Is An Aftermarket Shock Worth It? | The Shop Manual

Should you upgrade your motorcycle suspension, and what are you actually getting with that expensive Ohlins shock anyway? In this episode of The Shop Manual we break down the key benefits associated with aftermarket suspension, namely a rider-specific spring rate, better damping, serviceability, and higher quality construction.

Upgrade your suspension at Revzilla!

[AriH]

I misspoke at 5:30 and said the spring rate was "105 kilograms per millimeter." That would be an insanely stiff coil. It's actually a 105 Newton spring, but hey, those are the kind of mistakes you make when you're live filming.

[sereneturmoil]

Ari and The Shop Manual is easily one of the best motorcycle-centric "shows" on the internet. Keep educating us, Ari, because you're excellent at it.

[JamesFrahm-mz]

Now we need A Shop Manual episode about front suspension.

[GrotrianSeiler]

Ari has always been one of the best presenters. Clear, interesting, and easy to understand.

[adrianm]

Don't forget to get a popular brand if you plan on keeping the bike. Ohlins, Penske, Nitron are a couple of brands that just about any suspension shop can service. It'll save you tons of headaches and frustration in the future.

Race-Tech is a suspension company based out of SoCal and they offer really good quality kits to make your stock forks function like aftermarket forks for way less money. They also take OEM shocks and turn them into proper working units by installing new vales and re-setting your shim stacks to match your riding skills and needs.

Andreani also makes really nice OEM fork upgrade kits (cartridges) that'll save you a fortune and work amazingly well. I use them on Ducatis.

I have NEVER installed an Ohlins shock and said... damn, I think I spent too much money.

[mfennell]

A couple years ago, I put a take-off Ohlins on my Ducati 848. I honestly did not expect much, especially on the street, but the combination of comfort and control was eye opening.

[timothycoyne]

Suspension mods can be expensive, but they’re probably the best return on investment you can make for your bike’s performance.

[chukku]

The Shop Manual is one of the most valuable ressources on the Internet :)

That being said: I am pretty sure that it is not 105kg/mm.. that spring wouldn't move at all.
Probably rather 105N/mm

[adamdyment]

My number one reason for buying from you guys is the youtube channel. Your reasonable prices are a close second.

[robertpayne]

Put Ohlins shocks and cartridges onto my 2015 FZ-09 and it was like night and day. I run around the 220lbs mark and the stock suspension was scary for my normal but spirited street driving. It would wallow and buck around corners and while stopping. The new suspension tailored to my weight inspired confidence in the corners that previously were sketchy to dive into. Everything felt more planted. It was well worth the money. Now had I weighed just a buck 50 the stock might have been acceptable.

[hansberggren]

Just changing the springs on my Africa Twin sold me on the importance of proper suspension set up. I’ve since tuned both sides but proper spring set up is honestly the first thing I’ll do to any new bike now, it’s that significant!

[MeTjube]

I bought a Öhlins for my twenty years old FZ6S and it totally changed the bike. Most probably the old one was already not damping at all. But now, it is just sticked to the ground and steady in the curves also when changing the liad by braking f.e. Best investition!!!

[Angry-Lynx]

Exactly the biggest misconception about suspension is that you don't need better one because you don't ride fast or aggressive or track or whatever.
That's not the case. The biggest improvement is comfort so ull get improvement regardless of way u ride

[davej]

I have 2 Suzuki Burgman 650 scooters. I am 215 pounds and the scooter is about 600 pounds and i do load it up with camping gear sometimes. Loaded up for a road trip the rear tire would bottom out on the trunk liner hard, even with the preload set on #5.

One is 100% stock sprung and shocked. The other I put a set of Progressive shocks and springs and a RaceTec front Emulator. The upgraded suspension is so much better. I used a set of Progressive "Goldwing 1200" spec shocks and 2 steps stiffer springs in the rear. Up front I used RaceTec 2 steps stiffer springs and Beltec 15W fork oil. With a 150 pound camping load and the preload set on #2 it never bottoms out.

[hugieflhr]

I have a Buell Ulysses and the shock is fully adjustable and when I tried a friends XB with the Olin’s, I really couldn’t tell the difference, even when pushing hard on bumpy roads. Idk what Erik Buell specified but he nailed it.

[brucec]

Great stuff as always. One more advanced factor is a more sophisticated damping curve on the aftermarket shock. It really is amazing how a Ohlins shock will handle better AND ride smoother over bumps than a stock shock, regardless of whether the stock shock has the "correct" damping and spring.

[SolamenteVees]

I cannot emphasize how happy it makes me that Ari uses the term "damping" correctly. Too often people use the word dampening, which is completely wrong.

[aphexxaeon]

I own a Yamaha MT-07. A half year ago, i changed my original Front suspension to some progressive Öhlins springs. This upgrade changed the feeling of the bike completely! From an uncomfortable feeling in fast corners to some knife sharp handling and great feedback! I'm thinking about getting the rear suspension in the future as well. It's worth the bucks!

[kenutube]

Bite the bullet and pull the trigger on the Ohlins TTX GP shock for my 2018 Suzuki GSX-R750. After hearing from friends, it would be a waste of money if I don't take it to the track. It's absolutely wrong... It was a night and day difference for me. Even just for commuting, I felt the difference and love how my bike handles. My only regret is not getting it sooner.

[tombier]

Suspension upgrades are the most cost effective improvements you can make. For those of us without an Ohlins/Penske budget there's a good chance to make a significant by swapping in a good sport bike shock. Check forums for your bike, there's likely someone that's already done it.