REAR SHOCKS - Factory vs Mid-range vs Premium: is Ohlins suspension worth the extra? 

I forgot to mention the weight of the Ohlins: 3.9 kg (8.6 lbs), so still lighter than the factory KYBs, despite the presence of a separate reservoir.

My son bought a Speed twin earlier in the year but within weeks was posted abroad as he's in the forces, so he asked me to look after the bike and take it for a good run now and again to keep the battery charged for him coming home, I'd ridden the bike on short journeys mostly around town but the first time I took it on the same Sunday run I take my Street triple on I discovered the limitations caused by the rear shocks, on a fast long sweeping bend that my street triple revels in the back end started drifting and lacked grip, I found it impossible to remedy the problem with the stock shocks so got our Triumph dealer to order a set of Ohlins which they kindly fitted for free, what a difference, the Ohlins are so plush and give you the grip missing with the stockers, the bike feels perfectly balanced front and rear now and my son's got a nice surprise to come home to.

First time watcher. Really enjoyed the video - sensible, real world overview and I appreciated the balance.

thanks for sharing your experiences and THANK YOU for digging up Raisch - I'm browsing their virtual shelves right now and having a very, very close look on the cartridge kit. 😁

Greeting from Australia, I have over 40 years experience in riding high capacity road bikes, a few accidents but can still walk without a limp. Things I have learned; Buying the best only hurts once. When you pay for it. If buying the best saves you only once, it was worth it (Think sphincter pucker factor around a corner!) Riding around Australia means a lot of hours in the saddle. Your body will thank you for buying the best suspension time after time.

Ohlins all the way for me. I installed a set on my '02 BMW K1200RS and it was the best money ever spent on this bike. I can't stress enough the importance of upgrading OEM suspension on a motorcycle and how it;s the absolute best performance modification one can make on a motorcycle, bar none. Good suspension relieves the "Pucker Factor" when presented with bridge expansion joints, unexpected pot hole and the like, my Ohlins eat these things up and make my bike much safer to ride. With regards to price, cry a little now but smile a lot later.

11 min 30 sec well spent of my life. Thanks, RocketMan, very good content.

Thanks for the sharing I enjoyed your content. Great to clear things up. I was wondering on the yss but I may end up using it as a stepping stone for the ohlins eventually. Might as well get the ohlins straight away for my Honda CB650R. Looking forward to that day

I'll recommend Hagon shocks, been using them for years. They also ask your weight and riding style. You can also choose the colour of the shock/spring. Great video as per usual.

It is exactly the same comparison that I was finding a few months ago. Finally I installed these YSS, Ohlins price vs YSS (373€) price and features, no doubt, my choice was YSS. It is working perfectly. Good video!!

great video mate, i enjoyed it . Also such a great presentation and fair comparison

Very cool video! I was really surprised with the shoutout for Classic Bike Raisch. I live just an hour away from them and they are great with their support and parts catalogue.

Extremely happy with the YSS,on my Speed Twin. Totally transformed the handling,look great,weigh less,and reasonably priced. Great vid 👌

The 15 to 20% improvement is very accurate in my opinion. Another key element of the Ohlins is the quality of parts and assembly. Will the Ohlins need to be replaced in 3 years or less? Likely not. I’ve never seen stock or even most aftermarket shocks that really last over about 3 -4 years. So, if you keep the bike for an extended period, the Ohlins are a very wise investment. Plus, most buyers would recognize them and definitely pay extra for the improvement. Great review of the progression of rear shocks on your bike. Thanks for sharing another upgrade with us. Ride safe my friend and enjoy the Speed Twin!

Thanks Rocketman a very interesting comparison and one I have also often wondered about as well. Good to know and good as always honest opinions thank you.

Ah!! Lovely!! I had ordered the ohlins(the ones that come for the thruxton R) for my speed twin last week from the triumph dealership and apparently it takes a month before they come.. Thank you for this informative video, I finally feel I did spend right.. cheers...

