YSS Shock Replacement

[sadicarnot]

So I had a leaky stock shock on my '09 RSTD. I did some research and opted for the YSS from EPM Performance. One surprise about the shock is that it is made in Thailand. I don't think that matters much in todays day and age. The machine tooling in Asian countries is as good if not better than in the US. China still has issues with specifications and stuff. Taiwan is a powerhouse in machine tooling that started with their bicycle industry. Not sure of Thailand but this shock is a very well made aluminum piece. Very pretty bike porn.

 

I filled out the information from the website and got an e-mail from Klaus Huenecke the next morning. I called them and placed my order Jan. 16. I was quoted 2-3 weeks for the shock, but I ended up getting it in March. This was not that big of a deal as I have been swamped with other projects in the first couple of months of the year.

 

Here is the photo that Klaus sent me of the shock when I ordered:

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6887486880_efa82f3026_b.jpg

 

Here is the shock as received by me:

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7251/7033581199_0300d3a992_b.jpg

 

If I am not riding, the next best thing is working on the bike in the garage on a nice day. My house faces north so I think it is the perfect place to work:

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7241/7033597743_3514120497_b.jpg

 

I did not want to take the rear wheel off so I figured I would go thru the battery box and change the BikeMaster TruGel with a Deka. I took the battery box out as well as the passenger floor boards on each side and the side covers. I realize now I did not get a good shot of that. That shock sure is tucked down in there pretty good:

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7192/6887488318_a1f4ecb868_b.jpg

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7265/7033586793_c1469fd67a_b.jpg

 

When I first started motorcycling I purchased this bike jack from Kawasaki. Very handy when you want fine control lifting the bike up. You still have to lie on the floor, but it is perfect for unloading the shock:

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7280/7033587875_ab1f8dec3d_b.jpg

 

Some other people have written that you don't have to take off both floorboards to do this, but I am glad I did because you can really get in there and work and see what you are doing. Another set of hands would have been good to hold the back side nut when loosening the bolt on the shock and the dog bone, but it was nothing strategic use of a 2X4 and a box end wrench could not handle. Since I was laying the ground the hardest part was getting the vent hose released, I was on the left side and should of got up to undo it on the right side:

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7070/6887495050_98ac4cb53c_b.jpg

 

Here is the new versus the old. Very nice piece of kit is the new one:

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/7033589763_a8f55435e4_b.jpg

 

The YSS came with 2 washers that there are no instructions as to where they go. There was some play in the bottom clevis so I put them on the inside of it. Unfortunately the Billet clevis is wider than the stamped steel original and the bolt does not quite get full engagement.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6887506104_c6f16530ed_b.jpg

 

bad pic that does not quite show the lack of full engagement of the nut. I'll keep an eye on it and maybe talk to the bolt supply guy at work and get a longer one if it seems to be a problem. When I bought the longer dog bones for the rear, they came with new bolts. For $499.00 I wish it would have been all inclusive of all the parts you need. Also the instructions it comes with are generic and not specific to the bike.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7255/7033603105_a7dab270ef_b.jpg

 

Here is a pic that shows accessing the nut on the top bolt. The bolt head has a capture device so you only need one socket to remove it:

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/7033598581_363648a59e_b.jpg

 

Here is another pic that shows the lack of full engagement on the bottom bolt. Unfortunately there is a dearth of places to get large metric bolts like this. I'll have to measure it and get a longer one from Bolt Depot perhaps.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/6887508424_c64620c0ba_b.jpg

by sadicarnot, on Flickr

[sadicarnot]

Ok, I ordered some longer bolts to replace the one that is too short. They are 12mm diameter nominal. Actual measurement is 11.9mm. Hopefully the hole they go into is big enough. I got the 10.9 steel which is the metric equivalent to a grade 8 bolt.

[Wanderer]

Looks pretty good.

[sadicarnot]

Hey all; Just a note to say I am very happy with the new shock from YSS. I went on a 185 mile ride today. This was on the east coast of Florida from the Space Coast to Daytona and back.

 

The first thing I noticed is that the bike rides a little higher. I had previously installed the Diamond R Leveling Links. The leveling links end up raising the rear of the bike by about .5 to .75 inch. I found the bike to be much more stable in turns and no longer had the feeling of the bike being loose in tight turns with high lean angles.

 

Lately I felt the bike was 'wiggly' when I was riding on roads with undulations, or when I was making lane corrections.

 

The YSS shock ended up raising the bike a bit more, not much but enough to be noticeable. This raising of the rear changes the geometry of the front, not sure of all the details, I am sure there are posts here that can explain it. In my mind this change is a good thing. I am sure some of the wiggling came from the stamped steel construction of the original shock. The billet construction and stiffer spring all work together to make a much better handling bike.

[XV1100SE]

Nice write up !

[RSTDdog]

Thanks for the write up and great pictures! How many miles on your RSTD when you changed the shock? If I understand you right, you are running the YSS with the leveling links??

[sadicarnot]

Thanks for the write up and great pictures! How many miles on your RSTD when you changed the shock? If I understand you right, you are running the YSS with the leveling links??

 

I have 20k or so. Noticed the shock leaking in December. I am running the leveling links. I bought the leveling links when I first got the bike. Everything seems to be working fine together.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Guest]

Should of had the dealer replace the shock under warranty then have it as a spare or re-sell it hen you installed the YSS shock.....or did you do that already??

[sadicarnot]

Should of had the dealer replace the shock under warranty then have it as a spare or re-sell it hen you installed the YSS shock.....or did you do that already??

