Rear Shock Advise Needed

Landon

Landon

Joined
Mar 6, 2006
Messages
905
Age
43
Location
Otisco, IN
Bike
2013 Yamaha S10
I am looking to replace my rear shock. I am not very educated when it comes to suspension and need some advise on what I should get. I am 300# and the bikes is really pushing the limits with me and the saddlebag and top box loaded down. Then throw the wife in on ocassion to and the dang thing feels like a pogo stick. I asked the guy that did my fork springs and he recommended a Penske shock. What do you guys recommend? Is this a project I can handle? I do pretty much all my own maintence, so I don't really see it being a problem.
 
Landon,

There are several of us that have Hyperpro rear shocks or springs, other have Penske shocks and there is also Wilber's. I don't think you will have a problem with any of these. The thing you need to do is contact them, give them your spec's and see what they want to build a shock for you. Price wise they will be close for the same configuration but some may have more options than others. You'll need to decide how you want to proceed based on your needs. You should be able to handle the replacement. It's a little tight at the top bolt but many have done it.
 
I went with the Penske, that being said, a couple of points to consider.

Do a honest evaluation of the percentage of riding you do under the different load conditions. When they build a shock it's a bit of a compromise between everything it has to handle. Make sure the compromise is weighted towards the bulk of your riding.

If, like me, you're going from lightly loaded one up to full load two up, look at a unit that has a remote pre-load adjuster. Once the damping is set, it pretty much can remain at that setting but it's very important to change the pre-load to accommodate varying loads. The Penske is not easily adjustable. Otherwise great.

If budget is a consideration look into keeping the stock shock and changing out the spring for a heavier Hyper Pro unit to match your load requirements. There was a write up on the procedure at one time.

IMO, next to rider training, suspension is the most important component in the riding equation. Do your research and get it right. The rewards are worth it.
 
Killtimer said:
<snip>
The Penske is not easily adjustable.
Click to expand...
Killtimer:

Did you mean that the Penske shock is mechanically difficult to adjust, or that it is difficult because there are so many ways to adjust it? The only problem that I have found with mine is that I have to remove the shock-side fairing/cover in order to get to the pre-load adjuster; I was too cheap to buy the remote unit. I do have the reservoir mounted remotely, so the high- and low-speed damper adjustments are easy. It's true that the ride height and rebound damping adjustments would be tricky if they were not preset correctly.

Marshal
 
Last edited:
As I said above I have the Hyper Pro and I did get the remote pre-load adjuster it bolts on right where the factory one was. Be honest with the weights etc. I think the hyper pro spring alone is about $125 my rear shock was around $695 or so. I think my total was $960 for the rear and the fork springs. But I think it was well worth it.
 
Marshal_Mercer said:
Killtimer:
The only problem that I have found with mine is that I have to remove the shock-side fairing/cover in order to get to the pre-load adjuster; I was too cheap to buy the remote unit. I do have the reservoir mounted remotely, so the high- and low-speed damper adjustments are easy. It's true that the ride height and rebound damping adjustments would be tricky if they were not preset correctly.
Marshal
Click to expand...

Sorry, I should have been clearer. Yes it was the pre-load I was referring to. It's not only inconvenient, but the mechanism is prone to wear as the tool insertion holes in the collar start to "oval" from use. A remote hydraulic system similar to the OEM would be perfect. The damping adjusters are better although compression is a bit of a pain if you have fat fingers. ;) The only other problem I had with the Penske was a galled adjustment collar that resulted from an inadequate application of anti-seize compound on the aluminum to aluminum collar/body surface. Honda 60% moly paste seems to have cured that but getting the collar loosened is a whole other story.
 
Killtimer said:
Sorry, I should have been clearer. Yes it was the pre-load I was referring to. It's not only inconvenient, but the mechanism is prone to wear as the tool insertion holes in the collar start to "oval" from use. A remote hydraulic system similar to the OEM would be perfect. The damping adjusters are better although compression is a bit of a pain if you have fat fingers. ;) The only other problem I had with the Penske was a galled adjustment collar that resulted from an inadequate application of anti-seize compound on the aluminum to aluminum collar/body surface. Honda 60% moly paste seems to have cured that but getting the collar loosened is a whole other story.
Click to expand...
I carry a very small crescent wrench to adjust the high-speed damper. I don't really need to carry it as the damper seems to hold its setting. I do fiddle with the low-speed damper a bit, especially when leaving the freeway and heading into mountains or canyons. One click is usually plenty.

I ride solo 95% of the time, so I don't have to fool with the pre-load once I have it set for sag. If I rode more two-up, I'd definitely buy the remote pre-load adjuster package. I think that, that package is around $200.

I LOVE my Penske!

Marshal
 
Marshal_Mercer said:
I ride solo 95% of the time, so I don't have to fool with the pre-load once I have it set for sag. If I rode more two-up, I'd definitely buy the remote pre-load adjuster package. I think that, that package is around $200.Marshal
Click to expand...

Marshal

Do you remember who you talked to about the remote pre-load? Both Penske and Lindemann Engineering told me there wasn't one available for my double clicker. I'd love to have mine modified at the next re-build. The shock would then be perfect IMO.
 
I don't recall with whom I spoke at Penske, but it was Jim Lindemann at Lindemann Engineering. I have a triple-clicker, so there might be differences between our two models. I don't think so, but there might be.

Give Jim a call. He can answer about any question that you might have.

I'll look at home for a photo of a Penske shock with the remote pre-load adjuster on it. If I can find it, I'll post that here.

NOTE: Found it on line.

