| Author | Message | ||
     Kilroy |
What a pissin' contest THIS turned into!! | ||
| Greg_cifu |
I hate to break this to you but, Works isn't NEARLY that generous. They flaked on a 14 month old shock on my BMW that sprung a leak in only a few thousand miles. Their excuse was that the shock shaft was scored and needed replacing. My position was that if it was scored, it left the factory that way. They didn't agree. This was all face-to-face. It cost me something like $200 to get the new parts and have it rebuilt. They make a very nice product (certainly better than buying a new Showa) but, don't believe for a minute that you bought a lifetime replacement shock. | ||
| Thejosh |
Well when I posted the mileage on my profile it was 14,000, it's now 16,500. So wow you can read!, but you probably didn't deduce that I still ride it and have accumulated more miles, you just assume, making yourself look stupid, and yes I have twice the amount of miles as the crappy stock shock. The difference is that I have seen both sides of the argument, I have had both a Showa and a works, you have had only the stock shock Showa on your bike, ignorance is bliss! | ||
| Harleyelf |
The only person here making himself look stupid is the one telling men twice his age how inexperienced and ignorant they are. Show some respect, child! Valuing each others thoughts is, among grown-ups, a two-way-street. No one will ever care what you think if you persist in acting disrespectful. Gentlemen can disagree without calling each other "stupid-head". | ||
| Thejosh |
I never called anyone names, just pointing that if you are judging mechanical insight based on website membership and profile info, you're gonna make some wrong assumptions. I don't care how old you are, if I disagree with you I will let you know. I also do not thing that logic is valid either, the older you are the wiser you are by "default"? | ||
| Harleyelf |
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. Guys who were going over 100 mph on two wheels twenty years before you were born, and who survived to talk about it today, all have mechanical insight worth listening to. I personally was judging your mechanical insight based on your refusal to consider alternate points of view. (Message edited by harleyelf on October 26, 2011) | ||
| Thejosh |
I've worked with too many old geezers that claimed that they had all of this experience and knowledge, the truth is, I haven't seen one that can accomplish a task without creating more chaos for others. I'm not refusing any point of view, but when you try to explain something without experiencing both sides ( I.E. Stock vs. Aftermarket). Then you really have no credibility to argue on the matter. Is there anyone out there that would prefer a stock shock over an aftermarket? If so I would like to know their opinion on the matter, because people chiming in that do not know the difference is not a valid opinion. That's all I'm saying. People that claim to have experience should know well enough to admit when they haven't experienced something. As far as I can tell, nobody that has had experience with both sides, has given an opinion, just everyone that has a stock shock has seemed to have gotten upset when I called the stock Showa garbage. That's how I feel and I will not redact the comment. | ||
| Hootowl |
I'm on my third stock shock. When this one goes (not if) I'll be replacing it with a Penske or Works. So does the stock shock suck? Empirically, yes. It is prone to failure, and isn't even in the same ball park as the Penske or Works as far as performance goes. I think "the stock shock sucks" is more than a matter of opinion. | ||
| Hootowl |
"What a pissin' contest THIS turned into!!" +1 Take it to the 1125 section please. This is the civilized part of BadWeB.  | ||
| Thejosh |
Thank you hoot, you are correct, that is my opinion. Rather than launch a personal attack campaign (as others chose to do) you chose to point out that it is my opinion (albeit, a harsh one) and give yours, whether I agree or not, you stated yours without any personal attacks. Josh | ||
| Harleyelf |
You are using experience, knowledge, and wisdom as if they were interchangeable terms. They are not. Does aftermarket work better, especially with larger riders? Of course it does. Is it worth $800 to a 145-pound rider? Only if he lives on the world's worst road. No one set-up is "best" because situations differ. The Showa is up to the requirements of a medium-sized rider, thus it is not "junk", it is "inadequate to some heavier demands". | ||
| Fasted |
bullheaded youth and an abundance of testosterone....the perfect combination.....  | ||
| Thejosh |
Wow, are you calling me fat? Lol. That's not what I'm referring to. I'm referring to the quality, I don't believe that anything on this bike should have a 5k mile lifespan other than tires. Before I joined BWB my shock started leaking, couldn't find a rebuild, everywhere I looked it seemed like a common thing with the 16.5" Showas, pretty much could not sink more money into something that was prone to failure. I guess if it's not leaking it would be good for a 145lbs rider. | ||
| Court |
Wow | ||
| Hootowl |