 

I did not go that route. I did not want to be bothered and did not want to bother any friends for a lift to the dealer as I am single.

 

Please no flames about how this was a poor financial choice. Not having to deal with the dealer was worth it. Also I did not want the dealer to take apart the bike to put on a part I was going to just take off.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Wanderer]

I did not go that route. I did not want to be bothered and did not want to bother any friends for a lift to the dealer as I am single.

 

Please no flames about how this was a poor financial choice. Not having to deal with the dealer was worth it. Also I did not want the dealer to take apart the bike to put on a part I was going to just take off.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

I like the way you think, young man, but I must reserve the right to flame or not to flame.

 

:rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

[etcswjoe]

Thanks for the post, I am pretty sure the one on my solo bike is going outso I think the YSS may be the route I go.

[allwx]

That is a beautiful piece of industrial work!

 

Last month I installed a new oem shock in my 07. My original shock with almost 30k miles on it wasn't leaking, but I don't like running suspension components until they are completely worn out, ie no rebound damping. Thinking that a new shock was coming soon no matter what, I ordered a new one, and when new tire time came I installed it. I am a little surprised that there is no noticeable difference in handling between the old oem shock with 30k on it, and new one. Evidently these oem shocks do last longer than 30k, unless they start leaking oil. So now I've got a spare.

 

I agree completely with you about dealing with the dealer shop. I've yet to take my 07 in for any warranty repair. When things happen I just do it myself. The shop method is usually a big waste of time.

[sadicarnot]

That is a beautiful piece of industrial work!

 

Last month I installed a new oem shock in my 07.

 

Just curious; did you consider aftermarket shocks? They are rebuildable and are not that much more expensive.

[sadicarnot]

Thanks for the post, I am pretty sure the one on my solo bike is going outso I think the YSS may be the route I go.

 

I'll post here when I resolve the bottom bolt issue in the next week or so.

[allwx]

Just curious; did you consider aftermarket shocks? They are rebuildable and are not that much more expensive.

 

I did consider them.

 

Over the years I've learned that what works for other people doesn't usually work for me. I've bought so many thousands of $ of stuff that other people said was the greatest, and found out in the end that what worked best for me was something else, and usually that something else was oem. Didn't want to spend $500 and chance it being not what I wanted. I'd need to test ride something like that before I bought it, and the test ride would take about two weeks to form a strong opinion. With the oem, I already knew it could do the work.

[sadicarnot]

I wanted to post an update. I messed up and ordered bolts that are too short. I will call our bolt guy at work and try to get the right size before the weekend. I ordered 65mm, turns out that is the length of the stock bolts.

 

Also the YSS shock came with 2 shims that are too large in diameter to work properly in my opinion. They need to be 20mm in diameter with a 12mm hole and 1.5mm thick. A 12mm washer is about 2.5mm thick. We have a pretty good machine shop at work, unfortunately we don't have a lot of people that know how to use the equipment. I will either shave down 12mm washers or try to manufacture a pair.

 

Any way pics to follow.

[sadicarnot]

Another update; I talked to the guys at work and the consensus was that creating 1.5mm thick shims was a bit beyond our tooling and capabilities. A little google fu to the rescue. I was able to find 1.5mm thick shims with a 12 mm ID and 18mm OD. 20mm would have been ideal but these should work well.

 

Another note; it is amazing how little stock local businesses with bolt in their name have.

 

I may end up buying some yellow zinc chromate fine thread bolts from Fastenal. Not because I need them but because I literally have nothing better to do than look for the perfect bolt.

 

 

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[Venture Steve]

It looks like this new shock does not have air assist,, Is that right?

How is that working under a fully load bike?

 

Steve

[sadicarnot]

It looks like this new shock does not have air assist,, Is that right?

How is that working under a fully load bike?

 

Steve

 

There is a charge from the factory, plus the spring is custom based on the criteria you send them.

 

I have not fully loaded it yet, but it is working really good. I have about 1000 miles on it.

[etcswjoe]

Klaus from EPM Performance is testing the YSS and Hyperpro shocks on a Venture right now and hopefully will hear what the outcome is in a couple of weeks.

[sadicarnot]

Klaus from EPM Performance is testing the YSS and Hyperpro shocks on a Venture right now and hopefully will hear what the outcome is in a couple of weeks.

 

Klaus is whom I bought the YSS shock from.

 

I saw your signature said retired Chief and I was going to ask what you served on, but your handle answered that question. I was a nuke MM on the USS Bergall (SSN-667). I was only in for 6. Couldn't wait to get out. Looking at it from this side, kind of wish I would have stayed in.

[etcswjoe]

Klaus is whom I bought the YSS shock from.

 

I saw your signature said retired Chief and I was going to ask what you served on, but your handle answered that question. I was a nuke MM on the USS Bergall (SSN-667). I was only in for 6. Couldn't wait to get out. Looking at it from this side, kind of wish I would have stayed in.

 

 

Yep I served on targets, small ones to big ones.

[RSTDdog]

Any updates or more miles. Have you rode two up with this shock yet?

 

Curious any reason you picked the YSS over the Hagon seeing they are similar in price/design?

 

Thanks,

Derrek

[sadicarnot]

Any updates or more miles. Have you rode two up with this shock yet?

 

Curious any reason you picked the YSS over the Hagon seeing they are similar in price/design?

 

Thanks,

Derrek

 

About 1.5k miles. None 2 up. No specific reason for the YSS I was going to go with a Werks but found the YSS less expensive and there were a few write ups on it. I don't think at the time I was looking I saw the Hagon. If I did it was probably a flip of a coin as to which one I actually went with.