Marshal
Killtimer said:
Marshal

Do you remember who you talked to about the remote pre-load? Both Penske and Lindemann Engineering told me there wasn't one available for my double clicker. I'd love to have mine modified at the next re-build. The shock would then be perfect IMO.
Click to expand...
 

Attachments

  • Penske_Pre-load_adjuster.jpg
    Penske_Pre-load_adjuster.jpg
    45.4 KB · Views: 63
Last edited:
Marshal_Mercer said:
I don't recall with whom I spoke at Penske, but it was Jim Lindemann at Lindemann Engineering. I have a triple-clicker, so there might be differences between our two models. I don't think so, but there might be.

Give Jim a call. He can answer about any question that you might have.

I'll look at home for a photo of a Penske shock with the remote pre-load adjuster on it. If I can find it, I'll post that here.

NOTE: Found it on line.

Marshal
Click to expand...

Ok..... I checked the page four times but maybe I'm missing something. The unit shown in the pic is just the Penske single clicker with the remote reservoir. The pre-load kit they reference just moves the pre-load adjustment collar from the top of the spring to the bottom according to the blurb. :shrug2:

The reason for my confusion is that it was Jim Lindemann himself that told me a remote pre-load was not available when I bought the shock from him.
 
Killtimer said:
Ok..... I checked the page four times but maybe I'm missing something. The unit shown in the pic is just the Penske single clicker with the remote reservoir. The pre-load kit they reference just moves the pre-load adjustment collar from the top of the spring to the bottom according to the blurb. :shrug2:

The reason for my confusion is that it was Jim Lindemann himself that told me a remote pre-load was not available when I bought the shock from him.
Click to expand...
Jim would know better than I would. Perhaps that option was not popular enough to continue making it and it was discontinued. I placed the photo into thread #10.

Marshal
 
Marshal_Mercer said:
Jim would know better than I would. Perhaps that option was not popular enough to continue making it and it was discontinued. I placed the photo into thread #10. Marshal
Click to expand...

I know, that's the photo I'm talking about. The pre-load collar is visible at the bottom of the spring. The remote reservoir is just that, it's not an adjuster. The little knobby thing is the valve for the gas re-charge as far as I can tell.
 
Killtimer said:
I know, that's the photo I'm talking about. The pre-load collar is visible at the bottom of the spring. The remote reservoir is just that, it's not an adjuster. The little knobby thing is the valve for the gas re-charge as far as I can tell.
Click to expand...
OK. You may be right. I would ask "the reservoir for what?" Maybe to keep the damping oil cool?

Marshal

NOTE: I just found this.

"Penske Lower Preload Adjuster Kit

On bikes with heavily braced swing arms it is often necessary to remove the shock to adjust the preload. This kit fits on to the bottom of the shock which is more accessible allowing the preload to be adjusted with the shock in place."
 
Last edited:
Marshal_Mercer said:
OK. You may be right. I would ask "the reservoir for what?" Maybe to keep the damping oil cool?
Marshal
Click to expand...

The attached is the relevant page from my Penske manual showing a double clicker. All Penske shocks have a remote reservoir, either outboard like the one for the ST OEM mount location, or a piggy back that's mounted to the shock body itself. Low cost units like the ST1300 OEM shock use an internal setup.
 

Attachments

  • Modulator002.pdf
    801.6 KB · Views: 17
Killtimer said:
. . . . . . . All Penske shocks have a remote reservoir . . . . .
Click to expand...

Not so my friend. Their bottom of the line Sport Shock does not have an external reservoir.

One of the beauties of owning a Penske shock is that they can be "upgraded" a your pocketbook/debit card/credit card allows. You can start with a Sport Shock and have an external reservoir added later. You can either add the reservoir that has a single compression damping, or you can add the top of the line unit (such as Marshal's) which has both high and low speed compression damping.

The "bottom of the line" by no means implies that it is an inferior shock. It is just their cheapest shock. The only adjustment available on the sport shock are preload adjustment, ride height adjustment, and rebound adjustment. Compression damping is pre-set internally when the shock it built. This is the same shock as the higher priced models with all of the external compression adjustments, etc.

I am on my 5th Penske shock now (I have a large stable of bikes - each one has a Penske). Personally, I recommend dealing directly with Penske themselves in PA - you want to call Cole Zeitzinger there - he is the motorcycle specialist. You do not have to go through a suspension dealer to own a Penske shock.

You don't have to wait on parts as you would with a suspension shop as they are the factory. Also, they are one of the friendliest, most customer oriented businesses I have ever dealt with.

One thing you want to make sure of when buying any shock for an ST. The ST requires some very heavy spring rates (1200#/in +). Make sure and have Penske install a Torrington thrust bearing at the top of the spring. If you don't, you will hog out the adjustment holes on the preload ring when you try to turn it.

BTW, I'm reworking the forks on another one of my bikes that has adjustable preload fork caps. I figured just to make things work nice and smooth, I would machine a new spacer top and install a Torrington bearing on top of the new piece. Did a search for Torrington bearings on the 'net yesterday. Can't believe just how cheap they really are. You can purchase them from MSC, Amazon.com (yep!) or a bearing supply house for just a few dollars. If you want to go back and retro fit your shock with a Torrington bearing, they aren't near as expensive as the suspension shops sell them for. $6-10 each is all you should be paying. I bought mine from VXB Bearings.

http://www.vxb.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?

Pete
 
+1 on all that Pete said. I don't recall the name of the fellow who works with Cole, but he is just as sharp/helpful.

I get a (small) kick out of being able to adjust the Penske's low-speed damping without tools, thus transforming my bike from freeway flier to mountain master-er or canyon climber. Yowser! And "Yes", a Torrington bearing sits high a-top my shock's spring.

Marshal
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom