TOPIC:

What? Isn't that just the standard Chinese model for manufacturing and selling in the USA? Certainly this can not be a surprise to anyone.

missionkz wrote: What? Isn't that just the standard Chinese model for manufacturing and selling in the USA? Certainly this can not be a surprise to anyone.

LOL! Yes that is what I thought.

I've seen some suspect 'Ohlins' on ebay occasionally, they should have the brand name moulded into the top casting.

I always thought there is a serious gap in the market with not much available between the budget and big money shocks.

Tyrell Corp wrote: I've seen some suspect 'Ohlins' on ebay occasionally, they should have the brand name moulded into the top casting.

I always thought there is a serious gap in the market with not much available between the budget and big money shocks.

I see the same in the market, there's "cheap and cheerful" where you'll likely get what you paid for and $800-$1200 where you are likely not getting what you pay for in terms of overall value, for the average rider. As you say there's little in the middle ground or even a spread across the price range, it seems all or nothing, which is probably why progressive are so popular. I just think their shocks are a little underwhelming in appearance which I know shouldn't matter, but if you are going "custom," sometimes it's nice for things to look that way in a classy understated way. If someone could come up with an economy piggy back shock that had the looks with performance and quality, that would be good enough for what most people are doing, I think they'd sell a lot.

A few mid priced options
Works Performance Steel Tracker - $460
YSS E-302 -$350
YSS Z-362 -$475
Gazi Sport Lite - $435

Tyrell Corp wrote:
I always thought there is a serious gap in the market with not much available between the budget and big money shocks.

Along with those that Nessism mentioned Hagon and some others offer quality shocks in the $300-$400 price range.

I agree withredhawk4 that most folks aren't going to ride on the street in a way to justify spending $800 - $1200 for shocks.

I'm interested to see what Chris Livengood (the guy that rebuilds the RDY and other shocks) is designing. I have contacted him and asked to be a prototype tester.

I quite like the Gazi's but about $450 is still a lot of money IMO. Something in the $250 range would be nice, if you can get the Chinese ones for $90 a pair, surely it's possible to make something 1/2 decent for around $250. The Chinese ones look great, a little more in materials and fluids and you'd be there.

When you go to the really high priced shocks, while they may be great, I still feel you are going to be paying a premium price for a product, not benefiting from the economies of scale, so the gains relative to the extra cost are not proportional, a bit like buying a Ford or Honda as compared to a Bentley, the Bentley isn't 10 times better despite the price and the average person isn't going to reap real world benefits by spending the extra..

redhawk4 wrote: I quite like the Gazi's but about $450 is still a lot of money IMO. Something in the $250 range would be nice, if you can get the Chinese ones for $90 a pair, surely it's possible to make something 1/2 decent for around $250. The Chinese ones look great, a little more in materials and fluids and you'd be there.

When you go to the really high priced shocks, while they may be great, I still feel you are going to be paying a premium price for a product, not benefiting from the economies scale, so the gains relative to the extra cost are not proportional, a bit like buying a Ford or Honda as compared to a Bentley, the Bentley isn't 10 times better despite the price and the average person isn't going to reap real world benefits by spending the extra..

Agreed.

I dunno but if I needed to replace my shocks I'd consider ~500 bucks pretty reasonable to keep my ass comfy and moreso to keep it from meeting the asphalt. $1300 is crazy for 70s era KZs unless you are a pinball wizard rider of vintage bikes. $150 shocks, see above about my ass and asphalt.

Try to not condemn the more expensive shocks untill you get a chance to try them. One of the things you get with a more expensive shock is custom valving and proper rate springs for your weight and riding type.
The stock suspension on these older bikes was not very good even when it was brand new. If you were to just replace your worn out OEM shocks with new OEM, you would be spending big. Each shock for a 2002 police bike (as an example) is $458.91 retail. That's $917.82 for a pair of nothing special OEM Kawasaki shocks. So for the same money as stock you can buy shocks that are set up for you and your bike and are also serviceable.
I recommend suspension upgrades before any motor mods. I feel it's money well spent.

For sure, the stock shocks on the KZ650 were barely adequate even when new. I bought my KZ650-C1 new, and the shocks were the weakest part on the bike. Ed