Rear Shocks

Are there any significant differences between the Hyperpro, Nitron and Ohlins shocks for the S2R800? I will be going for the base versions without remote adjuster and I don't do any track riding (I barely ride on the road nowadays!)

Are there any other brands worth looking at?

[Nickj]

Mostly price I'd say as unless you're really picky or pushing the envelope on handling you probably won't notice too much difference if it''s set up for your weight and riding style.

Having said that my 748R has the top end, for their era, showas front and back and compared to any of the Monsters I've owned or ridden feels a bit like a magic carpet to ride.

[chris.p]

Take a look at Wilbers.

Importer, https://wilberssuspension.co.uk/

Wilbers base rear shock.

https://www.wilbers-shop.de/en/Motor...ur=1&year=2000

[stopintime]

Don't know about the others, but despite it officially only being rebound adjustable - the Öhlins is 'automatically' compression adjusted when the rebound is adjusted - a nice bonus.

My experience is that the S2R800 front is even further off than the rear. Have you done the front?

Thanks for the responses

Not done the front yet. My plan was rear shock then potentially get the andreani kit or something for the front later on. On the subject of the front would a simple spring upgrade be sufficient for normal riding?

[stopintime]

Originally Posted by rac3r

Thanks for the responses

Not done the front yet. My plan was rear shock then potentially get the andreani kit or something for the front later on. On the subject of the front would a simple spring upgrade be sufficient for normal riding?

"Normal riding"?

If you're more or less happy with it as it is, maybe you don't actually need upgrades. Just a thought....

Spring change might help a little, but the damping is still lacking. Cartridge kits are almost affordable, so....

If you get a good shock the front will feel quite a bit worse than it does now. My experience is that harmony front/rear is key. Better to have medium front and rear than one good and one lacking .

[Jez900ie]

Originally Posted by rac3r

Are there any significant differences between the Hyperpro, Nitron and Ohlins shocks for the S2R800? I will be going for the base versions without remote adjuster and I don't do any track riding (I barely ride on the road nowadays!)

Are there any other brands worth looking at?

I made this price comparison a couple of moths back.

Prices inc VAT
Ohlins DU046 £998 with remote preload – discontinued but available via eBay in Italy
Ohlins FE 321 £564 without remote preload
Nitron £462 Lightweight aluminium/ add £180 for remote preload
Hagon £358 -Stainless/ add £151 for remote preload
Wilbers £455 add £183 for remote

I read every review I could find, spoke to suppliers, fitters and riders with the shocks. All seem to have their fans, though none had any very major complaints.

I bought a used Nitron from Zimbo, with servicing £120 and spring £70 shipping I saved some money which was nice. It also made my decison simple!

I think you have the same front forks as I do? I haven't made a final decision yet -no hurry as its ****e out!- though I'm leaning towards:

"Maxton Fork Conversion" (no cartridges) approx £516
"Maxton Fork Conversion (with cartridges SD25) £830
Andreani (full internals change) Misano complete £870
KTECH piston kit £660

All prices include drive in / drive out fitting.

The majority of the shops are reccomending the cheaper upgrades based on my description of normal road riding as I don't plan on track days.

Being able to turn up and have the work done is important to me, so location is a consideration. Richard the owner/ CEO of Maxton was really helpful and informative too and that counts a lot to me.

I found it confusing when making comparisons with different suppliers. A "Fork Conversion" at one shop will be valves and springs, at the next place "Fork Conversion" includes cartridges but reuses your springs, at a third place its different again...

Thanks Jez that's really useful, saves me some work!

Normal riding for me is just local city roads and some bumpy B roads, I don't ride that hard. However, I'm not that heavy and I've found the bike gets quite unsettled over bumps. The worst was a bump I hit whilst joining a dual carriageway, it shook it's head like crazy!

[Flip]

My two penn'orth worth.

Firstly suspension is a very personal thing as everyone will 'feel' something different. I also think the various ages and types of suspension fitted to Monsters over the years adds another dimension to this 'feel'.

The standard set-up on any motorcycle will always be a compromise as the manufacturers need to cater for all shapes and sizes so having the correct suspension spring weights for your own weight (remember to add that of your riding kit) will be the biggest thing you will notice, particularly if you are at the ends of the 'average' spectrum i.e. like Danny Pedrosa or Yamamotoyama.

Moving on from this if you have never touched the suspension, changed the fork oil etc. and your motorcycle has either covered a big mileage or is knocking on a bit then again, you will notice the change a refresh will make.

Quite rightly, the suspension does need to work in harmony so changing the rear will almost certainly make the front feel worse (although overall, riding the bike may well still feel better if that makes sense?).

As Nick has mentioned referencing his 748 'magic carpet ride' comparison, is that the earlier bikes (up to the 6/796/1100 on I would say) are inherently quite 'flighty' when pushing on a bit down bumpy B roads and the like because their suspension is quite basic.

The standard (certainly Marzocchi) forks, have too much compression damping over small movements making them kick off bumps under acceleration, but not enough compression to support them over large movements such as hard braking. Couple that with not enough rebound damping making them 'pogo' when you release the brake and a spring that is too stiff for most rider weights means there is a lot that can be improved upon.

Starting off with Showa forks gives you more options and I cannot really comment on those other than to say that personally I am a big fan of Maxton's customer service and the improvements their cartridge conversion made for me. You can go around a lot of houses spending a lot of money and still not be a whole lot better off, so going to a well respected suspension company/specialist will be a lot cheaper with a greater (and quicker) reward in the long run.

