| Author | Message | ||
     Pkforbes87 |
My stock shock with 25k miles is showing no signs of needing replaced, but after reading on the quick board about the sale on Works shocks I've looked into a couple options. I've always heard great things about Penske shocks, but do they offer a better product than Works? Any advice from someone with more experience? What should I look for / watch out for? Are the good deals out there too good to be true or should I only go straight to the manufacturer? I rarely ride on the track, so I'm not looking for anything race quality. Just a decent reliable upgrade that hopefully won't empty the wallet. Penske on eBay Works | ||
| Thejuicer |
I will be keeping an eye on this thread, as I'm in the same boat. | ||
| Firstbuell |
me, too may I request that comments reflect actual knowledge about the Penske and/or Works units? this thread is a call for assistance, not speculation | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
juicer.. nice looking X1 in your profile! I just moved away from Plattsmouth/Bellevue a couple months ago. Never ventured as far west as you are, I always rode east into the Loess Hills area. I was surprised to find 3 other X1 riders in the area as well. Never saw any other tubers though. | ||
| Lovedabueller |
No i dont know about the penske, however the works will let you try the shock and ride it. if you are unhappy with the spring rate lets say. all you do is pay the shipping and they will change it out. as many times as it takes to get it right within a 90 day period i think. just look into each company and pick a shock that fits your riding style. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I have both - Penske on my S1W, Works on my S2. Both triple-adjustable (preload/comp/rebound), both light-years beyond stockers IMHO. Hardest part was trying to find good places for the reservoirs, lol. Adjustability is easy, manuals are great. I bought my Penske used/fresh rebuilt from our race team, it came with spring dyno charts (if I knew what they meant, lol). Is it worth the extra money, if you compare new to new? Can't say. I ride the bikes differently - S1W is the playtoy, more agressive; S2 is a tourer with bags and lowers for my legs, and a passenger seat. I have them set totally differently. Do they both adjust easily? Yep (although the Works requires - and comes with - it's own special spanner wrench for preload, where the Penske has holes you can lever with an allen key, required to "unlock" it anyway). Do they both respond properly to the adjustments? Absolutely. Are they both user-rebuildable if they leak? Uh-huh. Biggest difference in my eyes is, the finish on the Penske looks a little more high-dollar. The Works looks great, but some spots on the chrome/polishing look a little wavy. Reminds me of model cars I used to build..but it *is* way down there on the bottom of the bike, so I don't worry too much about it. | ||
| Phelan |
I had a Works on my S2 and loved it, though I recently sold it to pay some bills. I would like to try a Penske next. Joe Goatz (RatBuell) has both and says it's pretty much get what you pay for, though both are EONS better than stock. | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
I have just finally installed a Penske on my X1 (it's been sitting in a box since January!). Still working out where I'm going to put the reservoir  My standard shock isn't leaking or anything (25-30,000km's), but it feels a bit "dead" compared to when I first got the bike, and I think the standard spring is too soft, particularly for 2-up, so I opted for a Penske as I had the $$$ for it at the time. Hopefully I'll have the bike on the road this weekend and I'll post my impressions. (I had a Works on my old '89 GSXR and I was pretty impressed with that, nice shock, but as stated above the build quality wasn't to the same standard as the Penske) | ||
| Sloppy |
I can NOT recommend the Works for the price they charge. Reasons? 1. the preload nut is chromed and the adjuster tool EASILY slips off. 2. the spring squeaks unless sprayed with WD-40. 3. the remote hose is UNCOVERED braided steel and will promptly grind a hole in your aluminum case. 4. the rebound damping was set way too soft even though it was setup for my weight and riding style. 5. the compression adjuster and rebound adjuster require DIFFERENT tools! Actual performance is okay, better than stock, but for the price I would have figured that the above issues would have been taken care of as a "no-brainer". Don't know about the Penske but hopefully will soon! Nice note about the Penske is they also offer models with seperate FAST and SLOW adjustments AND ride height adjustment. | ||
| Phelan |
Dang Joe! You were already ahead of me on this thread! I was writing at the same time you posted so I didn't see your input. | ||
| Mikeyp |
I have a Penske, and i never compared it to a Works. I too, bought it from a Buell Race Team some years back. It was a brand new spare that was never mounted. It was sprung for a rider my weght. (170lbs) I took it out of the box, mounted it, and didn't even mess with any settings...crazy, i know, but the shock worked perfect for me. Anyways, Penske, in my eyes, is the best shock going for a Tuber. As for the reseevoir mounting, i put mine on the left side down tube, kinda where a Banke frame Brace would go, or the mount for a steering stabilizer. I looked for a pic, but couldn't find one. I'll take some pics tomorrow and post them up. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