Fascinating video. In my experience upgrading suspension is the best improvement any biker can make. The OEM junk that comes attached to many bikes is dreadful and really needs to go straight in the bin. The first thing I did with my Kawasaki 900rs was get a tailor fitted K-Tech Razor R which completely changed how I felt on the bike and levels of confidence in the bends. I've just changed my bike to a Z900 50th anniversary edition and will be moving the K-tech from one machine to the other.

Great video!! Now I can easily make up my mind which shock I should get for my CB500X. Even though Ohlins made a better suspension, but if it feels better than YSS about 10-15% and cost 3 times of it. I better go with YSS to save money for other upgrades, which it's very important to me because I live in Thailand with very low on salary compared to the world.

I put the ohlins on my bike, omg, what a difference from stock! I have a pillion much of the time, the back always felt “loose”, now it’s rock solid, thanks rocket man!

Trying to not look too long at the website, finding things I never knew I needed. Totally commiserate. Thanks for the comparison of YSS vs Ohlins, was on the fence for something more Bali.

Suspention, the best upgrade to any bike. Ohlins are a great product, as are Maxton, Nitron, Penske and K tech, i have had them all and was never disappointed in any. However the Ohlins has added something visually to your stunning Speed Twin.

I fitted Bitubo reservoir shocks on my T-120. These were a game changer, allowing comfortable travel 2-up on corrugated gravel roads at 80kph. I too had wasted time and money on mid-range units. The Bitubo fork cartridges were good too. This company does hydraulics for everything from motorcycles to ships. The price point for all was the same as just the Ohlins rear shocks. These were set up for weight by the Italian seller too. Huge improvement over the standard KYB gear on the tertiary roads here in Western Australia.

As always thanks for the great review. I plan to do the Ohlins just have not got around to it yet as I have been been puttering with the Multistrada. Based on your vid, this is my next project. I love the fact that you concluded that the Speed Twin is "worth it". Cheers

Hello! Thanks for the review and your opinion on those sets. Have a great day everyone!

For me, Nitron are #1. Their customer service is outstanding. The Ohlins are Great, but the ones that come stock with the Thruxton R are still OEM equipment, meaning they are not as good as an aftermarket option, due to being mass produced to fit a variety of weights/riding styles.

I think that extra comfort over the YSS is due to having the high speed compression damping on the Ohlins. ? Was there a YSS option that you could have gone for that had identical features? That being said I have put an Ohlins shock on my bike in the past and the transformation over stock was heavenly.

Your video and the comments have helped me make up my mind between the FTR/S and the R Carbon as the R Carbon is fitted w Ohlins shock and fork. Thanks!

Nice! thank you so much for this review. looks like I'll have to upgrade my rear shocks

I changed my rear to an Ohlins on a Ducati Monster. It was a huge improvement however it then made the front feel numb and disconnected. My advice is change the forks first or don't bother.

Those Ohlins were certainly highly preloaded for 90kg driver weight (yeah, I live in Germany and so, can also read German). Would be interesting to see you get some Wilbers to see how they get along. That's where I think I might get my upgraded shock from. Still shopping... thanks for this review.

Mate you nailed it on many other facets as well. I've seen the placebo effect with sprockets, chains and exhausts as well. When i meet these customers i know i'm gonna have a good week.

Excellent keep these videos coming

Great addition, enhanced handling and matching the build quality of the bike. Will have to get the fronts done now.

I appreciate your vid. I have a 22 Speed Twin and am trying to figure out which to go with. Probably going to rock the Ohlins. I like your stuff!

Been seriously weighing up getting Ohlins. This illuminating vid put wind in my sails!

This is a nice ad for Ohlins but an even better ad for YSS. Really worth knowing, thank you.

Beautiful Speed Twin! That Ohlins setup definitely looks right on that machine and really pops nicely.

