Aftermarket rear shocks

[JimmyBingoNight]

I’m window shopping for new shocks, ohlins are out of my price range unless I stumble on a pair that needs “work”. YSS and bitubo piggyback shocks are ones that seem to be priced at the top of my budget. Are there any good alternatives? I’d like to be able to handle curves at 75+ without my rear wheel skipping

 

[CaptainKyle]

Progressive 444's are a pretty nice shock nothing like Ohlins. Sean Morley on here sells them and might have some other options you can reach him at [email protected]

 

[KennyR]

I’m window shopping for new shocks, ohlins are out of my price range unless I stumble on a pair that needs “work”. YSS and bitubo piggyback shocks are ones that seem to be priced at the top of my budget. Are there any good alternatives? I’d like to be able to handle curves at 75+ without my rear wheel skipping

I put YSS shocks on my Dyna low rider,1 inch over stock, and they made a huge improvement in handling. I expect they would do the same for a VMAX. They will custom value the shocks for your weight and riding style.

 

[Fire-medic]

FYI, your Gen. 1 shocks are 13" O.C. eye-to-eye. Going shorter compromises your cornering clearance.

 

[3-Max]

YSS also do cheaper non piggyback types. I put some on my trike. progressive springs in the front end also big improvement (just for info).

 

[Davelaf]

I've been looking at Fox and even though I don't like anything from China, the Arashi Ohlin copy piggy back. They are around 2 c-notes, but better than stock? Or throwing money away. It's a little aesthetics too.

 

[Gtista]

Not sure if the Arashi have only rebound damping adjustment or both compression and rebound damping adjustments like the Ohlins.

 

[Davelaf]

Not sure if the Arashi have only rebound damping adjustment or both compression and rebound damping adjustments like the Ohlins.

View attachment 93232

Id love to put Ohlins on, a car modified this moto into a bobber, so the rear shocks really stand out, just not wanting to spend a grand on them, and the YSS aren't a whole lot cheaper, soooooo..........

 

[Shuriken]

What did you end up choosing and how well have they worked?

 

[Davelaf]

What did you end up choosing and how well have they worked?

Nothing, I've been looking at the progressives. But not sure. My need for aesthetics has changed, I already get more than enough looks for my ego, so the Chinese Ohlins are out, and unless I go a deal on real ones, probably not spending a grand on something I don't know will improve riding around. Probably be a winter project now.

 

[MaxMidnight]

Like most things in life, you tend to get what you pay for.
Whilst Ohlins are nice how many rider can get the benefit they offer and there are other limitations in the Max will, IMO, deserve attention.
The cost a more reasonably priced rear end would leave some cash to improve the front with better springs and damping.

I have no experience of Chinese made products and whilst they may perform well I would rather spend my money on a home produced product (read US or Europe) even if that costs a little more.

For most of us one of the lower end products from one of the established manufacturers will certainly be an improvement over OE even if they don't have the bling value of their more expensive relatives.

 

[Gtista]

I have to agree with MaxMidnight, even though I got seduced by bling and forked over a mountain of cash for Olins. They felt great, but main thing was binning a pair of no-name 11" center to center shocks and going back to stock 13" eye to eye. Improved handling from slow as molasses in January to reasonable for a bike like the Vmax and the front wheel stopped wanting to flop over in low speed turns.

 

[Shuriken]

In the "less expensive" category of rear shocks, it seems we have these options:

1. a shock with no adjustments; set damping and preload - $
2. a shock with preload adjustments - $

In the "more expensive" category, it seems we have these:
1. a shock with damping and preload adjustments - $$$$$$$$$$$$$
2. a shock with psi and oil adjustable, adjustable preload, adjustable everything, auto-adjust - $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

It seems like you can get the Chinese no-name shocks for the smaller bikes but not for the large/heavy bikes. Maybe they work fine for the money, maybe not. Then you can get the expensive name-brand ones but are they really, truly many hundreds, if not a thousand dollars better than something else?

And who really makes the shocks for Harley Davidson, or Yamaha, and where do they source the parts to build them?

There needs to be more options between $ and $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for heavier bikes and classic bikes but it seems cheaper to get your nice suspension by just getting a newer ride! A riding buddy of mine raves about his BMW. Everything just works and works automatically.