which rear shock?

[cosmicknome]

Hi
The time has come for me to change the rear shock on my M1000 this winter. The thing is do i go down the less expensive path or the full bling.
How good is the quality and how durable are the less expensive shocks compered to the more expensive ones. My bike is only used on the road and only for a maximum of 2000 miles a year.
Owen

[chris.p]

Nitron or Wilbers both do good base shocks, and both will set the shock up to your weight and riding style.
check out there web sites.

[Darren69]

there are a few on here using Nitron and highy reccomend them, their customer service is really good too by all accounts.

Another option would be to search the Desmodue racers forums on DSC etc. I dropped lucky on an Ohlins DU46 with only one seasons use and that's a £1000 shock for a 1/3 the price of a new one and with <100 miles use. It transformed the bikes handling and is super trick too! A Pukka DP upgrade :)

[slob]

Do you ever carry a passenger, if so look for a shock with a remote preload adjuster, ever so handy if you want to crank up the preload from time to time without breaking out the c-spanner

[cosmicknome]

I was really trying to find out about the build quality of units such as nitron and wilber also maybe maxton. I've had olhins forks and rear shock on my first monster which was ok but the forks needed servicing every other year because they soon began to leak oil.
I don't need a remote adjuster because i don't take passengers on my monster.

[utopia]

I've had a Nitron on the 750 for about 5yrs.
Unfortunately, my head is not yet well enough in tune with the feel of the niceties of suspension performance (and the rear in particular) to be able to make any worthwhile comments on that aspect, other than to say I've noticed no problems with the way it operates.
Also, the front end is still the std, non adjustable Showas, with their harsh characteristics, so the rear hardly stands out against those anyway.
But, I can comment on the build quality....
I'm very impressed.
I particularly like the way they've used a square form thread for the preload adjustment, coupled with a single adjuster ring and no locking ring.
I assume that the square form thread results in less tendency for the adjuster ring to ride up the thread under loading from the spring than would be the case with a vee thread.
And perhaps nicest of all, the adjuster ring has holes for a tommy bar rather than the usual c-spanner castellations, which is an altogether more user friendly design.
Such detail suggests to me that the working gubbins are designed with a similarly thorough approach.
I've had no leaks or other issues of any kind.
Mine is the more basic option ... can't remember the exact name offhand.
It does also have the remote preload adjuster .. on which I would fully echo Rob's comments.
I would also perhaps add that it is a useful device if you should take the bike on a trackday and maybe desire to sharpen the steering by raising the rear a tad.... or even as a tool for fine-tuning your road geometry. I've used mine in both these ways, in addition to the primary goal of pillion friendliness.
HPS sometimes do a Christmas offer on them .. but usually its a remote preload adjuster at half price (that's what I did).

Oh, and I think the body is anodised ally, not plated steel, which is nice (and light).
Maybe this ties in with the square thread and single adjuster.

Anyway, that's a bit of a ramble and doesn't say a great deal but hopefully some of it is genuine user feedback and is of some help.

ps. was it you that had the spoked, carbon rimmed wheels ?

[Flip]

OK here goes, I can't comment on Wilbers although I know there are several here that use and speak very highly of them as do Öhlins of course who are probably the most famous (and possibly expensive as the public sales partly fund their many sponsorship deals) but my experiences relate to Nitron and Maxton.

Back in 2005 I had had my '97 900 for six years and the suspension was in need of some attention, at the time there wasn't a lot of reasonably priced options but after seeing and speaking with them at the Ally Pally a few months earlier I went in the direction of Nitron purchased at the time through Bike Torque Racing as I had dealt with them from when they were GSX-R specialists.

On arrival I was impressed by the quality and the improvement in ride was immediately noticed (obviously partly down to the fact the original was knackered).

Fast forward ten years to 2015 and it was time to give my old Monster a bit of a gentle refresh (rather than full on restoration) and the suspension was once again a focal point and time to get the old Nitron serviced and thanks to my experiences with Maxton from my classic racing (more on them later) my the forks went off to them to modify.

Ten years old and fitted:
http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/ag329/fluke900/Nitron_zps9f34c943.jpg (http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/fluke900/media/Nitron_zps9f34c943.jpg.html)

On removal the shock was still in excellent cosmetic condition however, I noticed that there had been some interference from the top suspension rocker to the top of the shock, not enough to cause it not to operate fully but enough to cause cosmetic damage.

Top damage:
http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/ag329/fluke900/Wear%201_zpsx8v54cwh.jpg (http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/fluke900/media/Wear%201_zpsx8v54cwh.jpg.html)

When I spoke to Nitron about this they were a little concerned that perhaps this was due to wear of the linkages which when measured were all in spec, but they also informed me that due to the modular design of their units the top was replaceable for around £25.

Anyway, off it went and they actually found that due to my shock being an early version that they had undergone a slight re-design to prevent what had happened to mine so along with a full service and spring change (I had put on a few pounds over the ten years) to their trademark Turquoise they also replaced the damaged shock top free of charge.

