YSS rear shock - any good ?

[Syd]

OK, after 3 years restoring my 1999 St1100 AX I took it for a brief test ride yesterday
It handles like a shopping trolley on a pogo stick.
I understand it will never handle like my RSV1000R, but I have owned and used a Pan European before and I know it should handle better than this.
During the resto I completely refurbished the forks to OEM spec, with everything new except the lower tubes.
I wasn't quite so fastidious with the 107 thousand mile rear shock. Which I cleaned up, re-filled with new 5W fork oil, and fitted a remote preload adjuster from an ST1300.
That clearly was not enough, so I am in the market for a new rear shock
A brief trawl through the internet suggests an easy and relatively cheap solution might be a YSS rear shock. It has pre-load and rebound adjustment. The cost varies depending where you buy it, but most seem to be under £300.
Has anyone tried one of these ?
Are they any good ?

Syd

 

[GGely]

Got me there, Syd, I haven’t seen YSS in reference to the ST before.

And, I didn’t realize the stock shock could be refilled and/or modified. Looking that up will chew up a bit of the weekend...

I’ve been looking at the usual suspects: Progressive, HyperPro etc. so far. I’ve got another 6 weeks or so of riding left. So unless I find a really good deal, this will be a winter project.

Good luck with your search!

 

[Syd]

Got me there, Syd, I haven’t seen YSS in reference to the ST before.

And, I didn’t realize the stock shock could be refilled and/or modified. Looking that up will chew up a bit of the weekend...

I’ve been looking at the usual suspects: Progressive, HyperPro etc. so far. I’ve got another 6 weeks or so of riding left. So unless I find a really good deal, this will be a winter project.

Good luck with your search!

Hmmm, the YSS is all over the web in the uk (E-bay, suspension specialists etc.)
Maybe it is branded differently here
Do any of those you list look like this ?

As for the OEM shock being modifiable.
I have a well equipped garage and can do pretty much anything
Whether I should is another question entirely.
The result on this occasion suggests not.

 

[GGely]

I haven’t seen this one in my travels but I haven’t really spent much time on it, either.

I too have a well equipped shop, to the point we call it Garage Mahal. Im lucky to have it.

I found the article on rebuilding the stock shock, so I’ll probably give it a go.

 

[Upt' North]

OK, after 3 years restoring my 1999 St1100 AX I took it for a brief test ride yesterday
It handles like a shopping trolley on a pogo stick.
I understand it will never handle like my RSV1000R, but I have owned and used a Pan European before and I know it should handle better than this.
During the resto I completely refurbished the forks to OEM spec, with everything new except the lower tubes.
I wasn't quite so fastidious with the 107 thousand mile rear shock. Which I cleaned up, re-filled with new 5W fork oil, and fitted a remote preload adjuster from an ST1300.
That clearly was not enough, so I am in the market for a new rear shock
A brief trawl through the internet suggests an easy and relatively cheap solution might be a YSS rear shock. It has pre-load and rebound adjustment. The cost varies depending where you buy it, but most seem to be under £300.
Has anyone tried one of these ?
Are they any good ?

Syd

Syd, I went new OEM at 50,000 from Silvers.
It was light and day over the old shock, but it depends on what you want.
Only the new ABS shock was available at that time but it works well with non ABS.
Happy hunting.
Upt'North.

 

[SMSW]

Looks like the pictured shock has a manual preload collar. Does the 1100 have access that will allow you to reach this in order to adjust the preload? I know my 1300 has a screw head on the shock body that you adjust to increase or decrease the rebound damping (or is it compression?). Does your shock have such an adjustment? From your description, it sounds like you have no dampening and are pogoing on the spring alone.

 

[Roger]

A Hagon will be just fine. Re-buildable too....

 

[Syd]

Syd, I went new OEM at 50,000 from Silvers.
It was light and day over the old shock, but it depends on what you want.
Only the new ABS shock was available at that time but it works well with non ABS.
Happy hunting.
Upt'North.

Thanks, that is useful information.
Mine is an ABS model, and the price for an OEM at David Silver is quite reasonable.
My only slight concern is that I tip the scales at 110 kilos these days, and might be better served by something with a bit more adjustment
Syd

 

[Syd]

Looks like the pictured shock has a manual preload collar. Does the 1100 have access that will allow you to reach this in order to adjust the preload? I know my 1300 has a screw head on the shock body that you adjust to increase or decrease the rebound damping (or is it compression?). Does your shock have such an adjustment? From your description, it sounds like you have no dampening and are pogoing on the spring alone.

The OEM preload adjuster is an old fashioned 3 position jobbie, and any manual adjuster will require the removal of the side panel to get full access. That was why I modified my old shock to accept the ST1300 hydraulic preload adjuster. The YSS offers a similar system for an extra 200 quid (I think I would rather undo 2 screws and tae the panel off)
Both the OEM and the YSS have rebound damping adjustment (although I have never known any standard shock to exhibit any noticeable change in rebound damping, I think the manufacturers save us from ourselves by making that adjustment very much a token thing)

I agree with your diagnosis, the damping on my old shock is non existent. Obviously there is more to rebuilding the OEM shock than powder coating the spring, removing the top eye, and re-filling with fresh oil. I guess there is compressed nitrogen involved somehow, which I do not have the facility to provide.
All of which is why I am shopping for a new shock.

Syd

 

[Syd]

A Hagon will be just fine. Re-buildable too....

I considered Hagon.
A well established name, so not too much risk there.
Have you actually tried one ?

