looking to get some others perspectives that have had their shock refurbed and possible revalved as well. I knew when I bought the bike that I’d need to get the rear shock serviced and last weekend got it off the bike to assess things which are not great!
Whilst the bike is a raid it’s got an OE shock fitted to it, and there is a bit of pitting on the shock shaft, no bump stop, one of the top mount collars has a bit missing and the rebound adjustment is non existent. I’m guessing it’s lost pressure.
ive spoken to MCT suspension who I’ve used many times before and are fantastic and they quoted £100 for the rechroming and then it‘ll be likely £150 to £200 for labour and parts depending on whether he just services it and more if I ask him to look to improving the valving. Once I’ve done that and replaced the top mount I’m likely looking at between £3-400 With the rechroming factored in.
I think I could service it myself having looked at the excellent guide that’s been produced but I wouldnt know where to start with adjusting the valving, and I need to service my forks as well so getting someone to sort the shock out would be useful whilst I do the forks.
MCT warned me off YSS shocks, but a Hagon shock is £400, so once all is said and done there potentially wont be a lot of price difference between sorting out the original and buying a Hagon one.
So what’s the better option? Are the standard OE TTR shocks considered good in the first place when serviced and working? I note the Hagon shock only has a combined damping adjustment whereas the OE shock has seperate damping adjustment which in theory is better but if the shock is fairly low bar to begin with who knows.
Lastly, has anyone had the standard shock revalved? I’ve not seen any posts to suggest that anyone has.
-- Edited by deefer on Sunday 7th of July 2024 09:03:42 AM
I've had my TTR250 shock rebuilt and revalved with good results, a definite improvement over stock for trail riding/enduro. I have had no experience with YSS or Hagen shocks. I do have a Wilbers shock which is very high quality but is also high end price but its noticeably better than the rebuilt/revalved TTR shock. Interesting MCT warned you off the YSS shock did they elaborate why?
A Wilbers shock would be the dream but I’m too cheap 😂 I had one a few years ago on my tiger 800 and the quality of the unit and the ride was fantastic.
Regarding the YSS, he said they’re fairly low quality shocks and a better result can be achieved by refurbing the original if that’s the only option. I am confident he’s not trying to make work for himself as he’s advised me a few times in the past on whether to bother refurbishing or look at alternatives and always been upfront about what needs doing, nice to have and cherry on the top in terms of work.
I don’t ask him about the Hagon shock but should have at the time
I think you will have to approach Hagon direct to get a quick answer, but if they build to your spec there should be less need for clickers (although it's always nice to have something to fiddle with!) They might even build one with more knobs on now that they have the dimensions from the one they built for Mikettrbike.
As Steve has pointed out, YSS don't actually produce a shock that fits a TTR 250, whatever their website says, and there are several forum members who have tried!
I'm a fat bastard that has twice (now) stuffed the rear shock. First time the shock was rebuilt & pre-load wound up quite a way, in lieu of a new shock.
Interested to hear negative comments about YSS. I know that they were very cheap and suspect a decade ago but, I've been led to understand they are pretty good these days. Not that I've ever used one. I suppose the most salient point is that they don't make one specifically for the TTR.
An alternative is said to be a DR650 coil over a revalved TTR damper? NFI.
In any event, it needs to work at 110-120kg.
__________________
In the Riverina.
'73 RD250, '80 XS1100, '81 RD373LC, '96 Tiger 900/sidecar, '02 TTR250, and another XS11 - this time a chain drive Period 5 race bike that may be ready to race eventually.
The negative comments about YSS are mostly not that they are no good, they just don't make one that fits the TTR even though their website says they do! I have fitted their twin shock units and quality is reasonable and performance is good. Hagon had a reputation of being a bit meh in the past too, but they have certainly upped their game (and the old rep may have been a bit unfair anyway)
I was in conversation with a guy called Hans-Dieter Fischer at TFX in Holland (higher end suspension like WP) a while ago. They used to make a TTR shock, but have lost the details. He was prepared to do one, or at least try, but he wanted me to send one to him as a pattern, which I couldn't do at the time, so the conversation died out. I quote:
"Hi Simon, Thank you for your email. It is correct that Teknik Suspension in Australia offers this shock with number 141-0388-00. These are old model motorcycles and in the past we measured these bikes. Back in the days sometimes they didn’t write down everything correctly so now we are checking all the data from the past. This is also the reason that we ask our customers if they can help us (providing these measurements). Just to make sure that everything is correct. We need to know the length of the shock, the stroke, the inner diameter of the fork, the size of the mounting bushes in the top.
Best regards, Mit freundlichem Gruss, Met vriendelijke groet, Hans-Dieter Fischer
I've been running a Hagon shock on the back of my Raid for over a year now and it been pretty great. Obviously, comparing to a worn out stock item it's miles nicer, but it seems to do the job nicely.
They'll build it to your specs too, so give them your weight and they'll pick the right spring. Just need to set the preload/sag when you fit it, but that's it. Fit and forget.
Used Hagon replacements before on a CRF250 and rear shock was excellent. juts bought a '94 Raid and rear shock appears to be "running out of steam" been on Hagon website and they only list the one below. Is that the one you ordered please confirm if you get a minute? cheers jay
i had my rear shock rebuilt, the guy said the WR R piston fitted straight in , 140psi of nitrogen the rest pretty much stock . works well tracks straight on sharp bumps while still being comfy .
Used Hagon replacements before on a CRF250 and rear shock was excellent. juts bought a '94 Raid and rear shock appears to be "running out of steam" been on Hagon website and they only list the one below. Is that the one you ordered please confirm if you get a minute? cheers jay
TTR250 – M62004 [99-06 fitment]
Hey Jay- It looks to be correct, the Raid and non-raid/Blue tanked bikes parts are pretty much all interchangeable. I also ran a shock from a Blue bike for a while with no issues. Best thing to do is ring them up and they'll sort you out with whatever you need. Very helpful when I did!
Mine is having the shaft hard chromed, repaired with new seal etc.. A chip was the source of the seal failure. That I put down to me because the flap between the tyre & swing arm was damaged and I didn't repair it.
DR650 spring being fitted too.
Half the price of a new Hagon.
__________________
In the Riverina.
'73 RD250, '80 XS1100, '81 RD373LC, '96 Tiger 900/sidecar, '02 TTR250, and another XS11 - this time a chain drive Period 5 race bike that may be ready to race eventually.
I got mine back from being re-chromed, serviced with new seals and everything and revalved. Darren from MCT was apparently very pleased with the outcome and told me the shock should perform better than it came out the factory, so I’m optimistic as he’s never sold me a line or not delivered before!
Total cost £370, hoping to get the bike bolted back together this weekend and we’ll see