Shock for tbird sport

[spookytooth]

I have a 04 thunderbird sport shes done 50 thousand ks now mainly 2 up.Have been thinking of upgrading the shock and forks and was wondering if any one has done this or have any idea as to cost and where to start looking.I would like to do the work myself but cant be stuffed and would stuff it up completly if i did try :)

[Robert Taylor]

I have a 04 thunderbird sport shes done 50 thousand ks now mainly 2 up.Have been thinking of upgrading the shock and forks and was wondering if any one has done this or have any idea as to cost and where to start looking.I would like to do the work myself but cant be stuffed and would stuff it up completly if i did try :)

Rear shock custom build ( requiring the bike ) Front forks Race Tech internals. PM me for a menu of options and package deal.

[Big Dave]

I have an Ohlins Shock, Race Tech Emulators and Progressive Springs in my T'bird. Adds about 40kph to comfortable cornering speeds - across the board.

[AllanB]

I have no idea if these are any good as I have yet to do any research on the brand as I was only sent a link last night for another part and found the shocks within the site. Strike me as good value IF they are a quality unit even when doubling for the euro and shipping. Possibly worth a e-mail and a internet search.

http://www.carpimoto.com/content/prod/l_EN/s_1_Home/pr_9850_Bitubo_Rear_Shock_for_Triumph_Thunderbird_ 900_95_03_type_XZE01.htm

[Robert Taylor]

I have no idea if these are any good as I have yet to do any research on the brand as I was only sent a link last night for another part and found the shocks within the site. Strike me as good value IF they are a quality unit even when doubling for the euro and shipping. Possibly worth a e-mail and a internet search.

http://www.carpimoto.com/content/prod/l_EN/s_1_Home/pr_9850_Bitubo_Rear_Shock_for_Triumph_Thunderbird_ 900_95_03_type_XZE01.htm

Because of the small od single tube design with an internal gas seperating piston the oil capacity will be very minimalist. This inevitably means that if it is ridden at speed on our bumpy roads it will fade quickly. It might well be cheap enough but theres usually a reason for that! Its possible to do better. The Ohlins shocks that we custom build for such bikes are big bore with a reservoir. More oil capacity, better tolerancing, better calibration. Great fade free performance.

It would in the first instance be neccessary to send us the current shock ( briefly ) so we can record essential data, also some images of the installation area so we can determine the construction, and then 3 or 4 weeks later bring the bike to us so it can gbe fitted, road tested and optimised. This is a bit of a process but the end result exceeds every other option.

[spookytooth]

sheeze sounds like alota pissin about looking for a ride in ride out option not weeks of waiting :) and no me doing anything

[Robert Taylor]

sheeze sounds like alota pissin about looking for a ride in ride out option not weeks of waiting :) and no me doing anything

It would be easier for me also if Ohlins made shocks for these, but they dont. Thats where custom build comes in and unfortunately to get it right to our satisfaction and yours that is what is entailed

[spookytooth]

Yea i see where your coming from. Maybe if you were in tauranga and all i had to do was drop it off and hand over the cash.I am 1 lazy barstard :)

[AllanB]

Now to start I'll state that I have the utmost respect for Robert, his knowledge and product.

But I feel something is missing in the NZ market.

As with most things in life products are priced based on their quality and the big O is up there. There are a whole lot of riders who simply cannot afford the cost of a top line shock and this is where I find there is no support within for an alternative, consequently the Internet beacons. There must be a maker(s) of motorcycle suspension that is significantly better than the stock OEM units that are not a premium price. IE an acceptable alternative for those to cannot afford the best or for that matter do not need that level of competence from the bouncy units for 99% of their riding. Lets face it most of us accept the stock units on our bikes after a wee fiddle with the settings until they wear to an unacceptable level.

To his credit and through this site I've learnt that Robert will often build up a unit from 'spares' or second hand traded big O's if possible to help with the budget - I suspect in many cases this type of work is actually at a minimum level of profit for him. As a Ohlins agent it's probably not a option for him to offer a alternative 'more economical' brand of suspenders, but I find it disappointing that no one in NZ is and backs their brand with anything like the support CKT offers. Sure the shop will order from a glossy catalogue for you, but there is not any support beyond offering to charge you to fit the parts!

So if you cannot afford the big O, or justify it to your partner and kids (no Christmas presents this year, Dad has a new shock) the alternative is what? Not OEM as these are usually priced the same as Ohlins. A Internet punt?

Right I'm off for a ride - this is far too deep for a Saturday morning!

[PeeJay]

Yea i see where your coming from. Maybe if you were in tauranga and all i had to do was drop it off and hand over the cash.I am 1 lazy barstard :)
check these guys out
http://www.yss-australia.com/
The suspension guru has a Swiss surname so he must know what he's on about

[Robert Taylor]

Now to start I'll state that I have the utmost respect for Robert, his knowledge and product.

But I feel something is missing in the NZ market.

As with most things in life products are priced based on their quality and the big O is up there. There are a whole lot of riders who simply cannot afford the cost of a top line shock and this is where I find there is no support within for an alternative, consequently the Internet beacons. There must be a maker(s) of motorcycle suspension that is significantly better than the stock OEM units that are not a premium price. IE an acceptable alternative for those to cannot afford the best or for that matter do not need that level of competence from the bouncy units for 99% of their riding. Lets face it most of us accept the stock units on our bikes after a wee fiddle with the settings until they wear to an unacceptable level.

To his credit and through this site I've learnt that Robert will often build up a unit from 'spares' or second hand traded big O's if possible to help with the budget - I suspect in many cases this type of work is actually at a minimum level of profit for him. As a Ohlins agent it's probably not a option for him to offer a alternative 'more economical' brand of suspenders, but I find it disappointing that no one in NZ is and backs their brand with anything like the support CKT offers. Sure the shop will order from a glossy catalogue for you, but there is not any support beyond offering to charge you to fit the parts!

So if you cannot afford the big O, or justify it to your partner and kids (no Christmas presents this year, Dad has a new shock) the alternative is what? Not OEM as these are usually priced the same as Ohlins. A Internet punt?

Right I'm off for a ride - this is far too deep for a Saturday morning!

I hear what you are saying and yes we do in fact do all of the above. You eluded to another aspect of what we offer. We trade used Ohlins for new, if we sold the shock in the first instance. ( We wont trade parrallell imported shocks on principle ) So there is ongoing residual value, its not once only dead money.
I have evidenced a few mainland Asian shocks, anything with a dull chrome finish on the shafts is not going to be blessed with longevity, been doing this suspension thing for a very long time and to that end I think you develop an instinct for whats going to work and whats not.