Triumphrat

pathunderbird · 01-01-2013, 01:23 AM

Who makes the best rear shock for a tbird. Im running a ZX6 and have a ZX11 also.
I really like the ZX11 shock but it bottoms out to easy when the wife rides with me.
Any suggestions besides loose weight and ditch the wife.

LakeRat · 01-01-2013, 08:51 AM

Hagon makes a rear shock for our bikes kind of pricey but they are custom built for your weight your pillions weight and the weight of all your luggage.Also their shocks can be re-built if needed.I have contacted them and their reply was very prompt and all questions answered.I do not have their shock yet but it is on my wish list.Hope this helps.

Urinal Cake Man · 01-01-2013, 09:35 AM

I like the Works Shocks.

They will set ya up with weight, riding style

BigAl8295 · 01-01-2013, 09:51 AM

I have the ZX6R shock and it doesn't bottom our when I ride 2 up with my daughter. We're no lightweights. Maybe you can fit a heavier spring to your shock?

ssevy · 01-01-2013, 08:06 PM

I have the ZX11 on my Legend, and it was a huge improvement from the stock one, which only had 3500 miles on it. The Hagons look like a good option, but I still want to investigate having Penske make me one if they would do it. I searched and searched for a number from Ohlins, as someone said they may have had one available when the bikes were newer, but the Ohlins rep here in the states said he could find no info on that.
Last summer a buddy had a Weestrom 650 and we switched bikes at one point in the ride. I was very impressed with how much the 650 soaked up the rougher bits of the road, and it made me start thinking about improving the rear suspension again.

GeoffE · 01-02-2013, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssevy

...........
I searched and searched for a number from Ohlins, as someone said they may have had one available when the bikes were newer, but the Ohlins rep here in the states said he could find no info on that.
..........

If it helps, the Ohlins Type was 46ERS, and the part# was TR-504.

Fyi, there are still some old Ohlins pages on the web: http://www.ohlins.com/Our-products-n.../Sport/TR-504/
http://www.ohlins.com/Products/Mount...s/MI_TR504.pdf

Geoff

ssevy · 01-02-2013, 05:36 PM

Thanks for that. I will pursue this and post any info I get.

pathunderbird · 01-03-2013, 04:39 AM

Thanks for the replies. Not sure what I will Do. May look at the works shock, I weigh
250 and the wife weighs 120. I guess we need a stronger or stiffer spring.

ssevy · 01-03-2013, 08:02 PM

I found the Ohlins online for $755.00, and called to doublecheck on availability. Naturally, the website was out of date, and the shock is now discontinued.
The store suggested the Penske as a good alternative, and said all they needed was my weight and riding style. I would also like to get some built in height adjustability, as the ZX11 rides higher than the stock unit, and I like it.
I think my best alternative would be to go to Reading PA where they apparently build them and talk to the guys.
The Hagon is an easy option, and I like the red paint, but I know I have read some reviews that say they are more of a step up and not as good as the Ohlins or Penske? Since the ZX11 was already a pretty good step up compared to stock, I am not sure that the Hagon would be all that different, but I may be wrong.
Oh well, below 0 here again tonight and snow on the ground, so I guess I have some time to think about it.

GeoffE · 01-04-2013, 01:23 PM

Hi,

Just a thought, although Ohlins, Penske and White Power (WP) are often spoken as being "top-flight", there are several different type of shocks in their offerings.

I think the Thunderbird Ohlins TR504 was an Emulsion type of shock (46ERS)? If this is the case, I think a Hagon would be very comparable?

The Ohlins shock for the rest of the T300 series was a high pressure gas type (46 HRCLB) shock, and considered one of the top shocks. I guess Penske may be able to match this spec, but for a Thunderbird?

Good luck
Geoff