YSR RACING SUSPENSION

 

STOCK SHOCK

 

You can race with a stock shock but you will need to modify it with skateboard truck bushings because it's too soft.  In my heyday of skateboarding these were called "mushrooms."  You can slice them in two pieces and place them between the springs.  It firms up the back end which helps the bike track better and turn faster because you won’t get that “chopper” front-end geometry in a hard turn.

 

Stock shock modified

 

 

My destroyed toe slider after one race ($16/set)

 

 

I raced a few times with my “modified” stock shock however; I destroyed a set of toe-sliders each weekend.  On the plus side, you can get your knee down on every turn…for fun of course, because it only slows you down in a race.

 

 

FOX SHOCK ($325 new)

 

I planned racing with my stock shock all year, but found a good deal on E-bay.  This shock significantly raised the back end, which made kneeing down a little more difficult.  However the Fox shined on fast low speed turns.  It took one race weekend to get use to it.  Eibach makes the rear end spring, which is thicker and stiffer.  There are also 8 compression settings.   I found settings 6 or 7 to work fine for me at Prairie City. 

 

Picture of the Fox spring and reservoir

 

 

OHLINS SHOCK ($???, that is if you can find one)

 

My brother Joe found a rare Ohlins shock.  Rumor has it that this particular one was created for Kenny Roberts’ boys when they were first starting out.  After all Ohlins makes the best shocks in the business.  The top Superbike and GP motorcycle teams use it.  We had high hopes for it, but it may need a good rebuild.  It raised the rear end a bit, so the height is roughly between the Fox and stock.  There’s no compression setting either.  Joe said it works better than stock but would rather have a Fox for the height advantage.  Anyway the materials used looks like the current crop of Ohlins today.  In other words it looks TRICK if you can see it!!!  Unfortunately the hose is too short and the reservoir had to be mounted underneath the seat.

 

Picture of the Ohlins spring and reservoir

 

Too bad the reservoir is hidden from plain view

 

WORKS PERFORMANCE SHOCK ($200)

 

I’ve been told there is another aftermarket shock for the rear called a Works Shock.  What I don’t like is when you order one you have to supply the spring from your stocker… HUH????  Anyways, I don’t know anyone who uses one personally. I believe Rik and Erin Magers uses them.  You can find out more about this one on their web site, which can be found in my tech link.

 

PROGRESSIVE SUSPENSION

 

The front end of a stock YSR came off the showroom floor with only one fork spring.  Why?  Because these bikes were marketed for sub 130lbs youngsters… but the real buyers and riders were adults.  Anyway, the one spring maybe fine for the street if you plan to ride it just to get around, but not for the track.  The front end would bottom out if you tried racing this way.  There’s a simple solution.  All you need to do is get a spring kit from Team Calamari.  In fact if you send your forks to Calamari they can rebuild it with the extra spring and return ship it back within 24 hours (the cost $100).