Penske Shocks grow more

[Shaun]

From a press release issued by Penske Racing Shocks:


Reading, PA - Mike Himmelsbach has joined Penske Racing Shocks, a world leader in racing shock technology, as the Department Manager of the Motorcycle Road Racing Market.

Himmelsbach brings a vast combination of racing and business experience to Penske Racing Shocks. A fourteen-time national champion, he has many years of hands-on experience with what it takes to maximize the handling and performance of a sportbike. Also, as a qualified tester of several racing components, he is knowledgeable in just about every aspect of motorcycle road racing. Himmelsbach has been dominating the racing industry for over 20 years, and continues to do so most recently in the SunTrust MOTO-ST series.

As a past project manager/lead designer for a manufacturing company, Himmelsbach is familiar with the process of new part development and design. He also brings part sales, internet sales, and marketing experience with him from his previous position at Martin Eurosports.

Penske Racing Shocks Director of Operations, Ed Lendacki, stated, “We are pleased and excited to have Mike join our team at Penske Racing Shocks. I am confident his extensive knowledge of the motorcycle racing industry, along with his good-standing relationship to many of our customers will further our goal of providing the best product and service to the motorcycle racing market.”
Well done Crew, great to know that Penske are not resting, and keep growing more:sunny:

[JD Racing]

ahhh, somebody with a long history of motorcycle suspension development then.

[Patch]

What/who are Penske shocks?

[Shaun]

What/who are Penske shocks?


HI, if you go to www.traxxion.com you can read a lot about these Penske Shocks

[Sensei]

Interesting read . . Seting these shocks to our road condition will be done by who & what testing & development work has been done here for them ? . Another choice of suspenion is always going to be great for the Joe public tho .

[Shaun]

Interesting read . . Seting these shocks to our road condition will be done by who & what testing & development work has been done here for them ? . Another choice of suspenion is always going to be great for the Joe public tho .



ME as test rider!

I have contracted one man at this stage, to do any work, that any customer may require to be done!

I have been riding around on the road on 3 different model bikes over the last 3 weeks, K5 SV 650- K7 ZXR600- K7 GSXR750 using New Standard Penske shocks out of the box, with correct spring rate for my weight.

Yes I am the seller, But YES, I believe out of the box, with correct spring rate, is all that will be required.

At this stage, my real focus with the Penske range, is to concentrate on the road rider, and track day riders, not the top track racers as yet! ( The usa race scene proves how good the product is) Penske shocks are a lot cheaper than the Ohlin's range, ( Both a bloody great quality) so a great benefit to the customer market place, if dollars are an issue.

Moto-Dynamix own race team and rider, will always be using Penske shocks!

[Sollyboy]

What/who are Penske shocks?

Its a truck rental and car parts company that rebrands Hyper pro shocks and sells them in K mart stores in the U.S of A

[Robert Taylor]

Its a truck rental and car parts company that rebrands Hyper pro shocks and sells them in K mart stores in the U.S of A

Thats a VERY unfair statement and frankly an insult to Penske to associate them with Hyperpro ( who use a low cost form of valving and setting combination that I have little respect for ) Internet forums are so full of mischief and misinformation and the sad thing is that many will believe it
But a word about pricing, dont beleive all that is said, there are various levels of shocks from all top manufacturers, different spec levels etc.
Moreover, it also comes down to the level of local service you get.

[Teambwr47]

Penske were THE choice of rear shock for a while in 600cc and other racing in the UK and at the time were MORE expensive that Ohlins.

I ran one circa 1998/9 season that was fitted to an ex V+M Racing Supersport 600 Honda that had won the British title the previous season as well as the TT.

I'm fairly sure but i guess Shaun will know, that V+M ran them on the R1's that David Jefferies used to dominate the TT races on the first of the R1's?

The racing use of the product seemed to just disappear in the UK but i don't why?

Was and i'm sure still is a quality product.

[James Deuce]

You guys know who Roger Penske is, right?

[Shaun]

Penske were THE choice of rear shock for a while in 600cc and other racing in the UK and at the time were MORE expensive that Ohlins.

I ran one circa 1998/9 season that was fitted to an ex V+M Racing Supersport 600 Honda that had won the British title the previous season as well as the TT.

I'm fairly sure but i guess Shaun will know, that V+M ran them on the R1's that David Jefferies used to dominate the TT races on the first of the R1's?

The racing use of the product seemed to just disappear in the UK but i don't why?

Was and i'm sure still is a quality product.


YES mate, David and V+M did use the Penske shock, and won a lot of TT races together, as they come in the box from the factory, with only spring changed, Nothing else!

But David has also won using Ohlin;s shocks, so the rider and both products are dam good

[Teambwr47]

But David has also won using Ohlin;s shocks, so the rider and both products are dam good


Such a shame that the 'are dam good' part of the above is not now the case for one bit of the statement.......

[Ivan]

So can you get these shocks for the 125 GP bikes am looking at the Traxion website now

[Sollyboy]

Thats a VERY unfair statement and frankly an insult to Penske to associate them with Hyperpro ( who use a low cost form of valving and setting combination that I have little respect for ) Internet forums are so full of mischief and misinformation and the sad thing is that many will believe it
But a word about pricing, dont beleive all that is said, there are various levels of shocks from all top manufacturers, different spec levels etc.
Moreover, it also comes down to the level of local service you get.

That was a joke I didnt think you of all people would bite :girlfight:, every one I know whos tried them calls them hyper poo , with good reason they are more hype than pro

[Robert Taylor]

That was a joke I didnt think you of all people would bite :girlfight:, every one I know whos tried them calls them hyper poo , with good reason they are more hype than pro

Out of a sense of fairplay because the Penske product is a zillion times better than that other unfortunate product!

[Robert Taylor]

YES mate, David and V+M did use the Penske shock, and won a lot of TT races together, as they come in the box from the factory, with only spring changed, Nothing else!

But David has also won using Ohlin;s shocks, so the rider and both products are dam good

Yes, you won the Isle Of Man in that production class with a stock standard Ohlins shock ( your words ). If the bike had been more to a Superbike spec ( high horsepower spec ) and you were taller and heavier it would doubtless need revalving and respringing. As would any shock, and in my vocabulary there are only three brands that rate, Ohlins, WP and Penske. Maybe Wilbers if you live in Germany / Benelux and K-Tech for fork cartridges if you live in the UK.

The springing and valving requirements for TT courses are different than for short circuits with high grip.

As I have stated previously as much depends on local service. Given that you are importing Penske products through Traxxion ( he being a Penske dealer and the middle man to you another dealer ) is he installing his own piston in the race shocks ( revalving ) and maybe some setting changes in some of the others? And given that all communication is through Traxxion there will be a (relative ) delay in some Penske parts procurement and specific technical info. As opposed from distributor straight to manufacturer.

I think a little bit of transparency doesnt go amiss. As you well know we have over time tested the full Traxxion set up inside an Ohlins body ( instead of Penske ) It worked okay on some tracks but frankly the high knee and shallow slope mentality with the valving does not work in all circumstances ( especially g out loads ) and despite the high speed adjuster having a reasonably wide range it cannot compensate for the fact that if you want a steeper slope to ''catch'' sudden high speed movements you have to revalve. ( Springing firmer in such a scenario is not the correct way to skin the cat.) I have considerable dyno graphs to graphically illustrate same. Note also that being involved with race cars I have serviced and revalved quite a number of Penske shocks to suit our local tracks.
The Ohlins TTX36 and its further ongoing potential has lifted the game considerably and revalving is really quick and easy ( in conjunction with their excellent setting bank, just updated ).

If a fantasy shock existed that didnt need revalving then why are WP and Ohlins at the top of the game in motorcycle racing?

[Robert Taylor]

Yes, you won the Isle Of Man in that production class with a stock standard Ohlins shock ( your words ). If the bike had been more to a Superbike spec ( high horsepower spec ) and you were taller and heavier it would doubtless need revalving and respringing. As would any shock, and in my vocabulary there are only three brands that rate, Ohlins, WP and Penske. Maybe Wilbers if you live in Germany / Benelux and K-Tech for fork cartridges if you live in the UK.

The springing and valving requirements for TT courses are different than for short circuits with high grip.

As I have stated previously as much depends on local service. Given that you are importing Penske products through Traxxion ( he being a Penske dealer and the middle man to you another dealer ) is he installing his own piston in the race shocks ( revalving ) and maybe some setting changes in some of the others? And given that all communication is through Traxxion there will be a (relative ) delay in some Penske parts procurement and specific technical info. As opposed from distributor straight to manufacturer.

I think a little bit of transparency doesnt go amiss. As you well know we have over time tested the full Traxxion set up inside an Ohlins body ( instead of Penske ) It worked okay on some tracks but frankly the high knee and shallow slope mentality with the valving does not work in all circumstances ( especially g out loads ) and despite the high speed adjuster having a reasonably wide range it cannot compensate for the fact that if you want a steeper slope to ''catch'' sudden high speed movements you have to revalve. ( Springing firmer in such a scenario is not the correct way to skin the cat.) I have considerable dyno graphs to graphically illustrate same. Note also that being involved with race cars I have serviced and revalved quite a number of Penske shocks to suit our local tracks.
The Ohlins TTX36 and its further ongoing potential has lifted the game considerably and revalving is really quick and easy ( in conjunction with their excellent setting bank, just updated ).

If a fantasy shock existed that didnt need revalving then why are WP and Ohlins at the top of the game in motorcycle racing?

Aand in all fairness add factory level Showa into the list of the very top brands.

[cowpoos]

Aand in all fairness add factory level Showa into the list of the very top brands.
and sach's have some very good techinology now I believe?? be it rather similar to the Ttx??

[Teambwr47]

MAXTON (http://www.maxton.netspinners.co.uk/) have had some good success in the UK and the TT over the years and the R1 that David Jefferies used on the Island was running Maxton modified forks.

They used to produce their own shocks but they were basically another brand revalved and sprung.

[Robert Taylor]

and sach's have some very good techinology now I believe?? be it rather similar to the Ttx??

That is so but not available for mass market. Their joe bloggs shocks are to be frank quite shocking! The damping adjusters are synonomous with ''dial a backache''

[Robert Taylor]

MAXTON (http://www.maxton.netspinners.co.uk/) have had some good success in the UK and the TT over the years and the R1 that David Jefferies used on the Island was running Maxton modified forks.

They used to produce their own shocks but they were basically another brand revalved and sprung.

Just ask Hayden Fitzgearld about his season in the UK last year using Maxton....

[JD Racing]

Wilbers, Technoflex, Hyperpro, it's all the same thing, they all claim to be different but internally I'd like to be shown the unique components, I've never found them.

Maxton is just an old Koni rebranded, some of the new shocks have a couple of modifications, you have to take the shock off the bike and remove the spring to adjust the high speed compression.

It's a bit unfair to write off digression as a flawed concept due to a bad experience with one brands extreme interpretation of it, it is quite possible to build components with varying rates of digression. It can suit some bikes but others need something to catch the highspeed hits which is where the VDP piston comes in.

[Patch]

You guys know who Roger Penske is, right?
ummm, nope. Should I?? :spudwhat:

[cowpoos]

Their joe bloggs shocks are to be frank quite shocking! Da Dum Tssssss !!! pun intended?? ;)

[Robert Taylor]

Wilbers, Technoflex, Hyperpro, it's all the same thing, they all claim to be different but internally I'd like to be shown the unique components, I've never found them.

Maxton is just an old Koni rebranded, some of the new shocks have a couple of modifications, you have to take the shock off the bike and remove the spring to adjust the high speed compression.

It's a bit unfair to write off digression as a flawed concept due to a bad experience with one brands extreme interpretation of it, it is quite possible to build components with varying rates of digression. It can suit some bikes but others need something to catch the highspeed hits which is where the VDP piston comes in.

Thanks JD, you have just reinforced the point about internal setting changes and I have seen that VDP piston. Yes I was referring to an extreme interpretation but also work with digressive and semi digressive settings a lot. The point I was also effectively trying to make is that you need an adequate level of mid and high speed slope on the damping curve.
Results on track are totally proportional to how much effort you are prepared to put into it.

[Shaun]

Robert, dam decent and fair of you to compliment the Penske shock mate!

[Robert Taylor]

Robert, dam decent and fair of you to compliment the Penske shock mate!

In all sincerity Ohlins, WP and Penske are the cream. To compare another low performance dutch shock to these is insulting.

[Robert Taylor]

In all sincerity Ohlins, WP and Penske are the cream. To compare another low performance dutch shock to these is insulting.

BUT...that television ad where God is handing out commodities to countries, you know the one where the Arabs get the oil, Australia gets minerals and NZ gets pineapple lumps. Well, when God handed out shock absorbers Ohlins was the biggest prize!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[White trash]

BUT...that television ad where God is handing out commodities to countries, you know the one where the Arabs get the oil, Australia gets minerals and NZ gets pineapple lumps. Well, when God handed out shock absorbers Ohlins was the biggest prize!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When the hell do you get time to watch TV? :gob:

[Shaun]

BUT...that television ad where God is handing out commodities to countries, you know the one where the Arabs get the oil, Australia gets minerals and NZ gets pineapple lumps. Well, when God handed out shock absorbers Ohlins was the biggest prize!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



On ya, hahaha

[enigma51]

When the hell do you get time to watch TV? :gob:

During your burnouts :bleh:

[Shaun]

My own little test ride report from Manfeild yesterday

I fitted a standard Penske shock,with spring to suit my weight, and some CONTI TYRES to my K6 GSXR600 and did some laps at Manfeild on friday.

I did 3 practice sessions, and got down to a 1.12.1:calm: Not very very fast, but I am a bit old an slow at the moment still:clap:

I was exteremelly happy with the Penske:hug

Next week riders at Taupo, are going to love it:eek5:

[FROSTY]

Shaun the yanks racing SV650's constantly rave about their penske shocks.
Have you got them available for people building pro twins bikes?

[Shaun]

Shaun the yanks racing SV650's constantly rave about their penske shocks.
Have you got them available for people building pro twins bikes?



Currently the SV 03 model on only mate