Cheap alloy shocks

[firko]

These RFY shocks have a remarkable resemblance to the low end Gazi shocks that are fitted to the DT1 Yamaha I bought from Nathan. The Gazi's were a tad too short for my intended use for the bike so I purchased a pair of longer clevis's from Gazi that are identical to the RFY items shown below. One thing is for sure, at $90+ 70 shipping = $160 these RFY shocks are a hell of a lot cheaper than the $435 Gazi's.http://www.gazisuspension.com/     http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/13-5-340mm-Air-Shock-Absorbers-Honda-Yamaha-Suzuki-Kawasaki-50-70cc-125cc-250cc-/170790045815?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27c3e14877 [/url]

                                         
                                         
                                         

Below....The Ohlins style 'piggy back' version are available up to 15.5" in length.
                                                         

[Freakshow]

nice find..id be worried the lowers will snap looks a bit light on meet down there

[Freakshow]

although on second look would be handy to clear high chain and sprockets.......
says travel is 68 thats only 2 inch ? 

[crossedup2]

They look the part but the Strokes a bit short !!!

Working Stroke: 68mm. The little advantage DT1 / RT1 rear end have you may only get 80mm of travel and not the 4" I'm after.

Peter B

[JohnnyO]

Yeah they've got no travel, a lot of the length is made up with the extension on top of the spring collar. You get what you pay for, they might be ok for holding the rear guard off the tyre.

[Nathan S]

I was entirely happy with the way the Gazis performed - but the lack of travel was noticeable.
I always figured on getting into them an seeing if I could get some more travel out of them, but obviously sold the bike first.

FWIW, I paid ~$250 for them in 2009. They're good $250 shocks, but I'd never pay $400+ for them.

[firko]

I'm not arguing for or against these shocks but out of curiosity I just went out to the shed to check on the stroke on some 13.5" shocks I have laying around.
Works Performance.....70mm
Arnaco.....75mm
Gazi.......68mm
Koni.......68mm
Stock DT1 (Showa?)...55mm
All of these shocks have seen service on my bikes except the Gazi's which Nathan raced with and they all deliver roughly 4'' of travel give or take a smidgey. Using that as a guide I'd suggest that the RFY shocks are in the travel ballpark. If it wasn't pissing rain I'd go to my other shed and check my YSS and some other shocks I have.

[Nathan S]

I've also wondered about these as a tightarse option:

http://www.z50.com.au/shop/product_info.php?products_id=38&osCsid=7cde39abc2d7bc6edf4d6a89aa6657c9

But I own very few twinshock bikes now, and don't really have a need for cheap shocks...

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Firko, I don't think you'll get 102mm at the axle from the Gazis - IIRC it was more like 92mm (about 3.5"), or maybe even a bit less.

Are you measuring the visible length of the shaft, or just pretending the bumpstop doesn't exist?
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Freaky, 68mm is more than 2.5" (almost bang on 2 & 2/3rds if you want to be pedantic).

[firko]

Firko, I don't think you'll get 102mm at the axle from the Gazis - IIRC it was more like 92mm (about 3.5"), or maybe even a bit less.

That's what I figured Nathan. I've got Arnacos front and back on your old DT1 now and the Gazi's are on my DT1 flat tracker where the 92mm travel will be more than adequate. I'm tempted to buy a pair of these RFY shocks for my other flat tracker, mainly for the trick look over the 14" Elsinore shocks fitted to it now.

[Freakshow]

MOjo shocks are free

[Mike52]

Tecshox on ebay and at Po box 1739 Towong Brissy 4066 and at [email protected] have a bunch of chinese shocks to suit older stuff at very cheep prices.
They look the part . 

[oldfart]

Firko ....there was a discussion on these mid week on Marks Swap meet  ( ad # 3203132 ...I take it you have read it.
For me they fall short in shaft travel ( 4"- 102mm  )  Kx 250 /  Tm 250  - 1974

 "Works shocks " seem to have all bases covered at a resonable price.    

[flower pot racing]

Or of course you could just do the job properly and buy Ohlins.

I have new ones for Maico 490s.  They are off the shelf, (limited numbers) ready to post and as far as I am aware the most competitively priced ones anywhere are £620 (plus postage)  (And ones for Honda's CR250 as well)  All built to Ohlins specs, so no need to worry about travel etc.  They are right straight out of the box.

It is great to have so many options to suit all budgets.  Experince tends to show that you get what you pay for.  That said, at the lower end of the market (price wise) there are some pretty swanky bits of kit out there.  And once they have worked out how to completely copy the high end stuff the quality can only go up.

Decisions decisions....

[albrid-3]

For that price, I may buy a pair, they look ok.

[firko]

For me they fall short in shaft travel ( 4"- 102mm  )  Kx 250 /  Tm 250  - 1974

Stew, shaft travel is a different thing to wheel travel. I get 4" of travel on my Maico with my 70mm stroke Works Performance.