I must admit to being tempted by those "customised" shocks like Nitron.
The ordering process appears to need rider weight, pillion weight, riding style etc. Whether that results in a better result is something I would like to know from anyone who has tried one.
Ideally I would like to find a competent ride in ride out suspension specialist, but they seem thin on the ground and none close to Hampshire.

Syd

 

[Upt' North]

Thanks, that is useful information.
Mine is an ABS model, and the price for an OEM at David Silver is quite reasonable.
My only slight concern is that I tip the scales at 110 kilos these days, and might be better served by something with a bit more adjustment
Syd

I don't know how you intend to use it Syd but ours is often tipping the scales at 500 KG and the standard shock allows enthusiastic riding. Strangely then on the rare occasions that I ride alone it handles bloody awfully but that's because I can't be bothered to change the shock.
We run it on full spring compression and about an Eigth of a turn out on damping but this is way to firm for one up riding and with man maths I don't think we're that dissimilar in build. Never did get used to decimalisation, I'll work at it.
Upt'North.

 

[Syd]

I don't know how you intend to use it Syd but ours is often tipping the scales at 500 KG and the standard shock allows enthusiastic riding. Strangely then on the rare occasions that I ride alone it handles bloody awfully but that's because I can't be bothered to change the shock.
We run it on full spring compression and about an Eigth of a turn out on damping but this is way to firm for one up riding and with man maths I don't think we're that dissimilar in build. Never did get used to decimalisation, I'll work at it.
Upt'North.

Thanks again for real information, properly thought out. That is immensely helpful.
One essential difference between the YSS item and the OEM is the preload adjustment method.
While the OEM is a bit old school (aren't we all) with its 3 position snail, the YSS has that infinitely adjustable fine thread.
All well and good until it gets its fair share of road crud applied. I do wonder how adjustable it will remain then.

Syd

 

[Upt' North]

Thanks again for real information, properly thought out. That is immensely helpful.
One essential difference between the YSS item and the OEM is the preload adjustment method.
While the OEM is a bit old school (aren't we all) with its 3 position snail, the YSS has that infinitely adjustable fine thread.
All well and good until it gets its fair share of road crud applied. I do wonder how adjustable it will remain then.

Syd

Syd, not that it matters particularly but it's five position not three.
Good luck.
Upt'North.

 

[Syd]

Well.................
After those inconclusive responses I have ordered a Hagon shock.
Roger's pithy recommendation, coupled with the fact that I have heard positive things about Hagon suspension for decades, left me choosing that as the safest option. I will let you all know the result.
It is funny that no one offered any feedback on the YSS jobbies. They are pretty much the first thing I found in any sort of web search. They look similar to the Hagon, but it is by no means clear whether they are rebuildable

 

[GGely]

Hi Syd, I’m not sure you can get a conclusive answer from a forum, though I do like to try!

Ultimately, from what I’ve read so far, any of the aftermarket shocks will provide proper rebuild ability, more adjustment capability and/or easier adjustability, as well as the ability to customize it to you and your riding style.

So no matter which you choose, you win.

And you picked the perfect shock, the Hagon, which is my choice too. Unless I find a deal on the Progressive. Or the YSS. Or...

 

[Larry Fine]

I put a pair of Hagons on my '96 NH750, and with the forks rebuilt by myself, the bike handles noticeably better.

My '01 ST1100 came to me with recently-installed Traxxion Dynamic forks and a Progressive 465 shock/spring.

I will say that, after returning from WV-stoc, the ST handles every bit as well as, if not better than, the NH750 does.

 

[Syd]

Update .....................
I have fitted the Hagon rear shock. Easy job, simpler than changing a tyre.
As it has transformed the bike.
It now handles like a new one, very much as I remember the Pan European from my previous ownership in the 1990s.
Stable, confidence inspiring, no surprises (very Honda in fact)

Although I have to say that it is not as fast as I remember. Don't get me wrong, it will get up to 120+ mph without trying too hard.
But after 20+ years of ownership of such things as Firestorm, Fireblade and my beloved Aprilia RSV1000R it feels more like a comfy old armchair than a road missile. Which, of course, is exactly what it is.
I suppose if I want to scare myself again, I shall have to lose enough weight to be able to get into my one piece leathers and take the 'Priller back on a track day.
That is something of a challenge. Even when I was much younger and slimmer I still looked like most people (i.e. more like a python that has swallowed a cripple rather than a power ranger)

 

[Larry Fine]

I suppose if I want to scare myself again, I shall have to lose enough weight to be able to get into my one piece leathers and take the 'Priller back on a track day.
That is something of a challenge. Even when I was much younger and slimmer I still looked like most people (i.e. more like a python that has swallowed a cripple rather than a power ranger)

It's certainly do-able. I'm 64 years young now, and 6'3" tall. I weighed around 385 pounds for probably over 20 years, with a 52" waist, and decided to change it in 2009.

I'm now around 235 pounds, with a 36-38" waist, and have kept it off since. Riding, and even walking, are much less painful now. I can tell you what I did if you're interested.

 

[DeanR]

I have fitted the Hagon rear shock. Easy job

Have a part no. for that shock?

 

[Bikeric]

It's certainly do-able. I'm 64 years young now, and 6'3" tall. I weighed around 385 pounds for probably over 20 years, with a 52" waist, and decided to change it in 2009.

I'm now around 235 pounds, with a 36-38" waist, and have kept it off since. Riding, and even walking, are much less painful now. I can tell you what I did if you're interested.

Yes please Larry, I could do with losing 4 stone..