Hello,

I joined the XT660Z owner club by buying a 2008 used bike. Suspension need some work, as I was expecting. So i did my homework and checked available options. Lots of them, and no surprise people are always happy when switching from a standard and tired shock to custom setup brand new aftermarket piece

But something is bothering me: ok it will be better, but how much wheel travel will i get after that? The question occured when i saw wilbers website warns "20 mm less travel, not recommand for off road".
Then the cheaper ohlins shock on the OTR website "35 mm less travel".

Ok so i looked for shock travels, either in spec sheets or by asking manufacturer directly, here is what i got:
Ohlins with external reservoir : 94 mm (different websites)
Ohlins without external reservoir: 83mm (found on only one website). Listed at 35mm "less travel than stock" on OTR
TFX: 80 mm (confirmed by manufacturer)
Nitron: 88 mm ((confirmed by manufacturer)

The XTZ service manual says: "shock absorber assembly travel: 95mm", but also "spring stroke: 0-90mm".

Plus TFX told me they had a stock shock in their hands and measured the stroke at... 85mm

So i'm a bit confused: what is really the stock travel? how does shock travel relates to wheel travel (does not seem to be a 1:2 ratio as the 95 mm/200mm may lead to think.. i guess the linkage makes it non linear, so 1:3 ratio near full compression maybe?)