YSS shock installed

[Freebird]

Some of you may remember that a few weeks ago, MarCarl was auctioning off a YSS shock that was donated by another member. I ended up being the winning bidder on the shock and he brought it to me on Maintenance Day.

 

I finally got around to installing it this morning. My old shock seemed to be OK but I just wanted to try the YSS. Installation was fairly easy.

 

How do I like it? I have no idea. Haven't had a chance to try it out yet. It sure looks pretty if you get on the ground and look under the bike though. I was a little concerned because the member that had it, had it built to his specifications and his total weight is a bit more than mine. Sitting on the bike and working the shock, it feels pretty perfect though. We'll see.

 

I'll report back after I've put some miles on it.

[Phoneman1981]

Thanks for posting Don.

[IronMike]

You found time to install a shock AND answer all my questions too? LOL Hope you like it.

[Guest Swifty]

You found time to install a shock.....

I was thinking the same thing....he must move a LOT faster than what we all see on MD Day.

[Freebird]

Swifty...go back to your corner. Yammer Dan is lonely there and misses you.

 

For the rest of you, I did take the bike out for a ride this morning and I have to say that so far, I am completely impressed with this shock. I found a variety of roads from state highways, farm/market roads, rough city streets, speed bumps and railroad tracks. The ride was very good on all.

 

What surprised me more that the ride though is the handling. I didn't expect that changing the rear shock would have such an affect. The bike is clearly more responsive and actually feels lighter with this shock. Can't really explain why but talked to Rick Butler this morning and he wasn't surprised at all. He said that the improved dampening and etc. is likely the reason for the improvement.

 

Will have a better feeling for it after the ride to the International in Galena but so far, I am really impressed. With this shock along with the Sonic Springs that I put in the front a couple of years ago, no more air adjustments necessary on my bike.

[RSTDdog]

Good deal. I wouldn't worry about the custom build too much.. I can't imagine they have that many different spring rate choices and beside you can adjust the preload if necessary. Your weight difference as a percentage of the total weight the shock see's is not that significant. I put a Hagon on with the HD spring and like it. The Hagon increased the static ride height over the OEM and I used to run with 45 psi all the time. I didn't do before and after, its just based on looks/feel. Your static height probably increased as well. My guess is the light feeling is a similar effect to leveling links from raising the rear. At some point would like to do some static sag measurements.

 

I have Sonic springs waiting to be installed ( for longer than I care to admit). Do you have just the Sonic springs or do you also have the cartridge fork emulator? What weight oil did you use with the Sonics. Thanks.

[Freebird]

I've had the leveling links installed for many years. I started to take them off when I installed the new shock but ended up leaving them on. It may have raised the bike another tiny bit but if so, it's insignificant.

 

As for the Sonic Springs, I used 10 weight synthetic and am very pleased with the way it turned out.

[Yammer Dan]

I was thinking the same thing....he must move a LOT faster than what we all see on MD Day.

 

 

Well it is a 2nd Gen.. Can't expect much....

[Guest Swifty]

I am completely impressed with this shock.

What surprised me more that the ride though is the handling

clearly more responsive

and actually feels lighter with this shock

the improved dampening

...all very good reasons to take this "new" bike for a ride at the next MD!

(from the corner)

[Yammer Dan]

Pass the Popcorn man....... Getting it out TWICE in one year??

 

Proof in other words.....

[Guest]

Don, take two boxes of this a day for 3 weeks and that should take care of the weight difference.......http://themarketingguy.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/dunkin-donuts.jpg