Replacing Old Shocks

[BillyRok]

I'm redoing a Venturer and the stock shocks are pretty whipped. Got oil leaking out, springs are rusty, the black body of the shock is rusty below the springs, just generally are on their way out...see?
[IMG][/IMG]
I was wondering if going with something 12.75" vs the 12.5" stock would cause issues (I'm thinking not)? Anybody ever used these from MikesXS?
https://www.mikesxs.net/yamaha-xs650...-22210-00.html Claim they fit an XS1100 as well as something as light as a Suzuki GT185! I've also seen threads where XSives have gone with Showas from bigger Hondas so I searched Ebay and found these...http://www.ebay.com/itm/HONDA-85-86-...-/261987228773

I'm hoping to find something that performs well without spending several hundred dollars, so what do you think? Something "new" from the mid '80s (Ebay) or something new and quite inexpensive (Mikes) that seems like they are recommended for quite a wide range of sized bikes? Thanks for your thoughts.

[BA80]

I've found that the coil over shocks like those that come on the XS are extremely rough riding and particularly uncomfortable on LD rides. I've been running XJ rear air adjustables on my XS for several years. I find them very comfortable and have a better performance feel to them.

I've resealed mine a couple times and the last time I put 10W oil in them instead of the recommended 5W and think it gives them a better feel performance and ridewise.

There is a XJ hock rebuild post in the repairs section that is quite helpful. You really don't need to go as far as explained, unless you want to. I've always just removed the tubes, cleaned them out and replaced the seals, and of course refilled them.

A bit of advice....DO NOT use the Leak Proof seals. They don't hold up. I went with EMGO seals this time. I'm pretty sure they'll be much better.

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13400

[dbbrian]

Following

Hi Billyrok

I am in the market for replacements too on the advice from a fellow XS'er Marty A. I would like shocks that look oem if possible

Some other options I've found:

1. Parts n More has them in all chrome for $109 http://www.partsnmore.com/parts/yamaha/xs1100e/?q=shock

2. Follow BA80's advice and rebuild the XJ's - price for used + parts?
- insert advice here....

3. Go with Jetmechmarty's advice and "spring" for the Hagons (or similar quality) $267 each https://www.z1enterprises.com/catalo...-320mm-xs1100/

Watching your thread with interest

[MaximPhil]

Hi Billyrok

I am in the market for replacements too on the advice from a fellow XS'er Marty A. I would like shocks that look oem if possible

Some other options I've found:

1. Parts n More has them in all chrome for $109 http://www.partsnmore.com/parts/yamaha/xs1100e/?q=shock

2. Follow BA80's advice and rebuild the XJ's - price for used + parts?
- insert advice here....

3. Go with Jetmechmarty's advice and "spring" for the Hagons (or similar quality) $267 each https://www.z1enterprises.com/catalo...-320mm-xs1100/

Watching your thread with interest

Hi Brian,
Of your three options I would vote for the XJ + rebuild as most have reported good results plus I am a cheap bastard who knows you get what you pay for and $109 is probably too good to be true.
Having had the opportunity to ride Jetmechmarty's Special those hagons are superb. Marty some times does not eat for days and he sends his wife out to work...just saying

Phil

[dbbrian]

Hi Brian,
Of your three options I would vote for the XJ + rebuild as most have reported good results plus I am a cheap bastard who knows you get what you pay for and $109 is probably too good to be true.
Having had the opportunity to ride Jetmechmarty's Special those hagons are superb. Marty some times does not eat for days and he sends his wife out to work...just saying

Phil

Thanks Phil, as you know, I like to eat, and you can't eat a Hagon so that narrows the field!

I won't hijack your thread anymore Billyrok Good luck with your search

[MaximPhil]

Hi BillyRok,
Nice to see you back on the forum. Do you have Pictures of your Venturer project?
Phil

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there BillyRok/Brian,

One thing that folks don't realize is that the stock OEM shocks only provided for compression dampening, not rebound/expansion dampening. I experienced this shortly after I got my new 81Sh home from Japan in'83, was stationed there, got the bike/engine broken in, and then was able to really crank the throttle on startoffs. I was very surprised to feel the A$$end of the bike rise as I cranked the throttle up, and then it would settle back down as I reduced the accel rate. Felt like a slight bucking bronco....more like a merrygo round horse...I got used to it, and then rode it for 9 years.