I weighed 155 when I bought my X1. The stocker still leaked. I'm just north of *cough* 200 *cough* pounds now. I mostly ride a desk these days. Fun fact, the picture of me in my profile is at a battletrax event at a local HD dealer that Reg Kittrelle put on. I was sporting a blown stock shock that day. No damping whatsoever. I could bounce the rear tire off the ground like I was dribbling a basket ball. Good times  | ||
| Thejosh |
Wow, got pretty low there Jeff! When mine went pogo it got pretty scary in the turns. | ||
| Hootowl |
That first turn is slightly off camber too. It's a first gear run in a pretty smooth parking lot though. Not a whole lot of drama. I didn't notice the lack of damping at all during the event. The ride home was another matter. Almost got sea sick on the highway.  | ||
| Thejosh |
LOL, yeah, felt like a bobblehead when mine went out. | ||
| Dmac |
Just wanted to think everyone who has given there opinion about the shock.I have a 2001 &2002 lighting.The 2001 has showa and it is fine.I talked to race tech and it was well over $300 to rebuild.I think the works will be the answer because as everyone knows these motorcycles are worth it. Thanks again Dmac | ||
| Thejosh |
Good luck dude! | ||
| Rick_a |
My Showa blows every 15K miles or so. First time it was rebuilt with a Gold Valve kit. That is the single best improvement I've ever made. Next time just seals and a better quality suspension fluid. Fix it however you please, but for $65 I'll be rebuilding it again in another 10K or so. | ||
| Dave_02_1200 |
Rick a, Please tell us about the Gold Valve installation: What part number(s) did you use? Did it require special tools? How does it perform for you? | ||
| Thejosh |
I heard about the gold seal kit, the only thing that concerned me was the disassembly of the shock itself. I wasn't sure if I had the tools necessary to repair a pull shock safely. That is another thing that concerns me with the design of the shock, Rick, you say it only lasts 15k. Do you get good performance out of it when it isn't leaking? Is it the 16.5"? I think that even for a DIY guy, 15k would be a little much, and the rebuild kits would add up. | ||
| Blake |
>>> Did it require special tools? Rick_A is himself a "special tool", as are many of us old timers here. ![: ]](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/proud.gif) | ||
| Thejosh |
Right, but like I said... Rebuilding a shock every 15k just doesn't seem like a logical decision to me, rebuild kits add up. I don't think it would be an enjoyable ride if I was constantly worried about my suspension going out. +1 for tooting your own horn | ||
| Hootowl |
The Works and Penske shocks require rebuilds too, though I don't know with what frequency. They were designed to be rebuilt though, so it's got to be easier to do at least. | ||
| Buell_bert |
Kinda like some of us that like to keep it stock. I'll admit to buying spare parts and rebuilding them or cleaning them up so if it fails/gets hit or what ever, I at least can replace it fast with little down time. Plus I enjoy taking things apart and looking inside. Winters get long in Wisconsin some years. It may be called (PM) preventative maintenance. When I had snowmobiles I always took the carbs off and cleaned them each year. I did not do it because they had a problem I did it because if a piece of crud fell off and blocked a port it ran REALLY good then came the spontaneous disassembly of the engine. I really like working on things when I have the time not laying out underneath a car 10 miles from home in a parking lot when it's below freezing replacing the daughters starter. But I will probably have to do it again. I also remember in the 60's and 70's (as it is now) Dad's would only buy a Ford, GM, or Mopar, because to some there was only 1 good enough. We have more options now. Nascar engines are great but only good for 500 miles before some PM. Thanks for letting me have an opinion. | ||
| Thejosh |
Nascar engines are great but only good for 500 miles before some PM Yes, but they are built with the highest quality materials, to the closest tolerances, they also are built to perform well. The stock shock that came on my bike was built with the cheapest parts and who knows what kind of quality assurance. I personally am dissatisfied with the quality of a shock that will only last about 15k. I guess I would understand if this shock, when working, was the best suspension I could have on my bike, I would be okay with having to rebuild it every 15k. The fact that it is a mediocre shock that is of poor quality leads me to believe that Buell dropped the ball on this one. I only wish that there was a better selection for aftermarket shocks but between Penske and Works, I believe they have them dialed in. | ||
| Jayvee |
There's a few others, european makes, don't have a list but there are at least 3 more brands of shocks for Buell. | ||
| Buell_bert |
Maybe we can be illuminated on other Buell parts that would be better recycled or land filled as opposed to other designs? A better mouse trap. I am sure there is a point to where something had to give in order for Buell (Harley) to be able to sell a product to the general public? Have you looked at the prices that the new Erik Buell Racing bikes may be? If you have an initial idea and sell it, it is only a matter of hours and someone else is able to improve on your design. Thus, this is where the aftermarket business is born. Innovators and Aftermarketeers and of course we (you and I) that do it ourselves. |
