2023 shock replacement

966 Views 33 Replies 16 Participants Last post by madmarkt, 3 d ago

csn29

Discussion Starter · 16 d ago

Hi everyone. Just ordered a 2023 bobber, really excited to get it comi from a Yamaha xsr700. First thing i want to do is swap out the shock, the problem is almost all websites only list shocks up to the 2020 bobber. Does anyone know if there have been any changes from 2020 to 2023 or is the shock the same ? Also i would be interested if anyone has tried the ohlins, k-tech or progressive shocks. I would love the wilbers but cant find anyone in Canada that carries them. Looking for a softer plusher ride especially for longer rides.

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21 - 34 of 34 Posts

3trees

· #21 · 6 d ago

J-Dash said:
Can someone help me understand what is specifically prompting the upgrades? Is it because the stock shock and spring are too soft for your weight or too stiff? I've got a 2023 Bobber and I weigh 192 lbs. I'm finding that the ride can be very harsh and jolting in the rear over bumps. So, my curiousity is are these aftermarket shock upgrades driven by superior comfort, handling, or because some of you are just too heavy or light for the oem shock but ride quality remains stiff?

In my case, I'd like it to ride softer in the rear suspension and not jolt my spine when I roll over a joint in the road. But I have a hard time believing that I'm too lightweight for the oem shock. So perhaps it is just a poor component.

Do the aftermarket shocks from Ohlins and others truly make it much less harsh?

I'm in a similar situation; weigh 195#. I don't find the bike uncomfortable but I'm very aware of every bump or road irregularity. If I see it in time, I can to a degree unload my bottom, but not the same as a sportsbike where you can stand and use your knees as part of the suspension. Did you upgrade the suspension? Is it a big difference?

I don't have a bad back and I don't want a bad back

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atomsplitter

· #22 · 6 d ago

3trees said:
I'm in a similar situation; weigh 195#. I don't find the bike uncomfortable but I'm very aware of every bump or road irregularity. If I see it in time, I can to a degree unload my bottom, but not the same as a sportsbike where you can stand and use your knees as part of the suspension. Did you upgrade the suspension? Is it a big difference?

I don't have a bad back and I don't want a bad back

There is one main problem with the stock suspension, it cannot be adjusted. If you enjoy having your spine hammered into jello then the OEM unit is for you. If not then, the ONLY remedy is an aftermarket unit. That addresses the rear but does zippo for the front, which has the same problem as the back, no adjustability. The amount of available travel for the suspension is limited due to the low ground clearance. The rear shock and fork springs with dampers were engineered for a rider of approximately 160 pounds. Since you tip the scale above that mark the suspension is undersprung for your weight, causing the bike suspension to bottom out over modest bumps. When the suspension hits the end of travel the only things left to absorb the enregy of the impact are the tires and your spine. Running your tires under inflated will help with the impacts, but cause handling and tire wear issues you may not like. So it essentially boils down to what are you willing to spend to get the ride quality where you will be happy. I spent over $2K all told and I could not be any happier with the result, but I went full meal deal too because I weigh over 300 pounds. Front Matris and Ohlins rear. The bike puts a smile on my mug on every ride now. (I will note my Bonny T-120 was upgraded too front and rear, however the OEM kit on my Thruxton R is just fine as is). The better the suspension the beter the ride.

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Margus

· #23 · 6 d ago

Not even sure about the 160 pounds "golden zone".. I weigh 68 kilos which in potatoes should be about 150 pounds and that is not too far from the acclaimed 160. And even I've been thrown out of the saddle going over a railroad junction plus I can feel every single little bump and dip in the asphalt any time I ride. Luckily i've got the mid-controls and I've learned to stand up when going over especially gnarly stuff but this is hardly ideal.. If the 2022 had the "upgraded" suspension then I don't want to know how it used to feel on the older bikes.. 😨

atomsplitter

· #24 · 6 d ago

Margus said:
Not even sure about the 160 pounds "golden zone".. I weigh 68 kilos which in potatoes should be about 150 pounds and that is not too far from the acclaimed 160. And even I've been thrown out of the saddle going over a railroad junction plus I can feel every single little bump and dip in the asphalt any time I ride. Luckily i've got the mid-controls and I've learned to stand up when going over especially gnarly stuff but this is hardly ideal.. If the 2022 had the "upgraded" suspension then I don't want to know how it used to feel on the older bikes.. 😨