"I'll take some pics tomorrow and post them up." Thanks, pics will help explain the reservoir mounting. From the pics of the shocks I've seen, I always assumed it would mount in the same location as the stock reservoir. I'm a small guy (130 lbs) so if I order a spring designed for that weight, will either shock be adjustable to support more weight such as a passenger and luggage? Also, does anyone have experience with the AST shock? They are in the same price range (high!) lol (Message edited by pkforbes87 on December 09, 2008) | ||
| Ratbuell |
S1W (Penske), you can see the black reservoir on the left tube, under the steering stabilizer:  S2 (Works), you can see it hung just over the primary, above the front end of the shifter linkage. Grainy, it's a night shot, but the only one I could find without the lowers on.  Main difference is length of reservoir hose. I put a keychain ring in the reservoir adjuster on the Penske, I can adjust it "on the fly" if I'm so inclined. OK. So, it just looks cool that way  I have noticed the Works wrench can slip, but if you reverse it and push the other way, no slip. It (mine, anyway) appears to be a directional tool. | ||
| Brinnutz |
Phil, How about you buy me the Penske, and I'll send you the Works I have not installed yet. LOL | ||
| Thejuicer |
Phillip, ya don't see alot of Buells around here, tubers or otherwise...Oklahoma...plz tell me your still a Husker fan? | ||
| Brinnutz |
juicer, he's not from there, just stationed there. =) | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
GO BIG RED! Even growing up 30 miles from "The Zou" in central Missouri I've always been a Huskers fan. Wilson - I'll buy a Penske, you send me your M2 and the Works so I can install and test both. I'll let you know how they measure up  In all seriousness I am leaning towards the Penske unless someone speaks up with something positive to say about the AST. Either one is a chunk of change compared to what I'm used to spending on upgrades. Why not go big so there's no temptation to upgrade again in the future? | ||
| Thejuicer |
GO BIG RED!!! Im thinkin the same thing...think I will just bite the bullet and go with the Penske, after that I'll be huntin for a Corbon/Select seat!!! | ||
| Ratbuell |
Why not go big so there's no temptation to upgrade again in the future? Either of the original shocks in the post (I'm not familiar with the AST, so I won't speak to it) is a big enough upgrade on its own, you'll be happy with it. In addition to better handling (much more precise now, more like my Uly), my favorite part is, I'll NEVER have to buy a new shock for either bike, again. If one leaks, *I* can rebuild it  That alone is worth the price of admission to me. | ||
| Bad_karma |
I have the Penske on the S1 and the works on the S3. I haven't done any track riding at this point. Both have less than 7500 miles on them. No failures of any kind from either. Both replaced worn shocks, both had spring rates to match my weight as compared to stock units. I was stupid and bought the Penske with the high and low speed compression adjustments, how ever they are in the rebound circuit in our tuber configuration. I at this point can't recommend one over the other. But do recommend replacing your stock unit. Joe   1996 S1 with the Penske   1999 S3 with the Works | ||
| Gowindward |
What's up with the mile long lines to the reservoir? Can they not be short and the reservoir be mounted same as stock? | ||
| The_italian_job |
just mounted a Works on my S1WL, still didn't ride the bike cause was finished to put together today, so i will post my opinions soon... i was lucky cause i bought the top of the line used but as new on ebay for $450, shipment included! | ||
| Brinnutz |
I got my Works shock for $329... Helluva deal, half price, from Works! | ||
| Phelan |
Dang, I paid $2900 for my works shock, but it came with a nice carrying case in the shape of an S2T!  | ||
| Radon30 |
Sorry, off topic a little OK PK, i have been riding in the Loess hills area for a few years now and i have never seen you. My brother was the only other tuber, but he sold it and i have not seen it since. I too would like a new shock, but i can't afford them right now. I have never had the updates done on the stock shock and im certainly not putting that ugly collar on. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
I generally stayed on L34 between council bluffs and logan. Lots of clean curves, no traffic, and you can see cops coming a mile away Was your brother's tuber an orange and blue x1? If so I think I bought it. Penske it is.. Now I just have to wait for a good deal. | ||
| Guell |
Im buying a penske when the funds allow also, im runing an old old white bros shock. | ||
| Oldog |
I got my Works shock for $329... Helluva deal, half price, from Works! I just called them you must know some one, I was quoted 593, 789, 849 BTW there are some penskes on e bay 849 I need a new shock meby next spring  } | ||
| Radon30 |
PK, i live 5 miles from B.B. town used to ride that way all the time, depending how i felt would head north(logan) or south(underwood). No, that wasn't my brothers, did you get it from the dealer in CB, if you did i know the guy who traded it in. | ||
| Brinnutz |
Oldog, It was a shock on ebay that was a "return." Randy told me the guy who bought it bought the wrong one, needed the long version, not short. So, those go on ebay for 50% starting bid. No one bid, I called him before it ended and he said, sure, I'll end it early. Done. |
