £200 you will get them setup fabulously
Personally I want the front of the bike to be properly sorted and the back isn't then that important, but that is just my opinion
Shock
If you want to improve the rear of the bike a Hagon with the right weight spring will be an improvement over the standard unit
However,
If it were my money I'd look at picking up a second hand unit on ebay. There's plenty about -there'll be even more when the race season ends
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAXTON-SHOCK-OHLI ... dZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1999-Yamaha-R1-Pe ... dZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OHLINS-FULLY-ADJU ... dZViewItem
Even if its not a Firestorm unit, most of the aftermarket ones can be rebuilt to fit
NB You DO need to make sure you get the right sort of shock though. The remote resevoir needs to be on a hose, not attached to the shock body coz there's not enough room under the Storm (unless you want to remove the battery box and locate it elsewhere)
NB you need to factor this additional cost into the price. There's no point buying a bargain shock for £200 & having to spend another £200 to get it set for your bike if a new one is only £450
NB you also need to double check with the manufacturer/ place you're gonna get it done to make sure they CAN do it
NB I know for sure that Penske can alter their shocks to fit any bike, I'm pretty sure Maxton would do the same, I'm not 100% about Ohlins, you'd need to ask someone like K-tech (don't bother with the official importer,Harris, they were useless when I phoned up -presumably coz they'd much rather sell you a new unit!!)
What do they offer?
The first thing you will notice is that your piles start sending you love letters
A decent shock can use a much softer spring and uses the damping to keep it under control. This manifests itself as a much more compliant ride and you're not constantly thrown out of the seat by bumps
If you only ride on the track and down smooth A-roads you may not notice much difference but most of MY riding is on (hopefully) more license friendly B-roads and minor roads. The Penske I have got on now is a revelation here coz it just floats over the rough stuff and with the rear wheel spending much more time in contact with the road I can get the power on earlier and harder
I'd go so far as to say it could save you money coz the tyres get such an easier time they don't wear out as quick
Cheaper options
It is possible to do a reasonable job on the forks yourself by fitting new springs and oil (£80 ish)
There are some companies out there that can service your standard shock. Even though its not 'technically' rebuildable they can strip it down, rebuild it with new seals, new oil (changing the grade effects the damping) and fitting a new spring.
I've used Revs racing based in Halesowen (Birmingham) for a number of my and other family members previous shocks and been very impressed with the results, especially as its generally under £100
Hope this ramble has helped, if you've any other questions arising from it, feel free to ask
Cheers
Ben
I've got an inferiority complex
But its not a very good one!
But its not a very good one!
shock
I have an ohlins but have not ridden the bike yet with it on but pretty excited of the thought its transformed my bike.
