YSS Rear Shocks

[Peteg]

I recently bought a set of YSS rear shocks. They really work well for me. Other shocks I’ve run, have been under sprung and made it difficult for me to ride at low speed with a lot of weight.  The YSS shocks can be dialed in / optimized for any load up to a fully loaded Interstate without any sag issues. In my opinion, they come delivered out of the box with heavy duty springs that will handle a fully loaded Interstate, with more to give.  I was unable to run one up with the springs as delivered due to stiffness / lower back pain. I ordered replacement springs, that were two steps softer for one up riding. They also work for touring with a heavy load, but if I tour with my wife and gear I reconfigure to the heavy duty springs as delivered. I like the shocks so much I just ordered a pair for my VTX1300, which until now I wouldn’t have considered new shocks.

I ordered my shocks from EPM performance, full retail at $688, while the springs were $100. Prices include tax and delivery. I understand you can get significantly better pricing from Traxion Dynamics, but I was unable to contact them. EPM answers their phone, and answer any questions and stocks parts like springs and grommets. The shocks unfortunately are custom ordered from Thailand at 4 weeks delivery.
Shocks: RZ362-320TRL-53-88
Delivered Springs: 46-45-60-180
2 Step softer Springs: 46-25-45-180
The shocks are basically 12.5” shocks with 2.5” stroke that can mimic 13” shock as they have height adjustment. The shocks have height adjustment, threaded preload, and rebound damping adjustment. The infinite thread adjustment allows for spring change out without spring compressors. One shock can be removed at a time on side stand, so spring change out can easily be accomplished in less than an hour.
There is also a significantly cheaper (non rebuildable) model that only has pre load adjustment. They would still need the softer springs for one up riding, but even with the softer springs they would likely be price competitive with Progressive 412’s for much higher quality shocks.

The video is pretty bad like all my videos, but it’s probably worth watching if you think you might try a set of YSS shocks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTO8f-oeTsw


 

[Challenger]

That's a new one on me. Never heard of reconfiguring shocks by changing springs to go from solo to touring mode.
I'll just adjust the preload on mine and ride. Glad it works for you.

[Gondul]

Weird... my YSS were great right out of the box.
I have a standard with bags and an I/S trunk, ride solo and about 220#

Glad you found a solution for your back problem.

[Peteg]

Gondul, I guess a lot of it is my 72 year old lower back, I also need to sit way forward with heavy back support so I'm a special case. I only weigh 150 lbs so your running 70 lbs heavier with the weight further back, but I'm still pretty surprised. My shocks barely stoked verified by pushing up a bump stop. Anyway I absolutely love these shocks. The bike always handled well, but the improvement is very noticeable.

So I really don't push the bike very hard. Do you push the bike through turns pretty hard? If so I imagine you see an improvement? I doubt the YSS's sag much under your weight pushing through a hard turn?

[Gondul]

Gondul, I guess a lot of it is my 72 year old lower back, I also need to sit way forward with heavy back support so I'm a special case. I only weigh 150 lbs so your running 70 lbs heavier with the weight further back, but I'm still pretty surprised. My shocks barely stoked verified by pushing up a bump stop. Anyway I absolutely love these shocks. The bike always handled well, but the improvement is very noticeable.

So I really don't push the bike very hard. Do you push the bike through turns pretty hard? If so I imagine you see an improvement? I doubt the YSS's sag much under your weight pushing through a hard turn?

Yeah, you got a couple of days on me...lol

Between the weather and work haven't had much time, but yeah.. the rear end is significantly more planted than it was before.  Hitting corners hard any imperfection and the rear felt like it wanted to float...now it is planted, a much more confident feel. 

[98valk]

Gondul, I guess a lot of it is my 72 year old lower back, I also need to sit way forward with heavy back support so I'm a special case. I only weigh 150 lbs so your running 70 lbs heavier with the weight further back, but I'm still pretty surprised. My shocks barely stoked verified by pushing up a bump stop. Anyway I absolutely love these shocks. The bike always handled well, but the improvement is very noticeable.

So I really don't push the bike very hard. Do you push the bike through turns pretty hard? If so I imagine you see an improvement? I doubt the YSS's sag much under your weight pushing through a hard turn?