Brilliant RocketMan. Thank you from New Jersey USA.

Good video :)

Hell yeah! I am getting a pair of Ohlins for my stroked/cammed '79 FXE!

Nice video !!

Looking forward to the review of the updated forks.

To Be honest your Bike inspires me. I Love the clean look. ive been watching this vid several times already

Given me more confidence I did good in getting YSS for my V-max trike. Currently just fitting them (upgrading the swingarm mounts).

Interesting review, personally I've only ever replaced the rear damper once on any bike I've owned and that was on a 1997 CBR900RR using an Ohlins which made a huge difference to the way the bike dug in and fired out of corners, took me a while (and I know a bit bout suspension settings from 40+ years of riding) to dial it in to what I wanted, to get faster steering etc, but once done it was like a different bike, fast forward a few years I bought a 2005 GSXR1000K5, I got an Ohlins tech to dial in in the standard suspension to my weight and riding style and what a difference that made, just incredible, like chalk and cheese in confidence in bends and just general riding, so it's not always about spending big bucks it's also about adjusting what you have and getting it done professionally.

Another good video and I think money well spent.

very good review...congrats from portugal

Oh how I wish looking at my lovely red speed twin . Glad you’re a happy boy

Excellant video!

Thanks , I am contemplating upgrading the rear shocks on my speed twin , great timing 👍

Great review and info, thanks. I’m in Thailand and put YSS on my scooter and it feels excellent compared to stock, plus the price was unfairly cheap.

GREAT! Normal guy with normal review. Kudos!

Thanks for share feeling about 2 product.

I have always upgraded the shocks on my bikes as over the years as I have found its the best enhancement to performance, handling and comfort that you can make. The issue you highlight with your front springs is very common when you upgrade the rear shock. It happens because both front and rear shocks should be upgraded together to get the best performance from a quality suspension system.

Thanks for your Honesty... excellent we appreciate your straight talking , as other viewers have suggested Hagons are excellent without dought good enough and a little bit more for real world use , thanks for sharing regards ride safe

Nice review.

Interesting comparison. Ride safe, god bless u.

its all relative i believe if something makes you feel better or gives you a confidence boost then what does it matter,a very interesting video as well thank you

I’ve fitted Ohlins suspension onto a Honda RC30, revalved for the way I like the compression damping and onto a 2003 Z1000. I absolutely agree about what it made the forks feel like on the Kawasaki! The RC30 stock rear shock was a, for the era, top of the line Showa and as you say, the % improvement of the Ohlins wasn’t measurable until on the track where it was more confidence inspiring. As to the forks of the RC30, they were the best forks available of the period. Mine had been modified by Maxton for the IOM TT. I’ve recently completely rebuilt the bike and a friend who rides modern KTM’s couldn’t find anything to complain about regarcing the suspension. I agree with your conclusion however it always means that the forks will need attention!

They look so good. I’m in final stages of buying a twin now, and watching all the cool bits to buy later.

Have to agree. I wouldn't have believed how much difference a shock update makes. Hagon, a UK company made me a shock with remote adjuster, for a 500x, tailored for myself and her ladyship, for £500. Night and day. Not to mention the ease of adjustment. Best upgrade I've ever made. No doubt. Good topic Happy travels 👍

Herzlichen Dank for this great Video. Greets from Germany

I am only a year late to this one, still brilliant, informative and funny, I was just browsing possible rear shock option upgrades for a CF Moto 450MT that might be a garage addition.

I recently fitted a pair of YSS RG362 (with a remote reservoir, similar to the Ohlins in this video) shocks to the rear of my 1994 CB500, and the difference compared to the basic YSS (OEM equivalent) is remarkable. Expensive but the difference in ride quality, support, and control is drastically better. There's also a ton of adjustment of preload, rebound, and compression so I've been able to fine-tune them to my liking. My advice is to go for the best that you can afford.

