RVF 400 rear shock

[rvf 400]

I want to spruce up the suspension on my 95 rvf 400. I am happy with the forks but the shock is showing it's age a little bit and some of the roads around the port hills send the back end bucking like an angry donkey.

Only problem is, I think that the rear shock on the rvf (not the vfr which is annoying) is not rebuildable.

So that leaves me with the option of selling my sister to an taiwanese sweat shop to buy a nitron or something similar, or trying to find another solution.

Who is good with suspension in Chch that could help me out?

[racerhead]

Nitron shock would be the best option but a cheaper upgrade which works pretty good
is a shock out of a aprillia rs 250. They fit with a little simple modification and a spring to suit.
I done this to my RVF and it made a huge difference. Alot more details about the mod can be found here
http://www.400greybike.info/newforum/viewforum.php?f=21

[Robert Taylor]

Nitron shock would be the best option but a cheaper upgrade which works pretty good
is a shock out of a aprillia rs 250. They fit with a little simple modification and a spring to suit.
I done this to my RVF and it made a huge difference. Alot more details about the mod can be found here
http://www.400greybike.info/newforum/viewforum.php?f=21

How can a Nitron shock be a good option when there is absolutely no support infrastructure in NZ for it?

[racerhead]

How can a Nitron shock be a good option when there is absolutely no support infrastructure in NZ for it?

Sorry didnt realise this as Im pretty new to the country.
As a budget shock which would you advise?

[Robert Taylor]

Sorry didnt realise this as Im pretty new to the country.
As a budget shock which would you advise?

My comment was a little brutal and it is me that should be apologising!Anything that has full and proper backup but I guess also we need to establish what your price expectation is?

[mark247]

My vfr has a hagon shock on the back which I got rebuilt for around $200. I'm not sure how it ended up on the bike but it does a good job and is all adjustable etc... I haven't had any troubles with it.

http://www.hagon-shocks.co.uk/

[rvf 400]

To be honest I don't really know how much it costs for a new shock, my guess is about a grand, which is pretty pricey for a poor young bloke like me.

If I could get my hands on something that does a pretty good job for about $700 I would be as happy as larry.

I have looked at u.k websites and it seems that I would be paying about a grand for a base model shock here.

So maybe rs250 shock for less?

(ohlins are lovely pieces of bling but after looking at the price I now realise why they are gold)

[Robert Taylor]

To be honest I don't really know how much it costs for a new shock, my guess is about a grand, which is pretty pricey for a poor young bloke like me.

If I could get my hands on something that does a pretty good job for about $700 I would be as happy as larry.

I have looked at u.k websites and it seems that I would be paying about a grand for a base model shock here.

So maybe rs250 shock for less?

(ohlins are lovely pieces of bling but after looking at the price I now realise why they are gold)

If I may say so I dont personally regard Ohlins suspension as bling. If you ever get the opportunity to ride a well setup bike fitted with Ohlins you will understand why. We have custom built the last 10 or so Ohlins shocks we have sold for that model as theyve been out of production for over 10 years.

[rvf 400]

If I may say so I dont personally regard Ohlins suspension as bling. If you ever get the opportunity to ride a well setup bike fitted with Ohlins you will understand why. We have custom built the last 10 or so Ohlins shocks we have sold for that model as theyve been out of production for over 10 years.

Point taken, they may not be bling, as they are very useful and probably give a great quality to the ride, but they are still expensive.
If you were to build a shock for my bike, how much would it cost?

ta

[Robert Taylor]

Point taken, they may not be bling, as they are very useful and probably give a great quality to the ride, but they are still expensive.
If you were to build a shock for my bike, how much would it cost?

ta

Normally around $1800 incl using new parts, but I do currently have some good used parts ( non wear items ) and can build one for $1400. Note that unlike the cheap shocks Ohlins have great residual value and there is a strong second hand market for them. We also will very often trade used Ohlins for new. So its not once only dead money.
The cheap shocks will hold the bike up, an Ohlins will make a night and day difference.

[geoffm]

To be honest I don't really know how much it costs for a new shock, my guess is about a grand, which is pretty pricey for a poor young bloke like me.

If I could get my hands on something that does a pretty good job for about $700 I would be as happy as larry.

I have looked at u.k websites and it seems that I would be paying about a grand for a base model shock here.

So maybe rs250 shock for less?

(ohlins are lovely pieces of bling but after looking at the price I now realise why they are gold)

I believe Hagon is around your budget range new. Might be worth a look. They will custom make to suit as well
Geoff