Yeah, you got a couple of days on me...lol

Between the weather and work haven't had much time, but yeah.. the rear end is significantly more planted than it was before.  Hitting corners hard any imperfection and the rear felt like it wanted to float...now it is planted, a much more confident feel. 

did u have the std shocks?
so for a comparison
I have a std/tourer with I/S tank and shocks, with dark side, about your weight with AGATT. 
 bike always feels planted to me with a smooth ride, except for one hwy road in a curve with two dips due to drainage crates. bike always has a slight wobble going thru them, I always feel it is the single ply sidewall of the C/T.
so really interested in your thoughts.

[Peteg]

Valk 98, on another subject I got new springs and clips for my front brakes, took care of my front end chatter, thanks. The right spring was bent pretty far out of shape, think that was the problem.

Hopefully Gondul has an idea on the turn wobble. When I first got my VTX1300 it would wobble in the turns pretty consistently. The front suspension used to bottom pretty easily too.  Turned out it was the front suspension. The fork oil was about a 1/4" low on one side and about 3/4" low on the other. Possibly the previous owner serviced it and filled to the specified height without purging all the air out??? Anyway getting the fork oil right solved the problem. It sounds like your issue is nowhere near as bad as what I saw. Good luck.

[98valk]

Valk 98, on another subject I got new springs and clips for my front brakes, took care of my front end chatter, thanks. The right spring was bent pretty far out of shape, think that was the problem.

Hopefully Gondul has an idea on the turn wobble. When I first got my VTX1300 it would wobble in the turns pretty consistently. The front suspension used to bottom pretty easily too.  Turned out it was the front suspension. The fork oil was about a 1/4" low on one side and about 3/4" low on the other. Possibly the previous owner serviced it and filled to the specified height without purging all the air out??? Anyway getting the fork oil right solved the problem. It sounds like your issue is nowhere near as bad as what I saw. Good luck.

turn wobble?   need to re-torque steering head bearings IAW the tech manual

actually they are supposed to be re-torqued at 600 miles and then every 8k miles per page 3-3

some have said to over tighten so they don't have to be redone every 8k miles.
search the tech board to bring up those posts.

after I had to replace my head bearings around 50k miles, btwn 600-800 miles started to get the turn wobble.  re-torqued them, yea they needed it. it now needs it again at 12k miles, don't have a turning wobble, but do have a slight straight line wobble at higher speeds.

[Gondul]

did u have the std shocks?
so for a comparison
I have a std/tourer with I/S tank and shocks, with dark side, about your weight with AGATT. 
 bike always feels planted to me with a smooth ride, except for one hwy road in a curve with two dips due to drainage crates. bike always has a slight wobble going thru them, I always feel it is the single ply sidewall of the C/T.
so really interested in your thoughts.

Yes, 98 Standard with original shocks and Gary's Bushings (which are still in great shape).

That will be a hard one to parse out as both could cause issues.
IMO car tires have much stiffer sidewalls than any MC tire, with two dips in quick succession, the stiffer sidewall won't deflect as much.
Could be the rebound damping but being an OEM shock, there is no way to adjust... all you get is pre-load.

The only variable I can see which you can easily change is the pre-load on the shock...soften it up and see what happens.

[mello dude]

Source of aftermarket shock bushings?

Thxz

[Peteg]

https://epmperformance.com/

EPM stocks parts for and rebuilds YSS shocks.  I assume your talking Showa's though. You can get them from Partzilla, but honda bushings won't last long. I'd suggest you start a new thread and someone will tell you where to get generic bushings made from a more durable material. YSS bushings look like they'll last the life of the shock to me?

[98valk]

Source of aftermarket shock bushings?

Thxz

best. I have over 30k in them still look new

https://redeye.ecrater.com/p/18385698/rear-shock-bushing-kit-ver-2

[Challenger]

I made my  own bushings out of JD R45822. Neopreme hydraulic pump coupler bushings for 4440 tractors. ID and OD are good just need a little shaping with a grinder and press them in. About $ 2.50 a piece. Been on the STD for about 50K and the I/S for over 60K miles. Still like new.

[98valk]

I made my  own bushings out of JD R45822. Neopreme hydraulic pump coupler bushings for 4440 tractors. ID and OD are good just need a little shaping with a grinder and press them in. About $ 2.50 a piece. Been on the STD for about 50K and the I/S for over 60K miles. Still like new.