Excellent vid. I do mainly chassis and suspension work for my friends as a hobby. I'm retired so it keeps me busy. Though I've never fitted Ohlins components I do acknowledge their enviable reputation, though they are pricey. As far as providing different info on order, ie. weight of rider, solo or passenger, touring or sport riding etc...most reputable shock makers will require this info on order. Beyond YSS, there are at least five excellent shock makers to choose from in Europe within the same price range. At least two of which are French companies. Some good indications that your new shocks are of superior quality. They are rebuildable, made of high grade aluminium, they have adjustment for rebound and compression and of course a factory guarantee of two years or better. In general average to fairly skilled sporty riders will be chuffed with mid price range improvement. Beyond that, they may need competition shocks like Öhlins, Nitron etc. Off topic but relevant; rumor has it that the EU party poopers and career nannies in Brussels are pushing to ban the motorcycle accessory industry by making it illegal to modify your bike in any way. No more suspension or exhaust upgrades...even handlebars wil be verboten. Wait and see for now but don't doubt those control freaks in Brussels are capable of this. Thanks Rocketman for your excellent vid.

HyperPro is another manufacturer that I like very much in the mid range prices. I've been using them for many years in the past in all my bikes and had no regrets, they are another option available to taken in consideration. Safe riding mates.

Excellent video. I installed Ohlins on my Yamaha FJR 1300. Absolute day/night difference. I'm no great speed rider but even I could feel the difference. The 'confidence' statement just about sums it up for me. I just 'felt' like I was more 'in control'.

Bonus points for mentioning the placebo effect.

Thoroughly enjoyed this video! Yes, the Ohlins are more expensive, but YOU're worth it !!

Just got the TR924 fitted on my spanking new 2023 SpeedTwin.. and yes, the difference is obvious versus the stock shocks! Also, got the itch now that the front needs to be balanced out.... yeesh!

I fitted some handlebar risers to my speedy, 30mm up and 30 mm back , an improvement for me as I prefer a more upright riding position, which has improved the way the bike handles for me , I’m loving this bike 👍

My friend has Ohlins front and back on his Grom. A week ago, we did endurance race and I have honestly never even noticed or questioned suspension, and wasn't even aware of it. Some may say otherwise, but I would immediately notice if bike was not handling well, so I definitely give full props to Ohlins. Best suspension components there are no doubt.

Dear RocketMan, I did the same upgrade on my 2022 Triumph Speed Twin. I asked the salesman (who I've known for years) to put a set of Triumph Thruxton Ohlins socks on the bike. When he went to source these parts, he found that the TFC Thruxton Ohlins shocks were available and look identical to the ones you put on your bike. I think the pricing is similar to what you paid. And I'm not sorry that I spent the money. The Ohlins rear shocks work well with the stock Marzocchi front fork. That is when your riding just a "little sporty", but like you I would love to have adjustable front forks on this bike, as the roads in my neighborhood are a bit rough and I like to tune the suspension myself to deal with these conditions. I'm sure that there has to be some cartridge kits out there, but I haven't found them yet. Marzocchi may also have an upgrade - not seen by me via Internet searches. I talked to my friend at the Triumph dealership about Thruxton front forks, but they seemed to suggest that this wouldn't work for some reason (different size, or who knows). I have a local suspension wizard, so if I get real serious about getting them upgraded I'm sure he will do it for me. BUT like your upgrade from the YSS to the Ohlins it's likely going to be very pricey for just a little improvement. BTW: Are you going to do a review on the 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901. I was lucky enough to get one of the last ones locally and I absolute "Love the Bike" it's my new "Goldilocks" bike... it's "Just Right" for all my needs... but it won't replace my Triumph Speed Twin, that's a different kind of ride.

In my opinion any aftermarket shock is a winner when it comes to bikes like these, they will always make a huge difference compared to the stock ones even they cost just €300. My advice is that if you are considering to keep the bike forever or for a very long time and have the money, go for Ohlins, if you want a decent upgrade because you are fed up with the shitty stock shocks but you are not planning to keep the bike forever, YSS, Bitubo, Hagon and others all are great.

As you conclude you need matching front and rear suspension, I went for Nitron R3 rear with Nitron TVT inserts on the front, they are so sensitive to adjustment you can feel the difference with each click of the adjusters. Highly recommended.

Nice video... I went with the British made K-Tech Razors and in all black they look awesome and the ride, probably much like your Ohlins, is now fantastic.

Thank you for sharing such an informative insight. My mind wants an ohlins upgrade but my pocket can only afford a yss.

Great article! Here's a question for you: If you have the previous iteration of the Speed Twin (as I do), would you have upgraded the forks first before looking at the shocks?

Yes!!! I have a 2006 GSXR 1000 with Full Ohlins. Insert Cartridges, steering Damper, and the Shock. This bike handles better than any bike I have ridden and I have been riding sport bikes for 10 years.

I upgraded my garbage OEM shock and fork springs/oil on my FJR1300 to HyperPro as they were half the price as the low end Ohlin's shock & springs. Kit came with everything needed for $700, made in Holland and shipped from Netherlands to the USA. Took about a month. Best money I've ever spent on the bike. HyperPro components were all very high quality.

thank you, very helpful. Ive just splashed out £620 on a new set of Fox shocks for my street twin. Previously Id swapped out the originals for a TEC shock, which 3 years later have started to leak. They were only £120 when I purchased them so have upgraded to a mid range shock, so interesting to see you only rate Ohlins top of the range shock 15% above the YSS mid range... About to release my review on my old TECs and when I get them my new FOX shocks. Thanks again.... Enjoyed to Portuguese roads in your review too!

Great Video! I love all your speed twin video’s. You helped me solidify my decision to purchase a 2022 speed twin, which I did June 22nd, yay! Have you changed your tires? Could you do a video on tires, please. I get nervous with racing tires and think I might be more comfortable with more tread and grip, maybe? Also, this is my first bike so I’m not going to track with it, yet! LOL. Thanks again!!!

You started the visious cycle of suspension! Front to rear to front trying to find the best setting to complement eachother. Ill let ya in on a secret 😉 it never ends! Love the content man.

This is an appreciable display of logical thinking. There's always a point of diminishing returns, money-wise, when it comes to upgrading. If money is no problem, you'll like the results of going for the best, but for most of us, the mid-level gives the greatest return on dollars spent.

I installed an Mshock on my bike. The people I bought them from handle many of the name shocks and rate them well above YSS and Hagon that they also sell, and also above some of the more expensive ones. The guy behind them is experienced in shocks for race cars and race bikes, sets them up for the bike, your weight, riding style, etc. He's British, has a co,uk domain, but operates from France so they are actually less expensive in the EU than here.

2019 Speed Twin here. Went K-Tech rear and their Tracker kit front. Lovely “oily” damping… and I can finally use the front brake hard and it’s not trying to send me into a hedge on any UK, “undulations,” lol.

Sound like a very fair assessment of the stock compared to the YSS and Ohlin shocks. I've been reading up on YSS and the consensus appears to be positive when comparing the value in gains against the cost. With the higher end shocks (Nitron, Ohlin and Penske) I think the consensus is you know you're getting the best a shock can offer, but you have to pay for it. For me it's the YSS that offers the best bang for the buck, but I'm also not putting it on a new or newer bike. I think the value of ones bike is also a valid consideration. Buying an Ohlin shock for my bike would equal the cost I spent on the bike😝.

Great video as ever. Did you consider the YSS RG362-390TRCL-22-88? Or was this not compatible with ST12 Gen2?

