Topic: Cheap shocks

[Schnell]

Does anyone have good or bad experience with these?

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/320mm-shocks

[calj737]

If I am correct, these are the "Chinese clones of Ohlins". There's been a few threads where many members have poo-poo'ed them. Others, seem okay with them.

The only maxim I could reference is: You get what you pay for. And for suspension and braking parts, I'll spend the money for known, high quality items. Don't know if that helps, but you can search for that reference above and draw your own conclusions.

[jamesbekman]

all I can say about chinese shocks is I put chinese struts on a car of mine... dead in less than a year... 

If you have the money, check em out, they are cheap enough.  Test them out and tell us what you think... 

If you dont want to take a risk then just buy hagons.

[Schnell]

That's what I thought. I'll look into Hagon and NJB.

[PeWe]

Personel safety is worth some too. Hagons are relatively low price. My Marcocchi AG Strada cost a lot when I bought them 30 years ago. 60% of what Hagons cost today. Completely different income and costs to live today (to the better)

[Schnell]

There is also a YSS brand. Anyone heard of them?

It seems that there are 2 kinds of shocks: hydraulic and gas charged. Is that correct? Is one preferred over the other?

[calj737]

I've got a monoshock from them and planning on using them again for my 500 mono build. I've been pleased with the product. Decent price. Easy and wide adjustability. Good customer service. Rushed me a unit in time for Xmas.

[750K]

I won't put anything Chinese on my bikes or cars that's suspension or tire related if I can help it, but that's just me.

[Stev-o]

I won't put anything Chinese on my bikes or cars that's suspension or tire related if I can help it, but that's just me.

+1.  It's not just you.

[750cafe]

TEC shocks are highly recommended and under $180 a pair delivered. There are a few reviews out there about them and they are all favorable.

Eric

[Schnell]

Thanks for that, Eric. I sent them an email.

[kghost]

Cheapest shocks were the ones Honda put on at the factory.

[Schnell]

Cheapest shocks were the ones Honda put on at the factory.

Hah! So pretty much anything would be an upgrade.

[Retro Rocket]

TEC shocks are highly recommended and under $180 a pair delivered. There are a few reviews out there about them and they are all favorable.

Eric

TEC are still cheap Chinese shocks, I will NEVER put cheap tires or shocks on anything I ride, cheap = you get what you pay for....
I must say that most online reviews, unless written by qualified testers or racers, aren't worth the paper they are written on....

[andrewk]

The cheap shocks are ok if you aren't heavy and don't ride on a lot of rough roads where you might bottom out.  They don't last as long, especially when pushed down rough roads constantly.

I like to spend my money in a smart manner.   Hagons or Ikons are up to the task, and cost 100 more than the chinese shocks.  You'd probably need at least four pairs of the chinese shocks to get you as far down the road as the Hagons will.  Easy math- pinch those pennies and get something worth buying.

[Retro Rocket]

The cheap shocks are ok if you aren't heavy and don't ride on a lot of rough roads where you might bottom out.  They don't last as long, especially when pushed down rough roads constantly.

I like to spend my money in a smart manner.   Hagons or Ikons are up to the task, and cost 100 more than the chinese shocks.  You'd probably need at least four pairs of the chinese shocks to get you as far down the road as the Hagons will.  Easy math- pinch those pennies and get something worth buying.

Agreed, i have a 30 years old set of Koni's {ikon} and they still work well and don't leak, I will put new oil in them before using again though, maybe seals as well, depends on what they look like , Hagons and Ikons can be completely rebuilt as well......

[Stev-o]

The cheap shocks are ok if you aren't heavy and don't ride on a lot of rough roads where you might bottom out.  They don't last as long, especially when pushed down rough roads constantly.

I like to spend my money in a smart manner.   Hagons or Ikons are up to the task, and cost 100 more than the chinese shocks.  You'd probably need at least four pairs of the chinese shocks to get you as far down the road as the Hagons will.  Easy math- pinch those pennies and get something worth buying.

Agreed, i have a 30 years old set of Koni's {ikon} and they still work well and don't leak, I will put new oil in them before using again though, maybe seals as well, depends on what they look like , Hagons and Ikons can be completely rebuilt as well......

Worked well when parked?!  I also have an old set of Konis, I know they can be rebuilt, but it worth the time & cost?

