The ST3 shock looks almost just like my OEM shock (no remote reservoir), but I'm told it's a good upgrade.
QuoteHas Preload/Sag and Rebound Damping adjustments and will fit most Monsters in a easy swap.
I think the OEM only has preload/sag. Is the st3 rear shock a good upgrade?
Thanks for any advice,
Ferg
Check the spring. It may come with a heavier spring because the STs may carry a passenger/panniers.
I thought the M620 had rebound damping at the bottom of the unit. I'd keep looking for something with comp/rebound damping.
Quote from: Fergus on November 28, 2010, 01:49:29 PMIs the st3 rear shock a good upgrade?
No, it isn't. It isn't an upgrade at all. It doesn't have anything your stock piece-of-shit Sachs shock doesn't already have, except for maybe a stiffer spring. If you look at the bottom heim end on your OEM rear shock you will see a slotted screw - that's your
rebound adjustment. $50 for the same shock you have on your bike now is probably an OK deal if yours is toast for some reason, but if I were to go to the trouble of disassembly, I would go for a shock with full
preload,
rebound, and
compression damping adjustments. Why go through the hassle of replacing it with the same damn shitty shock? That's beyond the pale of ridiculous. If the OEM Sachs had decent damping/valving characteristics you wouldn't have basically everyone on this forum scrambling to get the hell rid of them double-time. Dude's just trying to get rid of some junk, so I don't blame him, but calling it an 'upgrade' is a bit of a stretch. Everyone else who reads this thread should go on over to Parts For Sale and read the guy's posting. It made me laugh.
Dude I got some Marzocchi 43mm 'Upside Down Self-adjusting' style Italian made forks I'll sell you, really nice upgrade for your bike. [laugh]
Damn, thanks. I think I'll just upgrade the spring on the stocker. You saved me $50 - much thanks!
Hold on now Fergus
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae275/bavarian07/monster/photo5-2.jpg)
See that hose thingy with the canister on the end? That's a compression reservoir. It adjusts compression rate/firmness, a very important parameter that is sadly missing from the stock setup. This is from an ST series bike as well. Guy's selling this over in Parts with a fully adjustable set of forks that bolt right on to your stock setup with no modification(quite a desireable and hard-to-find upgrade), for a very decent and realistic price.
Bear in mind that with these being OEM items as well, albeit better OEM, they may need to be sent out and resealed/rebuilt/revalved/resprung to actually get the benefit of upgrading and be worth the hassle. It's a long road to nirvana with this suspension stuff, so unless your stock suspension truly bugs the hell out of you just live with it & ride slower.
IMO; enough can't be said about upgrading the ruberband stock unit on the 620 to a real shock made by penskie or ohlins and having someone set it up for you with proper sag at the least. evn on the street the difference is amazing. used shocks can be found round $600 new $1g. save your money and do it right the 1st time and get a shock and adjustable dogbone then next year do the front, way less money. again this is my opinion