Rear Shock Absorber Upgrade - Best to Worst

What brand?
Steve

i buyed this shocks from a Harley so i Guess it is OEM HD.They looks New and i was happy With Comfort
So the only sign is this numbers

Are parts for Hogs really made in CHINA?
Steve

redhawk4 wrote: I like the look of the ZRX shocks on the KZ's and I'm sure they are a good unit, but all the ones I see for sale are $250-$350 a pair, that's a lot to pay for used IMO. Also they don't fit with the stock bushes do they?

I quite like the idea of going with something that has that obvious "not stock" look if I'm not going with a stock or regular replacement, something that looks like a performance upgrade .

I really like the ZRX shocks on my Z1. I still need to address the forks, but it's Suspension 101 to improve front and rear for best performance. But the ZRX shocks (freshly rebuilt) ride nice and plush.

There IS an Achilles Heel to the ZRX shocks and that's finding replacement parts. I didn't try KYB direct but looked everywhere for replacement bladders. I found one like 15mm longer, used on some MX bikes, fit fine so I went with it. There are some suspension shops that specialize in these shocks and I would recommend using them if someone needed a set rebuilt.

I also lowered modified the upper spring preload to accomodate the Z1.

Koni's and Ikons are great. Here's my KZ900 with Koni's

Kapahulu wrote: Koni's and Ikons are great. Here's my KZ900 with Koni's

How do you like that pipe? I bought one for my 900 a couple of yrs. ago but haven't started my rebuild yet, cant wait to hear it
Pete

JaFlo wrote: I just got the cheap Chinese eBay piggyback reservoir shocks. I had them rebuilt and modified by CL MotoTech. $250 total including the price of the shocks. I have not got to ride on them yet, but they seem legit. I wouldn't recommend these shocks without the rebuild service.

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Some of the Chink piggy backs look cool but (I've read elsewhere) are originally intended for snowmobiles so need setting up properly. also there has been some reported failures in the castings. There was a guy on ebay uk selling quite a few but seems to have discontinued now...

I have a set of ohlins piggybacks, but at nearly £700 a pair I probably won't be buying again. The YSS remotes look nice, Koni or UK Hagon I'll be looking at next.



ps That pipe looks ace, the thin diameter tail and shortness looks LOUD!

lots of money but there nice. Cost about 300 to have them rebuilt

swest wrote: Are parts for Hogs really made in CHINA?
Steve

My thinking also Steve
I would be surprised if they were!
Just my opinion
Ed

ed spangler wrote:

swest wrote: Are parts for Hogs really made in CHINA?
Steve

My thinking also Steve
I would be surprised if they were!
maybe these were aftermarket Chinese shocks for a Harley, I doubt they were OE.
Just my opinion
Ed

Tyrell Corp wrote:

JaFlo wrote: I just got the cheap Chinese eBay piggyback reservoir shocks. I had them rebuilt and modified by CL MotoTech. $250 total including the price of the shocks. I have not got to ride on them yet, but they seem legit. I wouldn't recommend these shocks without the rebuild service.

Some of the Chink piggy backs look cool but (I've read elsewhere) are originally intended for snowmobiles so need setting up properly. also there has been some reported failures in the castings. There was a guy on ebay uk selling quite a few but seems to have discontinued now...

I have a set of ohlins piggybacks, but at nearly £700 a pair I probably won't be buying again. The YSS remotes look nice, Koni or UK Hagon I'll be looking at next.



ps That pipe looks ace, the thin diameter tail and shortness looks LOUD!

The China shocks need to be setup correctly as I mentioned. Mine have 120lbin springs and 7wt Maxima shock oil. They also have the correct amount of nitrogen gas charge. That's what you get with the rebuild service. From China, the come with the wrong amount of some sort of mystery oil and are not correctly charged. The castings are actually quite nice, especially for how cheap they are. Most of the ones that break are the clevis mount ones, due mostly to improper mounting.

Aren't the stock Harley shocks made by Showa? It seems they may have manufacturing in China, but they are a Japanese company. I don't care for things made in China as a whole, but the whole quality issue has a lot to do with who is ordering what and to what specification rather than a blanket if it's made in China it's automatically crap. Showa also has manufacturing in the US.