[saltcitycafe]

I have a set of these. http://www.tecbikepartsusa.com/mobile/Category.aspx?id=1829 Over on dtt we did a little comparison and breakdown on them and they proved to be great middle of the road and inexpensive options

[MoMo]

The cheap shocks are ok if you aren't heavy and don't ride on a lot of rough roads where you might bottom out.  They don't last as long, especially when pushed down rough roads constantly.

I like to spend my money in a smart manner.   Hagons or Ikons are up to the task, and cost 100 more than the chinese shocks.  You'd probably need at least four pairs of the chinese shocks to get you as far down the road as the Hagons will.  Easy math- pinch those pennies and get something worth buying.

Agreed, i have a 30 years old set of Koni's {ikon} and they still work well and don't leak, I will put new oil in them before using again though, maybe seals as well, depends on what they look like , Hagons and Ikons can be completely rebuilt as well......

Worked well when parked?!  I also have an old set of Konis, I know they can be rebuilt, but it worth the time & cost?

Stev-o,  shocks are relatively easy to rebuild as long as the seals are available.  I would rebuild what you have before spending money on new(but I am somewhat cheap-frugal actually)...Larry

[Stev-o]

The cheap shocks are ok if you aren't heavy and don't ride on a lot of rough roads where you might bottom out.  They don't last as long, especially when pushed down rough roads constantly.

I like to spend my money in a smart manner.   Hagons or Ikons are up to the task, and cost 100 more than the chinese shocks.  You'd probably need at least four pairs of the chinese shocks to get you as far down the road as the Hagons will.  Easy math- pinch those pennies and get something worth buying.

Agreed, i have a 30 years old set of Koni's {ikon} and they still work well and don't leak, I will put new oil in them before using again though, maybe seals as well, depends on what they look like , Hagons and Ikons can be completely rebuilt as well......

Worked well when parked?!  I also have an old set of Konis, I know they can be rebuilt, but it worth the time & cost?

Stev-o,  shocks are relatively easy to rebuild as long as the seals are available.  I would rebuild what you have before spending money on new(but I am somewhat cheap-frugal actually)...Larry

Have you done it, Larry? I know Terry had to make a special tool to compress the spring on some he was working on.  I'm not into it that much.

[MoMo]

Back in the day I would rebuild(replace seals and fluid) whatever shock came into the shop...Larry

[Retro Rocket]

The cheap shocks are ok if you aren't heavy and don't ride on a lot of rough roads where you might bottom out.  They don't last as long, especially when pushed down rough roads constantly.

I like to spend my money in a smart manner.   Hagons or Ikons are up to the task, and cost 100 more than the chinese shocks.  You'd probably need at least four pairs of the chinese shocks to get you as far down the road as the Hagons will.  Easy math- pinch those pennies and get something worth buying.

Agreed, i have a 30 years old set of Koni's {ikon} and they still work well and don't leak, I will put new oil in them before using again though, maybe seals as well, depends on what they look like , Hagons and Ikons can be completely rebuilt as well......

Worked well when parked?!  I also have an old set of Konis, I know they can be rebuilt, but it worth the time & cost?

Stev-o,  shocks are relatively easy to rebuild as long as the seals are available.  I would rebuild what you have before spending money on new(but I am somewhat cheap-frugal actually)...Larry

Have you done it, Larry? I know Terry had to make a special tool to compress the spring on some he was working on.  I'm not into it that much.

Very easy to make a spring compressor Steve, once the springs off its all easy maintenance....

[kghost]

Hells bells.....

I've gotten springs off with multiple Zip-ties....

[Muckinfuss]

Most shock complaints I've had to deal with were actually the spring rate.  Shocks keep the wheels on the pavement, springs support the weight of the rider/bike.  When springs aren't right, there's bottoming out or excessively stiff rides.  When shocks don't work, there's wheel hop, bad stopping performance, issues with the lean at speed, etc. since they perform against the unsprung weight of the wheel/swing-arm fulcrum.

[Nikkisixx]

I have posted regarding this topic a couple of times.  Those cheap shocks will try to kill you.  Here's my experience:

The aluminum clevis that secures the POS to the swing arm is about as hard as play dough.  On a very light (about 300 lbs) bike, one of those failed and sent parts scattering across the road.  Only one failed and I got home unscathed, but the other was not far behind.

Picture the result of both your shock absorbers becoming a two piece unit at speed in a turn after hitting a pot hole.  That is how cheap shock effect handling performance...