Ducati Monster Forum

hello,

EDIT: oops, I meant this thread to be "ohlins or penske"....

i'm looking to upgrade my rear shocks. i guess there's 2 main choices...Ohlins or penske.

can anyone give me feedback running either of these shocks?

i have an '02 Foggy. i do mostly canyon carving and the occasional track day.

thanks

There are more than two choices...  you also can go with Ohlins, Matris, Icon...

Anyway, I have the Penske and LOVE it.  Very smooth compared to the stock Showa.

Good luck

Put a PM out to Magnus wrt the Penske.  You can do a search on his bike "Black Fog" and see what he's posted already.  Get yourself a drool cloth though if you do.  That bike is the boom-shockalacka (not my word but it works)!

I've always loved the Penske shocks and they come in a variety of flavors and prices.  Frankly, if you get the cheapest version, it'll still be great and make your bike feel better than it ever has.  They custom spring each one for you, so no worries about have the wrong spring rate on them either.  If you're going to buy one, I highly recommend Traxxion Dynamics in GA, Max McAllister knows his shit and is a super-nice guy.

cRex, yes i've drooled over his bike before...boom-shockalacka!

I only use Penske rear shocks.  I can get them valved / sprung -- it is amazing what you can do with them.  And there are a lot of folks out there that can do it -- racecar shops, etc (you don't need a motorcycle only shop to work/order them).

Even a base model Penske is magnitudes better than the stock rear shock on your bike -- and relatively affordable also.  Definitely worthwhile upgrade.

Whichever you decide to get, make sure that they put the correct spring on for your weight.  Double-check their work, too.  I had to send mine back twice: once because it was the wrong model (and spring), and the second time because it was the wrong spring.

{thread drift} Black Fog is even better in person -- and incredible to ride.  I've mentioned it before, but it's like the conquering Roman soldier rolling into the Rome Coliseum on his powerful chariot with all eyes upon you and the trumpets blaring in the background.  It can't be missed.  It truly is a unique Monster.  I'm sure the folks in Morristown, NJ have experienced its presence a time or two... {end thread drift}

Agreed on the spring -- give them an accurate weight also! (and if you can get the spring color changed -- bonus!)

yes, SpeedDog mentioned the same thing to me.

BTW, nice work on your bike...you should be proud  [thumbsup]

I think Penske shocks are better than Ohlins.  If anything they are just as good and do not get enough street cred....Everyone is so obsessed with Ohlins. 

thanks for the input folks!

i thought i'd get a bunch of ohlins' fans but not one person recommended them...

i think i'm sold on the penske's  [thumbsup]

Don't get me wrong, Ohlins are nice.  But, I'd never trade a Penske for one.  There's a reason my last 4 bikes have had Penskes on them.

+1...all true

+1 for the Penske.  I got one used from a show bike. I called Penske to ask about the spring weight.  They asked a few questions and then said they'd check out what was suggested.  They called me back within 1/2 and hour and said that I had the recommended spring for me.  Then they said that as long as the spring was in new condition I could send it to them and they'd trade it for another spring rate if I decide to. 

From that, the adjustability, and the quality.  You can't go wrong w/ one.

okay people, i'm totally sold on the penske's!

now which model is the mid-level type. i saw the 8100 series at kneedraggers with 25 Click Rebound Adjuster for extra fine rebound settings, 6 Click Compression Range.

i will probably be getting it installed at flight cycles so i'd have him order it for me. i just hope he can give me competitive pricing.

i have no idea what to look for..please help.

thanks

With all this positive talk of Penske.... do they also make internals for our forks??

I had the Penske 8983 on my 2003 620 Monster and I absolutely loved it! I bought it at the link below. I think when I had it the model number was different and it had 3 or so clicks less, but it was still awesome.

I also had the Elka 3-way on my R1, but they sent me the wrong Spring rate. That pissed me off..

If I didn't have the Ohlin's in my S4RS already, I would definitely gone with a Penske again. I just might go that route in the near future with my S2R1000.

Good luck brother and ride safe.


