So I have been POURING over rear shocks from 86 to 15, looking at possibly viable contenders for a shock swap for the RC390. Lets face it, the stock street (non-cup) rear shock... is total garbage. The WP shock is a possibility, but it's pricey for something that still isn't exactly reported to be spectacular. The Ohlins is coming down the line, and will be here eventually... but it's gonna be pricey too. So, I found myself wondering: "What's out there that might be a swap candidate, and cheap, off the used market?" TONS of them don't have eyes on both ends, most are completely the wrong length. There came down to about 8 finalist as contenders... The 96-99 CBR 900RR shock got REALLY close, but the bottom eye is 40mm wide, which would require one to mill ~5.5mm off each side. Easy if you've got a milling machine (I've got two) but not everyone else has a full machine shop... so I put that one in my back pocket as a possible option, and kept gong through the list. The very last one on the list tho, looks VERY promising.
I -=THINK=- I've found it! The 99 to 02 Yamaha YZF R6 shock is 310mm long eye to eye, and the eyes are 30mm wide. There's even ride height adjustment of +6/-4mm ride height adjustment. That is Dead Nuts Perfect! There is a nitrogen reservoir, but unfortunatly it's attached.... However, it's horizontal, not vertical, so it LOOKS like it won't interfere with the stock exhaust, and certainly wouldn't with the exhaust I'm designing and planning on releasing next month (likely to very closely coincide with when the PCv comes out for the 390)... but I digress.
There are SCADS of 'em on eBay. I just ordered one off of eBay. $18, free delivery even. This is hitting the target damn near perfect it's looking like. I likely won't know for a week if it will ACTUALLY fit, or how it'll do. There may very well be the fact that it'll fit, but will still be useless because the dampening and spring on there will be just totally wrong. I'm in the Big Boy club at 210#, so the extra spring from the R6 likely will work perfectly for me... and the adjustments on the dampening and preload might very well fall into the usable realms. Or they might not. Either way, it's an $18 gamble, which will potentially save me having to buy a $1400-1600 shock from WP or Ohlins.
The front is still gonna need a complete rebuild, or at the VERY least stronger springs. But, if this sorts out the rear, that's a good step in the right direction. Even better if/when it potentially does it for less than the cost of drinks trying to get the Mrs drunk on Margaritas by picking up a used shock off of eBay.
I -=THINK=- I've found it! The 99 to 02 Yamaha YZF R6 shock is 310mm long eye to eye, and the eyes are 30mm wide. There's even ride height adjustment of +6/-4mm ride height adjustment. That is Dead Nuts Perfect! There is a nitrogen reservoir, but unfortunatly it's attached.... However, it's horizontal, not vertical, so it LOOKS like it won't interfere with the stock exhaust, and certainly wouldn't with the exhaust I'm designing and planning on releasing next month (likely to very closely coincide with when the PCv comes out for the 390)... but I digress.
There are SCADS of 'em on eBay. I just ordered one off of eBay. $18, free delivery even. This is hitting the target damn near perfect it's looking like. I likely won't know for a week if it will ACTUALLY fit, or how it'll do. There may very well be the fact that it'll fit, but will still be useless because the dampening and spring on there will be just totally wrong. I'm in the Big Boy club at 210#, so the extra spring from the R6 likely will work perfectly for me... and the adjustments on the dampening and preload might very well fall into the usable realms. Or they might not. Either way, it's an $18 gamble, which will potentially save me having to buy a $1400-1600 shock from WP or Ohlins.
The front is still gonna need a complete rebuild, or at the VERY least stronger springs. But, if this sorts out the rear, that's a good step in the right direction. Even better if/when it potentially does it for less than the cost of drinks trying to get the Mrs drunk on Margaritas by picking up a used shock off of eBay.