I'd be curious how much static sag you have. Have someone measure your drop in seat height when you sit on the bike. Too much drop and it is undersprung and too little is oversprung. Either way the ride is harsh.

madmarkt

· #25 · 6 d ago

atomsplitter said:
There is one main problem with the stock suspension, it cannot be adjusted. If you enjoy having your spine hammered into jello then the OEM unit is for you. If not then, the ONLY remedy is an aftermarket unit. That addresses the rear but does zippo for the front, which has the same problem as the back, no adjustability. The amount of available travel for the suspension is limited due to the low ground clearance. The rear shock and fork springs with dampers were engineered for a rider of approximately 160 pounds. Since you tip the scale above that mark the suspension is undersprung for your weight, causing the bike suspension to bottom out over modest bumps. When the suspension hits the end of travel the only things left to absorb the enregy of the impact are the tires and your spine. Running your tires under inflated will help with the impacts, but cause handling and tire wear issues you may not like. So it essentially boils down to what are you willing to spend to get the ride quality where you will be happy. I spent over $2K all told and I could not be any happier with the result, but I went full meal deal too because I weigh over 300 pounds. Front Matris and Ohlins rear. The bike puts a smile on my mug on every ride now. (I will note my Bonny T-120 was upgraded too front and rear, however the OEM kit on my Thruxton R is just fine as is). The better the suspension the beter the ride.

I did ohlins rear and ohlins nix 22 cartridge in front forks . My bike is a dream to ride now .I weigh 230#.

atomsplitter

· #26 · 6 d ago

madmarkt said:
I did ohlins rear and ohlins nix 22 cartridge in front forks . My bike is a dream to ride now .I weigh 230#.

The NIX kit only works on the 41MM Kayaba's, for the 47MM Showa's it requires a different kit.

Rocco1100

· #27 · 6 d ago

Are there different model ohlins for the bobber?

atomsplitter

· #28 · 5 d ago

Rocco1100 said:
Are there different model ohlins for the bobber?

No, only Ohlins TR-729 is fitted for the Bobber. Other shock makers (Wilbers, Traxxion, K-TEK, Nitron, etc) may offer more choices, usually in where the gas is stored (either internally or externally).

Rocco1100

· #29 · 5 d ago

atomsplitter said:
No, only Ohlins TR-729 is fitted for the Bobber. Other shock makers (Wilbers, Traxxion, K-TEK, Nitron, etc) may offer more choices, usually in where the gas is stored (either internally or externally).

Thx for the info

madmarkt

· #30 · 4 d ago

atomsplitter said:
The NIX kit only works on the 41MM Kayaba's, for the 47MM Showa's it requires a different kit.

yes I have 41 mm Kayaba forks ,2019 Bobber . Looks like old Triumph .Black Bobbers don't look as good . I have Freespirits Brembo upgrade ,too. Everytime I ride ,people roll window down and tell me how good my bike looks .

atomsplitter

· #31 · 4 d ago

madmarkt said:
yes I have 41 mm Kayaba forks ,2019 Bobber . Looks like old Triumph .Black Bobbers don't look as good . I have Freespirits Brembo upgrade ,too. Everytime I ride ,people roll window down and tell me how good my bike looks .

Glad you like it. My comment was only meant to denote that any 2023 Bobber (where this thread started) is a Black configuration and therefore the Ohlins NIX kit doesn't fit. Also, I have the Matris kit in my Bobber Black and it's brilliant.

madmarkt

· #32 · 4 d ago

atomsplitter said:
The NIX kit only works on the 41MM Kayaba's, for the 47MM Showa's it requires a different kit.

3trees the topic starter never said he had a Bobber .I don't see where he said Black . I have the reg Bobber so ,I just mentioned what I did .

Chico

· #33 · 4 d ago

madmarkt, we must be reading a different thread. The OP states in the first sentence that he's getting a 2023 Bobber. Color not specified.

Chico

madmarkt

· #34 · 3 d ago

madmarkt said:
3trees the topic starter never said he had a Bobber .I don't see where he said Black . I have the reg Bobber so ,I just mentioned what I did .

My bad ,I forgot there is no longer 2 models . They only make the fat front tire ,2 disc models now .Ugly .Makes mine seem more special to me . When I bought mine there was Bobber 19" front and Black Bobber 16" front .

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