TT500 shock suggestions

[Wired1]

What would you recommend as a good set of shocks for a 1980 TT500? the one I just bought had been stolen and recovered without them so I don't have to worry about what to do with the old ones - if you look at the photos you'll see why! http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=67865

I reckon they want to be around 370mm eye to eye (14.5") not too sure, but I want to be able to touch the ground. What aftermarket shocks are any good?

[Robert Taylor]

What would you recommend as a good set of shocks for a 1980 TT500? the one I just bought had been stolen and recovered without them so I don't have to worry about what to do with the old ones - if you look at the photos you'll see why! http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=67865

I reckon they want to be around 370mm eye to eye (14.5") not too sure, but I want to be able to touch the ground. What aftermarket shocks are any good?

Ohlins classic mx shocks ( prebuilt ) in either single tube or piggyback reservoir. Either way they are not ''dial a backache'' shocks like the cheap and nasty ones on the market and there is something else unique, full and proper backup. They also have ( in both options ) a dividing piston to seperate the gas charge from the oil so they dont turn into a milkshake shock internally.

Or we can custom build a set of Aberg replica shocks off the archival spec card.

The result is totally proprtional to the cost

[Wired1]

Ohlins classic mx shocks ( prebuilt ) in either single tube or piggyback reservoir. Either way they are not ''dial a backache'' shocks like the cheap and nasty ones on the market and there is something else unique, full and proper backup. They also have ( in both options ) a dividing piston to seperate the gas charge from the oil so they dont turn into a milkshake shock internally.

Or we can custom build a set of Aberg replica shocks off the archival spec card.

The result is totally proprtional to the cost
What do a set of Ohlins cost? the piggy back ones look cool.

[Robert Taylor]

What do a set of Ohlins cost? the piggy back ones look cool.

They also work even better than they look. PM me and I will provide some options.

[Wired1]

Thanks for your help Robert, I'll see how the budget stacks up at the end of the project. There's no doubt a set of Ohlins would look and work the best but I have to keep my hobbies under the radar on the home front if you know what I mean. I'll probably do everything else first then swap out the shocks at the end so for now I'll just put something in that's the right length.

I'd like to hear from other members as to their experiences with some of the cheaper brands. I have had suggestions of Hagon and Progressive as two that are used on the VMX thumpers but I have have had both good and bad reports of both. What other brands are you running?

[DEATH_INC.]

If it were mine, I'd scan the globe and find some Fox Airshox for it.

[Robert Taylor]

Thanks for your help Robert, I'll see how the budget stacks up at the end of the project. There's no doubt a set of Ohlins would look and work the best but I have to keep my hobbies under the radar on the home front if you know what I mean. I'll probably do everything else first then swap out the shocks at the end so for now I'll just put something in that's the right length.

I'd like to hear from other members as to their experiences with some of the cheaper brands. I have had suggestions of Hagon and Progressive as two that are used on the VMX thumpers but I have have had both good and bad reports of both. What other brands are you running?

No worries, I understand that! Bear in mind that with respect to the cheap brands you mention we have supplied / built a lot of Ohlins twin MX shocks for people that have come off those and are sick and tired of riding on ''dial a backache'' shocks. You may get people who say they are okay but invariably have not ridden on anything better as a basis of comparison. What I have just rattled off is brutal but it is also factual.

[Wired1]

If it were mine, I'd scan the globe and find some Fox Airshox for it.

Oh yeah, is that your HL500? haha

[Bonez]

No worries, I understand that! Bear in mind that with respect to the cheap brands you mention we have supplied / built a lot of Ohlins twin MX shocks for people that have come off those and are sick and tired of riding on ''dial a backache'' shocks. You may get people who say they are okay but invariably have not ridden on anything better as a basis of comparison. What I have just rattled off is brutal but it is also factual.Ever considered some folk use both quality branded shocks and budget items?

In no way am I questioning your expertise btw, but budget items do have their place in the market.

[Robert Taylor]

Ever considered some folk use both quality branded shocks and budget items?

In no way am I questioning your expertise btw, but budget items do have their place in the market.

Indeed budget items have their place but my point is very clear, the performance of such items is almost universally proportional to the sum spent. You are not going to get Ferrari performance if you have spent Hyundai price...

[DEATH_INC.]

