S4R OEM Shock Comarison?

[Goat_Herder]

hi all,

I am planning on replacing the shock in my S2R1K with a S4R shock.  After looking around on ebay, I found that they are 3 different S4R shocks by 3 manufacturers (the Ohlins is off S4RS).  Just wondering if the price is worth getting the more expensive shock.  Showa = $100, Sachs = ~$250, Ohlins = $400-500.  I mainly ride the S2R1K for pleasure, around the twisties on the weekends.  I am around 150-155# with gears on. 

Thanks for your input.

[2WheelsFTW]

Man I found a Sachs unit on eBay last year for under a hundred bucks and threw it in my S2R800.  With a spring its worlds different.  Anything was better than that factory rear shock, strait poop. Spend the money.

[Armor]

Get a new Ohlins shock and spring setup for you.

[lawbreaker]

I replaced the OEM shock on my S2R1000 with an Ohlins and have been quite happy. FYI the S4RS Ohlins will require some modding to get it to fit on the S2R1000

[Moronic]

Glad some are happy with their stock OEM Ohlins from the S4Rs but I was very unhappy with mine. After lots of research had it revalved and now it's brilliant. Details in my sig line.

Goat, if you just want to throw on the shock and forget about it then you might not get your money's worth out of the Ohlins.

OTOH if you would like a really nice rear suspension set-up then get the Ohlins unit (or another if that one's gone), and before fitting it send it to Rick at Cogent Dynamics, as per my sig line. I've been in touch with Rick within the past year and he is well aware of the spec he did for me and has since revalved Ohlins to the same spec for others.

Given you are quite light I would also recommend you go down a spring size from the S4Rs stock 105 to a 100 or even to a 95 or 90 if they are available. I am about 185 with gear and now running a 100 on the S4Rs with that valving and it's superb. For your weight a bit less spring would be even better. Rick could advise here too.

And as above, the S4Rs Ohlins is not a bolt-on fit for the S2R. I think there is an explanatory post on here somewhere and IIRC you have to modify the bike slightly to accommodate the reservoir.

BTW the recommended Ohlins shock for the S2R is a DU 321, which is a much less sophisticated emulsion-style unit with rebound adjustment only. I've no idea how it performs.

The hot set-up would be the DU 333 as I have, with Rick's revalve and the softer spring. The 333 is recommended for the S4R but I believe it bolts straight on to the S2R. That gives you remote adjustment for spring preload and compression, with both accessible for tweaking while riding. Until you have tried it, you won't believe how good it is to be able to fine-tune your rear ride height and compression damping while riding the bike. Yes there is the convenience of not having to stop, which is great, but as well you can feel the difference straight away - very educative. 

[Goat_Herder]

Thanks, Lawbreaker and Moronic.  Your feedback is very helpful.  I am aware of the modification needed to the frame to make the S4R shock fit.  That's the main reason I haven't gone ahead with the mod.  I guess it gives me time to think about options. 

From what I can gather, I doubt I would get full use of the Ohlins shock.  I would be riding around the twisty for the joy of riding.  I wouldn't be adjusting it for track day use, etc.  I think I will look for the cheaper option. 

Re-springing to my weight might serve me better. 

[Speeddog]

Respringing to your weight is the most bang for the buck, and is Step 1.
All of my customers that have needed it and finally got it done, say they wished they had done it sooner.

I've never raced a bike on pavement, and it's been a very long time since I've done a track day.
But the last time either of my Monsters had OEM spec suspension parts on them was '05.
And I've put 67k miles total on them since.
They're a lot more fun with good suspension.

I'm currently running a single adjustable Penske emulsion shock on my M750.
It's a very good shock, and they're relatively inexpensive.

To put it another way....
You could have burlap underwear, it'd do the job.

[ducpainter]

My experience might be different because of the terrible roads we have, but I think compression damping being close is more important than perhaps a spring that's a bit stiff. Ducati typically over damps and under springs creating a harsh ride. I don't know if the Ohlins on the S4RS follows the pattern or not.

That said, I have an Ohlins DU 440 on my Monster. It's been re-sprung, but the valving is as from Ohlins. It does have adjustable compression.

[Armor]

A DU 321 is the same type as a DU 333 (monotube high pressure) but reservoir is external with adjustment for compression and wheel to adjust preload.  The  DU 321 is not an emulsion type and is way better than the stock unit.  You can get it setup for you and will be better than a used S4RS shock, in my opinion.

[Moronic]

Okay Armor interesting on the 321 thank you. You are quite right, the 321 is not an emulsion type but instead uses a second, floating, piston inside the main shock body, to separate the damper fluid from the gas it needs to compensate for shaft extension.

The Ohlins product page for the 321 is here.

There is no compression damping adjustment but that won't be an issue for the OP if it is valved right in the first place.

I think you are correct and this would be an excellent option for a good price. For the sort of use described the external reservoir is not necessary.

My only concern is whether Ohlins has got the compression valving right. But there is every chance it will be way better than the stock S4Rs unit IMO. And if it is not right, a good suspension shop can still help.

Ducpainter - yes, the OEM S4Rs shock is overdamped on mid-high speed compression, IMO. Don't think it is undersprung. My experience with the DU333 compression stack is that it too is overly firm in that area - even though it looks good on a shock dyno. My guess is it can't quite handle the effective rate-rise of the Ducati linkage, but that is just a guess.

Goat herder, as others have said, you do not need to be doing track days to feel the benefits of a good and nicely set up shock. In fact IMO it is the other way around: most riders would notice a much bigger benefit in road use than in track use.

The peculiar thing however with suspension is that the better it is, the less you think it is doing.

Or to put it another way, the experience is not directly that the suspension is really great. The direct experience is that the road is really smooth (even though it looks rough).