shock absorbers - YSS 'Bravo Twin' vs. ECO

Hello - just wondering if any of you guys has tried both of these types of YSS rear shock absorbers. The "Bravo Twin" has less adjustability (is more like the OEM shock absorber), the latter "ECO" kind has threaded (thus finer) adjustment. There is a price difference of some 50 quid iirc.

Or if you'd recommend something else entirely please mention it.

Cheers all

; - )

Cheap as chips tec shocks very good too

Thanks!

I believe the difference from memory is the preload and rebound options on the YSS ones, though I love my TEC ones but with rider only they are a bit hard, I usually have no problems with a topbox fitted but then again I'm only 80kg +-2 / 12 stone 8lb so maybe suited for someone heavier. 

You're always welcome to try mine before you buy

Thanks James - might take you up on that.

Ive never had problem with the tecs but i am good bit heaver than james cb 500's i got a while ago has basic yss rear shock i am not impressed with them... there be tecs goin on when funds allow....( one of previous owner must been a shorty as there quiet a bit lower than tecs on cb 500v...

I like the fact that the TEC website says this of the CB500 1990s onwards shocks - "Correct spring rate, length and bushes eye top and bottom mounts. Also available in all chrome with top cap/cover. Unlike many pattern and universal shocks these are the correct length."

Perversely, though, the price almost puts me off - they're only fifty quid! That's almost too cheap. Hah - and I say this as an honorary Yorkshire man lol. The YSS Bravo Twins are over twice that much - and the more adjustable YSS ECO shocks are three times as dear. And - I might as well just mention it while I'm on the subject - OEM Showas are way over 10 times the price of the TECs (!!).

Also - I am lardy. I am salad-averse. Strictly speaking, the precise location of the keys to the pie cupboard should probably not be revealed to me. I used to be lissom - svelte, even. But (*sob*) - those days are long gone - the era of the 34 waist, the 12 stone frame etc. All history. God only knows what I'm tipping the scales at these days - probably fifteen or more. That's giving up fags for ya! Oh and not giving a f***. ; - )

In mitigation I don't drink much at all. Money saved on beer and ciggies could thus theoretically be put towards some dearer shocks - but then you guys seem to be saying the cheap ones are better!

Quandary alert.

I'm hard to please, suspension-wise. The dream is plush yet firm enough to chuck around tighter, rougher corners - to get to a destination after an hour or so, having given it the beans, berries and business, without dismounting only to feel like you've got acute renal failure and you're going to piss your kidneys out. Oh and also, maybe be able to give the odd two-up jaunt and keep both of us in relative comfort.

In other words, my suspension-requirements are ridiculously demanding for what is (let's be honest!), something of a budget-bike. It's interesting to note, though, that when I ride my two CB500s back to back, despite them both being on OEM Showas, they feel noticeably different. One erring on the too-firm, the other towards the overly saggy and soft. So I think there's scope for quite some variety even within the same spec'd suspension - age, use, mileage etc. all being important factors of course (even if we often can only guess at some of those).

I have those 50 quid shocks there very good i am 15stone have those shocks over 2yrs and no probs.... so does james, if you look up tec shocks on forum u see pic of my tec shocks....

Also running £50 shocks. And most people here know how i ride I'll make you an offer expect a pm later today

trevor machine wrote:I like the fact that the TEC website says this of the CB500 1990s onwards shocks - "Correct spring rate, length and bushes eye top and bottom mounts. Also available in all chrome with top cap/cover. Unlike many pattern and universal shocks these are the correct length."

Can anyone using TEC confirm that?

Tec spec of shocks (these are my measurements with a tape measure and a questionable eye...) 

Eye to eye length is 350mm 
spring length is 209mm 
5 level pre-load adjustment

Jameshambleton wrote:Tec spec of shocks (these are my measurements with a tape measure and a questionable eye...) 

Eye to eye length is 350mm 
spring length is 209mm 
5 level pre-load adjustment

Thanks!

I can't comment on the TEC shocks but I can say that the second-hand (but good nick) Hagons I put on my bike were 'harder' than the original shocks. Not by too much though - I've got used to them now.

As far as your quandary is concerned: given the recommendation from everyone else I'd buy the 50 quid ones - if you don't like them you can probably sell them to someone else on here (or ebay) for 30 quid or so.

Beresford wrote:TEC alloy rebuildable shocks
The damping adjustable ones...
http://shop.tecbikeparts.com/t/tec-shock-absorbers

Right.

• The 50£ ones are out of stock
  
• Can't find the alloy rebuildable ones (I like 'rebuildable')
  
• Can't find the damping adjustable ones
  

You don't happen to have specific links to the latter two?

http://shop.tecbikeparts.com/products/gas-shocks-scrambler

http://shop.tecbikeparts.com/products/adjustable-gas-shocks-scrambler

These are the Triumph versions, the CB ones look the same and are same price. Just ask for whichever version you need. They offer them for lots of twin shock bikes.