Then bike broke/tranny, sat 9 years, then I finally rebuilt it in 2000. Put on new el cheapo Monza style shocks from PNM, they were adequate to support the bike's weight, even with saddle bags/trunk and later my mom riding as passenger....with the preload cranked up.

But the first thing I noticed after again re-breaking in the engine(top end big bore kit), was that when I got on the throttle, the bike rode LEVEL....didn't rise up in the rear like it did when new. The newer styled cheap shocks had both compression and expansion dampening and that alone made for a better feel and ride than the OEM shocks. I've also attended many a rally, carved up a variety of twisties, and they seemed to be stable, with just me riding.

So...if you are like you say, on a tight budget, then the PNM's or MikesXS shocks will work quite adequately, and will at least be a bit better than the 30+ y/o OEM shocks. YMMV.

T.C.

[dbbrian]

Hey there BillyRok/Brian,

One thing that folks don't realize is that the stock OEM shocks only provided for compression dampening, not rebound/expansion dampening. I experienced this shortly after I got my new 81Sh home from Japan in'83, was stationed there, got the bike/engine broken in, and then was able to really crank the throttle on startoffs. I was very surprised to feel the A$$end of the bike rise as I cranked the throttle up, and then it would settle back down as I reduced the accel rate. Felt like a slight bucking bronco....more like a merrygo round horse...I got used to it, and then rode it for 9 years.

Then bike broke/tranny, sat 9 years, then I finally rebuilt it in 2000. Put on new el cheapo Monza style shocks from PNM, they were adequate to support the bike's weight, even with saddle bags/trunk and later my mom riding as passenger....with the preload cranked up.

But the first thing I noticed after again re-breaking in the engine(top end big bore kit), was that when I got on the throttle, the bike rode LEVEL....didn't rise up in the rear like it did when new. The newer styled cheap shocks had both compression and expansion dampening and that alone made for a better feel and ride than the OEM shocks. I've also attended many a rally, carved up a variety of twisties, and they seemed to be stable, with just me riding.

So...if you are like you say, on a tight budget, then the PNM's or MikesXS shocks will work quite adequately, and will at least be a bit better than the 30+ y/o OEM shocks. YMMV.

T.C.

Thanks T.C. One thing is I'm not 100% sure the shocks ARE original. There is a shroud on the lower portion I don't see on other XS's. See photos in this thread, as I can't seem to get photobucket to provide a link.

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46348

[bikerphil]

One thing that folks don't realize is that the stock OEM shocks only provided for compression dampening, not rebound/expansion dampening.

TC, I believe you have this backward, OEM's have no compression damping, all shocks must have some rebound damping to slow down the spring expansion, the spring itself is the compression damping on "comfort" type shocks.

[Radioguylogs]

Inexpensive but Good for Me

I wanted something that looked stock and was affordable for my Bagger.

I am happy with these for $100/pr:
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorc...hock-absorbers

I have them on the middle setting, and they are a bit stiff on washboard with me by myself, but not unreasonable.

Only downside was it took them about 5 weeks to arrive.

[madmax-im]

Another vote for the XJ airshocks...also a cheapazz fix ..i'm happy with the results ...and they meet Marty's seal of approval...

[skids]

I wanted something that looked stock and was affordable for my Bagger.

I am happy with these for $100/pr:
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorc...hock-absorbers

They do look pretty sharp.

[TopCatGr58]

TC, I believe you have this backward, OEM's have no compression damping, all shocks must have some rebound damping to slow down the spring expansion, the spring itself is the compression damping on "comfort" type shocks.

Hey Phil,

I remember having a similar discussion a while back. ALL I know and remember is that my NEW 81XS11 in '83 with only 500 miles on it, with the shocks set to #4 dampening setting did NOT control the expansion of the shock that occurs during throttle up where the rear wheel tries to climb the driveshaft/swingarm which pushes the swingarm down stretching the shock, and raising the rear of the bike. And mine easily raised up during throttle up events....and that is what makes me think that they had very little expansion dampening vs. the compression dampening that occurs when hitting bumps. And the new cheap shocks had NO rear rise affect under strong throttle ups whatsoever. So...I guess I need to restate that the OEM's have very little or inadequate expansion dampening which allows the rear to rise up on throttle ups. Maybe this will help me to remember this again the next time this subject comes up!

T.C.

[Bonz]

Dang those Honda Shadow Shocks have gotten expensive! I like my Honda Showa shocks, which have a full chrome "cover" on them and not exposed springs. Maybe different versions of the same thing?