I bought mine here and the guy I worked with was great.
http://www.hordpower.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4_22&zenid=15cb2918f48a5886e563df9aa8631c3b

Flight Cycles has done a few things on my bike and I have been really happy with the communication and service that I got from the head mechanic (Stewart).  He has been more that fair with me.

+1

looks like I can go shopping next payday  ;D

teddy, i'm with you bro...next payday...f*ck the rent, i want some penske's.
actually it seems they're more bang for the buck than ohlins.

where are all the ohlins fans anyways...

Penske does make fork internals.  At least,  I know they do for superbike forks.  My friend just bought a 748 that had a penske fork kit installed.

I'm an Ohlins fan, have 'em on front and back...only I need a new rear spring, mine is two sizes too big.  The only time my bike feels 100% at this point is when it's got the saddle bags loaded up...but holy shit does it feel awesome!  [thumbsup]

If ever I buy a different bike I would have the suspension upgrades waiting to be installed before the bike even got into my possession.

Penske suspension is also amazing, I could never say a bad thing about them.  Either way you go you will be beyond happy.  Good luck!  [thumbsup]

T

Okay, here's an Ohlins fan for you.  I've got the Multistrada S with full Ohlins front and rear, and the '08 Monster S4RS Tricolore with full Ohlins as well.  Absolutely fabulous!  A couple of clicks in either direction on compression or rebound, front or rear, is very noticeable and makes the bike very easy to set up for my weight and riding style.  My SS has pretty well sorted Showas, but the Ohlins on the other bikes just slays it.  With the Ohlins I can flat-out rail over bump-infested straights, corner entries, apexes, whatever and the bike just stays planted and never headshakes.  I'm so spoiled by them that I don't think I could consider another bike not equipped with Ohlins suspension.

Id like to get a new rear shock.  Im on a budget.  Where should I look?  Id consider Ohlins or Penske.

Thanks!

ok... this shock seems to be the one I'm keen on going w/... so if they're ride height adjustable, should I bother messing w/the adjustable linkage I bought (but never installed), or is that some kind of generic description, seeing as how the section is for 'ducati' and not model specific?

Really the "ride height" adjustability they're talking about is the preload adjustment.  More or less preload will set your sag, which in turn means you are raising or lowering your ride height.  This is not the same as the adjustable link which will vastly increase the amount of height adjustment available.  The best overall solution is the adjustable link to set your ideal ride height, and then the spring preload adjustment on the shock will give you the initial resistance in your spring's reaction.  Remember that your spring rate is a fixed number.  Preload doesn't change the real stiffness of the spring or shock, but only affects the initial resistance to the spring's compression.  Once it's encountered a bump and begins to compress, the spring will always compress at the same rate.  Preload only affects the initial resistance to that compression, making it seem stiffer or lighter, as well as slightly raising or lowering the bike by allowing it to slightly settle on the spring, or not.  Set your preload to your satisfaction, then set your desired ride height with the adjustable link.

but... they mention preload.

The Penske does have a ride hight adjustment that is seperate from preload. the preload is set by the threaded spring retainer/preload adjustment ring. It comes with a tool that fits into the ring. the ride hight adjustment is a small ring at the base of the shock. You will not need the adjusable linkage. I used the penske 2way on my project. The ride hight adjustment on the shock was more than enough.

looks like I'll have a linkage FS soon then!  ;D

Here's one. 

But I have to say, apparently you guys have all the luck.   I've never got to ride with a Penske, so I can't address that, but my ATTEMPTS to buy Penske have been disasters.  First time, I got the runaround re: an application for my BMW F650 which ended with a kind-of snotty "we don't make shocks for dirt bikes."  ???  (I was asking about a shock that wouldn't bottom when I went off-road.)
The second attempt, for my Triumph Sprint ST, I spent over an hour on the phone, over the course of two days, sussing out the options, talking to the engineers about street, track, touring options, only to be asked, when I was ready to slap cash on the barrelhead "What year is your Daytona?" DAYTONA, WTF, I have an ST.  [bang] "Oh, we don't make a shock for an ST." [roll]

In closing, let me say, I LOVE my Ohlins.  All four of them.  ;D

done and done. placed an order for the 8983 ;D ;D