Beresford wrote:http://shop.tecbikeparts.com/products/gas-shocks-scrambler
These are the Triumph versions, the CB ones look the same and are same price. Just ask for whichever version you need. They offer them for lots of twin shock bikes.

Perfect - just what I'm looking for. All that's needed now is for them to get in stock:

I bought the YSS Bravo Twin shocks, and fitted them yesterday. It's not a difficult job - although it can be a bit tricky to suss out precisely how much dismantling is required prior to getting the shock absorbers fitted. The answer for me was "not as much as you might think". E.g. you don't need to take the tail section off.

As for the shocks themselves they are quite good (NB I'm guessing I weigh at least 15 stone). The ride is comfortable but the bike is settled when ridden briskly through hard bends on averagely maintained road surfaces. When ridden with a little restraint on poor surfaces the ride is good - the suspension feels forgiving and erring on the plush side for the CB500.

The general sense is one of pliant comfort rather than taut toughness. Which I suppose is what I wanted. These shocks do however err on the soft side - the sensation is often one of slightly underdamped springs which, whilst they provide a pleasant, cushioned ride (and do not really hinder the accuracy of the bike's handling at speed when e.g. tackling a complicated series of bends featuring elevation changes and surface imperfections, etc.), could perhaps benefit from a little more stiffness and strength.

Their worst feature, however, is arguably the fact that at maximum adjustment, the rear wheel is not lifted high enough to make the main stand usable! The spring must be slightly too long when on full adjustment and iirc penultimate adjustment, and means the rear wheel cannot be turned.

Even with more preload added, clearance is markedly less than with the OEM shocks. This may not be a problem for me because I am currently using the springs set on four - like the OEM ones there are five settings.

Not overly happy about that latter point, and am wondering if these YSS shocks may be a very, very slightly too soft.

Quick update - did a brisk 200 miles yesterday (Squires, Layburn, Hawes, Settle, Skipton, etc. etc. etc.) on minor-ish roads and back lanes. These YSS Bravo Twin shocks are absolutely not too hard if you're a medium-to-big fat ass. So then - are they too soft? No I don't think so. How they age will be a big part of the actual answer to that. But at the moment I reckon they soak up the rough stuff whilst also maintaining composure when you're asking the bike to do most of what it can do. Let's see how long they last before they get saggy and bouncy.

Tec, dont seem to have those shocks for cb 500 in stock.. hopefully there stil making them!

When I bought my £50 Tec shocks the website said out of stock. I phoned the guy and he had them in stock and sent them. I think the site may not be updated very regularly but there is a good chance they do actually have some. You can probably also get some additional info on the other models.

To add to what the others said, the £50 Tec ones are a fraction longer than the knackered original shocks I took off the bike. Depending on the road surface, the rear wheel is not always off the ground on the centre stand. It makes no difference to riding and usually if you turn the bars to the left side it lifts the wheel enough to spin it on the centre stand.

I find them to be quite firm. Great for countryside hooning, a little firm for my taste on bad London road commuting but I think my taste is on the overly soft side. Personally, I think they are tremendous for the money.

liverpool_f_ wrote: Depending on the road surface, the rear wheel is not always off the ground on the centre stand. It makes no difference to riding and usually if you turn the bars to the left side it lifts the wheel enough to spin it on the centre stand.

That's worth knowing. Just to add to that, what I found was that if you hold the grab handle and lift the bike slightly, that too can create a fraction more clearance. I don't quite get why this would work - but it's as though the act of momentarily lifting the bike's back end allows the springs to contract slightly (which I know sounds counter-intuitive - you'd think the springs would actually lengthen - so I have no idea what's going on here, but it honestly appears to work!). And they stay that way when you let go of the grab handle, meaning there's a wee bit more of a gap between tyre and ground.

trevor machine wrote:Quick update - did a brisk 200 miles yesterday (Squires, Layburn, Hawes, Settle, Skipton, etc. etc. etc.) on minor-ish roads and back lanes. These YSS Bravo Twin shocks are absolutely not too hard if you're a medium-to-big fat ass. So then - are they too soft? No I don't think so. How they age will be a big part of the actual answer to that. But at the moment I reckon they soak up the rough stuff whilst also maintaining composure when you're asking the bike to do most of what it can do. Let's see how long they last before they get saggy and bouncy.

Hi Trevor!

This post was created a long time ago, but I would like to know if you continue to recommend the YSS Bravo for the CB500. I am tired of buying original shock absorbers on eBay, in many occasions they are useless purchases, since they are worn or useless shock absorbers. 

I have back problems, and it is important to me that the shock absorbers be very soft and flexible on roads that are in poor condition. Weight 80 kg approx.

Thanks !!