Oh yeah, is that your HL500? haha
.....I wish :(

[Bonez]

Indeed budget items have their place but my point is very clear, the performance of such items is almost universally proportional to the sum spent. You are not going to get Ferrari performance if you have spent Hyundai price...From a true salesman. Budget items have worked fine and dandy for 10s of thousand kms for a lot of folk and will continue to do so.

:psst: Oh and Hyundais would probably be more suitable to imperfect NZ roads than any Ferrari.

[Robert Taylor]

From a true salesman. Budget items have worked fine and dandy for 10s of thousand kms for a lot of folk and will continue to do so.

:psst: Oh and Hyundais would probably be more suitable to imperfect NZ roads than any Ferrari.

Yep, mediocrity suits some. When you sell a quality product to someone who has used something mediocre it really reinforces just how mediocre the discarded product was.

[Bonez]

Yep, mediocrity suits some. When you sell a quality product to someone who has used something mediocre it really reinforces just how mediocre the discarded product was.Some products are over priced.

[Motu]

Hyundai's are under rated....so are budget anythings.I used some budget TT500 shocks on my TLR200 - modified them to get the spring preload right,changed to a lighter oil.And they were very good for 6 years,until a prang bent them.So I got some more freebee TT500 shocks and modified them the same.Don't tell me I was ripped off.

[Wired1]

Thanks guys, I think we all get the points raised, basically we'd all drive ferraris if we could afford them but most of us drive Toyotas. :Pokey:

Getting back to my thread, I'd like to hear from OTHER members who have tried the Hagon's and Emgo's and other brands at the budget end of the market and hear how good or how bad they are for the type of riding they do.

I'd also like to hear from members who have splashed out on the Falcons and Ohlins and and hear how good or how bad they are for the type of riding they do. Kind of a bangs for bucks question if you like!

[Bonez]

Getting back to my thread, I'd like to hear from OTHER members who have tried the Hagon's and Emgo's and other brands at the budget end of the market and hear how good or how bad they are for the type of riding they do. Got MDIs (Emgos) on the GB. Handle the daily commute to work, Friday night rides with local KBers(cowboyz, dogs, Meanie and co.), traveled around the east cape loaded like a pack horse, and the odd gravel sojourn. Been on it two years and around 20,000kms (just checked). Got a set for the GSX750EX just to keep it rolling as the OEM dampers where all gummed up and would'nt rebound quick enough on one side-not uncommon. Now that was interesting riding.

I payed $130 for the GBs ones and around $150 for the GSX.

Bought them for the GB as a temporary measure. They'll stay on it now. So bang for buck they are doing fine. Will I buy them again? yip.

[Robert Taylor]

Some products are over priced.

Yes, much of the budget stuff is indeed overpriced when you look at how it is made and the use of poor materials. But people peddling the cheap stuff have since time immemorial felt comfortable knocking the price of quality, high performing and well backed up products.

BTW I flew into Manchester airport a few years back and had prebooked a European made hire car. When I arrived to my horror they said they only had a Hyundai left in that capacity / size group. Quite rightly I refused to accept it.

[Robert Taylor]

Got MDIs (Emgos) on the GB. Handle the daily commute to work, Friday night rides with local KBers(cowboyz, dogs, Meanie and co.), traveled around the east cape loaded like a pack horse, and the odd gravel sojourn. Been on it two years and around 20,000kms (just checked). Got a set for the GSX750EX just to keep it rolling as the OEM dampers where all gummed up and would'nt rebound quick enough on one side-not uncommon. Now that was interesting riding.

I payed $130 for the GBs ones and around $150 for the GSX.

Bought them for the GB as a temporary measure. They'll stay on it now. So bang for buck they are doing fine. Will I buy them again? yip.

Its all about what you are prepared to accept as acceptable. The reality is that budget shock absorbers albeit it for motorcycles or cars do not do the ''shock absorbing'' anywhere near as well as they could do and I for one hate mediocrity because we see it so much in everyday life. Ignorance can be blissful. But you dont have to be wealthy to be scathing of average performance / backup / quality etc etc.

[Motu]

I've used the MDI things on my trials bike for 6 years - bouncing over rocks,up and down banks,over logs,thrown on it's side in rocky streams,end over end down hills,complete mid air loops....stuff no road bike or even trail bike would ever do.A low speed drop on a lump of dirt and one bent.

Shit,I am bloody impressed !!!