As for the rear shock, again I can only comment on the original fitted to my 1997 900 which never really felt nice compared to that of my Suzuki GSX-R750WT which I owned at the same time. The shock was eventually changed at about 8000 miles in 2005 (my mate who bought my Monster new only put 800 miles on it in two and a half years or so) for Nitron's NTR R1 (Sport as it was known back then) which has quite simply been brilliant over the last 25,000 plus miles.

It went back for it's latest service a couple of years ago, came back like new with a new spring fitted as I'd put on a little weight- (middle age spread) and my bike has never been better to ride as a result and I love it more than ever.

However after all that, by comparison my 12,000 mile 1996 Yamaha Thundercat still on it's standard original suspension (fork oil changed and linkages stripped and greased etc. recently mind) along with it's extra 20 (or so) Kgs. is still a much more composed ride down a bumpy road though.

The last thing to consider is probably cost versus how long you intend to keep your Monster- quality work costs but if it's a keeper then do it, if you get it done right you will not regret it.

[Jez900ie]

Originally Posted by Flip

However after all that, by comparison my 12,000 mile 1996 Yamaha Thundercat still on it's standard original suspension (fork oil changed and linkages stripped and greased etc. recently mind) along with it's extra 20 (or so) Kgs. is still a much more composed ride down a bumpy road though.

Great advice Flip and very clean bike! Impressed...

This is a very important point imo. Changing the suspension on a bike to make it corner better, may not make it more comfortable/ composed to ride leisurely down bumpy roads & lanes.

Its really important to get across to the supplier how you want your bike to ride like after the suspension has been upgraded/changed. Otherwise you might find it turns on rails but is bone hard and that might not have be the desired result!

[Flip]

Originally Posted by Jez900ie

Great advice Flip and very clean bike! Impressed...

Thanks- it does get used though honest! But it also cleans up pretty well for an old'un.

Originally Posted by Jez900ie

This is a very important point imo. Changing the suspension on a bike to make it corner better, may not make it more comfortable/ composed to ride leisurely down bumpy roads & lanes.

Its really important to get across to the supplier how you want your bike to ride like after the suspension has been upgraded/changed. Otherwise you might find it turns on rails but is bone hard and that might not have be the desired result!

To clarify my statement there, don't get me wrong, my Monster simply feels more 'alive' than the heavier and softer sprung Yamaha. Along with the motors' character, it's what makes it such an engaging ride that never gets tiring or fails to put a smile on my face.

The fact I physically fit the Monster well means I can easily do 300+ miles days in comfort on it but now the suspension is sorted it just feels so much nicer to ride whatever road or speed.

[Jez900ie]

Originally Posted by rac3r

Thanks Jez that's really useful, saves me some work!

Normal riding for me is just local city roads and some bumpy B roads, I don't ride that hard. However, I'm not that heavy and I've found the bike gets quite unsettled over bumps. The worst was a bump I hit whilst joining a dual carriageway, it shook it's head like crazy!

We have a great deal in common! Skinny/ Monster / fun relaxed riding and bouncy B roads!

Glad to share the info. I'll let you know what happens next.

[Blah blah]

Originally Posted by Flip

...you give them to Maxton for a couple of weeks and then they will rip the original insides out, machine the fork bottoms where required and fit them with their very excellent cartridge conversions and post you back a pair forks that will work in a way the originals never could.

True but then...

Originally Posted by Jez900ie

...Maxton Fork Conversion (with cartridges SD25) £830

I'm not knocking it, it just seems like a lot for what it is when there are other options available

[Flip]

Originally Posted by Blah blah

True but then...

I'm not knocking it, it just seems like a lot for what it is when there are other options available

Originally Posted by Blah blah

True but then...

I'm not knocking it, it just seems like a lot for what it is when there are other options available

Again, I agree with you but I think perhaps we’ve all got a little confused.

In both my Monster and my race bike I went for Maxton’s GP20 cartridge conversion which they fit in instances where either the original is a sealed unit or of a very basic design.

https://www.maxtonsuspension.co.uk/files/gp20.htm

I think the price that Jez quoted there was for Maxton’s multi adjustable replacement cartridges which probably aren’t suitable for the S2R.

I also think to be honest, that because rac3r is looking for somewhere to take the bike and have them do everything it’s going to be a tough call to come up with an economical complete service that is going give the kind of results a pure suspension specialist can achieve when they given just the forks to work on as is the case for most of them.

[Jez900ie]

Originally Posted by Flip

Again, I agree with you but I think perhaps we’ve all got a little confused.

In both my Monster and my race bike I went for Maxton’s GP20 cartridge conversion which they fit in instances where either the original is a sealed unit or of a very basic design.

https://www.maxtonsuspension.co.uk/files/gp20.htm

I think the price that Jez quoted there was for Maxton’s multi adjustable replacement cartridges which probably aren’t suitable for the S2R.

I also think to be honest, that because rac3r is looking for somewhere to take the bike and have them do everything it’s going to be a tough call to come up with an economical complete service that is going give the kind of results a pure suspension specialist can achieve when they given just the forks to work on as is the case for most of them.

Agreed.

The more you look into a "suspension upgrade", the more questions come up, almost as fast as the prices do. Its really not straight forward at all.

I've come to the following conclusion (at the momment!)
Everything twenty years newer is works far better
The amount I spend will likely reflect the improvement -provided I use a reputable supplier.