I’ve been riding bikes since I was 20 in ‘68 and a bike never lost its place in my garage today I got my new entry a Thruxton RS equipped with Ohlins all my best from Italy

Great video... :-)

The stock rear shock on my R nine T starts feeling rather vague at higher speeds but this only happens at speeds that ile loose my license on British roads ,and for obvious reasons I don’t do those kind of speeds very often. I don’t do track days so I’m going for a upgrade with Ohlins but just a price range that will improve handling and comfort but not a racetrack standard that I just don’t require , people often buy a Ferrari standard bit of kit to do a Mini Cooper job and are just wasting their money. 😁🏍🇬🇧

Had great experience with both Öhlins and Kayaba.

Love the review!! When you say at the end blowing the cost of an iPhone 13 promax on a set of springs that puts it all in context! Öhlins Gold all the way!!!

I' am Thai living in Thailand, so YSS is the obvious choice. Yss do have several models to choose from, according to your budget and needs. What sold me on YSS was the fact that I can get factory installation and adjustments at no additional charge. The first set I got for my CBR 650F was from a new dealer whose mechanics didn't know much about installation and adjustments needed. After lengthy installation, my bike didn't feel anything better, and the steering damper was installed crooked. I just about giving up on YSS. Then I got to know a chap who worked at the YSS, and he offered to take care of my Ninja 650. So I took my bike to YSS factory. The result was eye opener. The improvement was so noticeable, I sent in my Ninja 400 for similar treatment. I can get service and needed parts for YSS cheaply, ans conveniently. But most important for me is the installation and adjustment. BTW, I also own a Ducati SuperSport 950 S with Ohlin suspensions. While they are very good, I cannot notice anything out doing my YSS. I ride mainly for pleasure on large gokart track. But I also do touring which takes me to deteriorated roads, and good + durable suspensions is a must.

Great video, thank you. I’m a proud owner of 2021 Speed Twin and looking for an upgrade of the rear shocks. Cheers

Maxton/k-tech do really nice equipment. Used in the TT and BSB can be a cheaper/better alternative to ohlins sometimes and can be set-up well for the road..

My YSS made it 2,000km before they were leaking oil all over the place. Also never got the front shock right, despite 3 way adjustment. Changed to Ohlins, SO worth it.

Great comparison. I really like your vids. Do you or anyone else out there in Rocket world know if the suspension components have a a shelf life? For example, can we expect the expensive Ohlins to perform and last far longer than the originals or YSS options? If the answer is yes, as I'd hope would be the case, any ideas on duration?

Loved the video and commentary! I have found that wiTh sport bikes, things are a lot closer with stock suspension and the Öhlins most people buy or the Öhlins that is supplied on higher end bikes. A Showa BPF fork for example isn’t a million miles away from an Öhlins on say, a Speed Triple RS, and the electronic Ohlins supplied on my R1M isn’t in the same league as the factory race shop Öhlins on my EBR1190RS Carbon Edition. Making decent suspension is relatively easy today as CNC machining is affordable now, and damping calving is a relatively simple mechanical affair. What separates “good” from “great” is the sophistication of the damping in the initial part of the stroke, and how quickly the damping changes direction going from positive to negative travel and back. Just understand that you can get really good performance from something cheaper like the YSS unit, you really aren’t getting “ÖHLINS” unless you spend a boatload of money because Öhlins doesn’t provide their best product at that price point that your shock came in at and most consumers pay..... which makes the case for buying the YSS if you ask me-why pay 3 times as much to not really get the best from Öhlins? I guess they have to stratify their product range...

Great subject! Suspension upgrade normally worth to be considered as a pair, front and back unless it's really poor at one end. Generally you will get a more balanced feel overall when doing so. For everyday use it's more important you get the best bang for the bucks. I would even consider secondhand units to achieve this. Unless it's serving a dedicate purpose like trackday or Motocross, it's cheaper to buy the best suspension as it will provide you with most feel and feedback to maximize your control of the bike, saving indirect cost. Lastly it's worth noting suspensions just like engines, they both have piston so please don't forget to service them every so often