Which Shock, let’s look at options?
There are many choices out there, Being in Japan the natural choice seems to be Showa that are tried and true on the Honda. But they are expensive and with the dollar conversion rate I could get a much better deal on something coming out of America.
Here are my choices
OHLINS
The HO888 is the latest model to be made for the CBR1000RR 08-10 from the Swedish factory, I am yet to hear anything bad said about it on this bike, and the people that like it seem to really like it.
Aparantly this year another new version is coming out with stronger valving and a corresponding weaker spring rate. I would love to test this shock out…
Advantages are of course that there is local support for Ohlins so it can be serviced locally when the need arises.
Has high and low speed comp, and rebound damping
Price from 999$ on
SHOWA
Showa make a HRC Kit shock for this bike that is standard with the race base and can be upgraded depending on what your needs are. To tell you the truth I know very little about its abilities or but It seems to do the job on a lot of local fast guys. Not sure of the damping or supplied spring rates but as it is a local build I’m sure it is all sourcable.
Advantages- Plenty of local knowledge and access to data and parts.
Disadvantages- Expensive.
Price: 140,000yen
PENSKE
Normally I would never consider a manufacturer that didn’t have local support but I test rode one of these on a friends bike with valving that had been altered by Traxxion Dynamics And I found it to be a fantastic shock, great feel and response.
It has high and low comp, and rebound damping.
Advantages - Cost, they are on the cheap end of things.
I have tested It so i know they are good
They will fit a spring rate to suit your weight and ability on purchase.
Disadvantages- No local support, so for any work it would have to be sent abroad. Hang on, they have local distributers… I can’t speak for their level of support though..
Price: locally 171,000yen, in the US from 1000$ to 1800$ depending on level of valving.
OTHERS
Matris Italian manufacture I ran one of these on My GSX-R1000. Good shock, but trouble matching the spring rate to the valving. I could get it for about 140,000Y as i received support from the local Importer.
White Power From Holland, no great local support although that may be changing with KTM running them as stock. I had one on my K4 GSX-R1000. Not a bad shock.
I guess there are others to chose from but the above list is where I will look, If and when the time comes.