Back from service:
http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/ag329/fluke900/IMG_4016_zpsjmb7fdvz.jpg (http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/fluke900/media/IMG_4016_zpsjmb7fdvz.jpg.html)

Customer service as it should be- they are still a relatively small company, you actually talk to the person working on your shock (I dealt with Olli) to discuss anything you need and while it comes set up to a base setting with full instructions and advice on further set up. they are still happy to discuss things over the phone or via email.

Bike back on the road and coupled with the Maxton forks it was a complete revelation (admittedly most of this was to the fork conversion) and it was immediately obvious how the rear had gone off over ten years- which is way past any recommended service time where my bike had had little use for a few years due to starting a family and general life stuff so my fault it didn't get a service.

[Flip]

As touched on earlier I dealt with Maxton first when I started Classic racing in 2012 and wanted to get my 1965 Mach 1 feeling something like how I was used to so I went to Maxton as they know their Classics and their racing and not only did they convert the old 35mm forks to their fantastic GP20 cartridge system (as they fitted to my Monster also) they built a new pair of rear shocks for it too.

Again, on receiving my new suspension I was totally impressed and as you'd expect their quality is as good as any top line suspension (I include Nitron as top line too) and their customer service excellent being able to speak with the chap in charge Richard Adams to discuss options and requirements.

Twin shocks:
http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/ag329/fluke900/IMG_2078_zps04a5843b.jpg (http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/fluke900/media/IMG_2078_zps04a5843b.jpg.html)

Nitron:
http://www.nitron.co.uk/index.php
bike.dept@nitron.co.uk
+44 (0)1993 849449

Maxton:
http://www.maxtonsuspension.co.uk/
info@maxtonsuspension.co.uk
+44 (0)1928 740531

My advice would be to speak with them all and discuss what you want and what options your budget gets you while getting a feel for their customer relations.

Bare in mind that if going the Maxton route allow plenty of time, they are a small company with a very high demand and as a result they do get very very busy especially during the race season and the lead up to major events such as the TT and Classic TT.

Anything else just let me know and I will do my best to help- I am a real believer in getting a bike set up for your riding style and use, I know it's not a particularly cheap thing to do (which is probably why so few riders do) but it will transform your riding experience and make it even more fun.

[chris.p]

I have had Nitron & Wilbers shocks on race bikes in the past, both are high quality builds.
I have a Wilbers on my Monster 1100Evo at the moment, I can not fault it in any way.
As I posted earlier, both companies do a very good base shock and when you order one it will come set up with spring and settings to suit your weight and riding style.
I have added a link to the Wilbers UK site (revs racing) not sure if I have your bike down correctly but you can adjust the drop down boxes.

http://www.wilbers-shop.de/index.php?cl=alist&cnid=a68539d3c288e5d356933078c48bf792&fnc=showList&manufacturer=amue42bd920a8f6fd2b6269bf5690cc7&year=2003&catname=a68539d3c288e5d356933078c48bf792


Nitron do have a UK based unit down near oxford.

[cosmicknome]

Thank you very much chaps that was just the information i wanted. I am only a road rider so going for the full ohlin's fitment would be over the top for me.To be honest when i fitted them to my first monster the ohlin's forks only felt little better than standard and that may have been because i had spent so much on them.
I think a nitron shock is were i want to be so thank you very much for the points of veiws you have sent me.

[Flip]

Yes, just to make it clear- I originally bought my Nitron through Bike Torque Racing as at the time Nitron didn't sell direct as they hadn't been going too long (but had received excellent reviews in the press as I know Simon Hargreaves from Performance Bike fitted one to his long termer).

Since then all my contact with Nitron has been direct with their Oxford based factory and Maxton only sell direct from theirs.

If it makes a difference Nitron do a black spring as a (no extra cost) alternative to their trademark Turquoise and Maxton supply their shocks with a Purple spring as standard but I am pretty sure they do a black alternative also- my twin shocks are black but there are fairly strict rules with replacements for classic racing as they have to look 'period' as much as possible i.e. no remote reservoirs etc.

Here is Maxton's road mono shock:
http://www.maxtonsuspension.co.uk/files/nr4.html

And Nitron's M1000 NTR1 Previously known as the 'Sport) and what I have on my 900:
http://www.nitron.co.uk/catalogue_item.php?catID=12399&prodID=73975

Also the next step up their NTR2 with remote reservoir:
http://www.nitron.co.uk/catalogue_item.php?catID=12399&prodID=73976

[cosmicknome]

Yes it is me who has the carbon rimmed spoke wheels they have been pressed into service on my m1000 s.i.e. I just had to get a two toothed larger rear sprocket.

[chris.p]

And the link to the Wilbers road unit.

http://www.wilbers-shop.de/en/Motorcycle/Ducati/Monster-1000-i-e-S-M4/Type-640-Road.html?cur=1?manufacturer=amue42bd920a8f6fd2b62 69bf5690cc7&year=2004&catname=a68539d3c288e5d356933078c48bf792

[Dukedesmo]

Not the cheapest way but I've got an Ohlins and, as per my 916 which also has Ohlins, I have to say it is excellent. I fitted it, set it up for sag etc. and not touched it since. It just does what it should with no dramas or worries, totally dependable.

If a job's worth doing and all that... :thumbsup: