Its been a while since posting. Ive since fitted a ktm 640 sm WP forks to the Ten. A massive improvment but it has highlighted the failing rear shock. Massively. I currently run a hyperpro progressive spring on the stock sachs unit and im looking to upgrade the whole lot. I like the progressive spring it suits my needs of touring, towing, and laning Very well.
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I contacted a bike shop that listed all the shocks id been looking at Nitron, hyperopro, wilbers, and hagon. This is the reply i got. Ive read loads of Posts and seem less informed than when i started. Im after a sturdy shock that will stand up too some offroad abuse.

Hi Jon

This is a particularly unusual case, in most circumstances we can supply a replacement shock or shock better than original, but in this circumstance there appears to be a problem where the design is outside of normal design characteristics.
Wilber's produces a shock for this particular bike where there is a 20mm less stroke than the original, because it gives a better on the road ride, but is considered not suitable for anything other than light off road usage, based on the principle of giving a better ride onroad at speed than anything else.
They have no design for dual purpose in this case or off road.

http://www.bits4motorbikes.co.uk/Wil...ml?listID=1712

Hagon have exactly the same issue.
http://www.bits4motorbikes.co.uk/Hag...k.html?ID=1712

The problem is about acceptable quality the original design is not of a standard that either manufacture consider acceptable as an improved or satisfactory product to make with the same specifications.
Both manufacturers work on improving the characteristics of a general ride by sacrificing the characteristics of an off road ability. This of course in general is sensible. But inconvenient given your needs.

The other manufacturers will not respond as easily, but we expect any such response from them to be the same.
In simple terms because of a design limitation of this particular model we are of the opinion that no manufacturer has the design specifications to produce a dual role shock for this bike and no manufacturer that we are aware of offers trails version shock for this bike.

So in an extremely odd turn around the only dual purpose shock available is the original
SHOCK ABSORBER ASSY, REAR
11D-F2210-00
�344.64 + Shipping

which is not necessarily particularly useful, but we have ended up back at the beginning!

I'm sorry to say that there are no other options available with this bike.

So im all confused. I dont reli want to sacrifice suspension travel, my budget is around the �500 mark.
Are there any shocks out there that are the same piston travel as the stock unit. And are suitable for offroad. Ideally i want to keep my progressive spring as its excellent at handling my daily Changing loads. ( picking up a cooker with the trailer at 8pm. Trail riding the day after at 6am)
I was looking mainly at the hyperpro / yacugar unit. Any body got any experience with this shock offroad does it come with same travel as the standard unit, is it robust? or am i looking at loading up my credit card and stump for a full blown nitron race shock.

Does that even have the full travel available?? I understand suspension quality is better than lots of travel. Thats why im asking. Whats your experience.

Thanks in advance.
Jon

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