While doing maintenance on my R1100GS in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I saw nice series of shocks on the shop's shelf and one of them looked exactly like my rear. Asked about it and it was for my bike - so far I know only very few companies make rear shocks for my bike so this company must have a huge selection of shocks and it turned out they do! The visual building quality of their different shocks was very good, I say on par with famous expensive European makes like WP and Öhlins.

The company was YSS. They are made in Thailand.

Y.S.S. :: World Class Suspension ::

I asked for the price and was amazed. It was less than half of price of the similar Öhlins shock for my bike! Half less than OEM Showa shock as well, while they're completely rebuildable and looking at the price, I reckon their spare/service parts are cheap as chips too - so you can carry the overhaul set (seals) with you.

Although they are capable of building wannabe racing shocks with remote reservoirs, piggybacks and all other fancy gizmos that I saw there on different road racing bikes, the BM selction seems to be very simple line - which, maybe for travellers, is a good cheap option?

I'm usually not very trusty of some cheap Asian products, but that said I've been VERY dissapointed with various world famous expensive shock makers that have blown up way too easily when going gets really tough, even when they're correctly set up for doing it - I thought they were designed to take punishment, but they just aren't and I've spend silly amounts of money on repairs. I don't need Dakar solo racer's type of dampening and traction, piggybacks, and zillion different (including angle-) dampening adjustment screws etc, I just need average dampening shock that is capable of taking punishment on a fully loaded bike and most of all - that it lasts - because I can not repair a blown high pressure emulsion shock in the bush myself. Even my stock simple non-rebuildable shock lasted longer than supposed-to-be high quality rebuildable aftermarket shock. So maybe it's time to try something cheap now and who knows, maybe due to their simplicity, even works longer than "penis-enlargment" fancy coloured shocks from the famous western manufacturers?

Anyways, actually I have absolutely no idea how long lasting they are in real life. But their price tag really stunned me as a rebuildable shock. IF it lasts as long as WP/Öhlins/Wilbers/Technoflex/Hyperpro etc while costs half the price, looks like a good alternative to expensive shocks, especially that we currently have no other cheap alternative in Europe for them.

So the big question mark - does anybody have experience with YSS shocks in hard offroad conditions with a loaded bike?

Anyways, I'm a bit tempted with some big question marks and I'm on the way to Thailand now. Maybe visit their factory and see if the prices there are even lower.

Thanks Margus for that info - Ive long thought that we are being ripped off badly in Europe/N.America for shocks and there should be an easily rebuilt shock available. Ive seen the trouble you had.

Everyone should look at your blog and ride reports - they wont have seen anything like your 'state of the art' stuff anywhere else. The best online.

++++ for the info , its about time to bring some competition to the suspension business, I can't beleive we can have that many problem with schock when in the car business they work way less and are better quality than the one for bike.
Waiting to here your impression Margus after few 1000 miles

Well what we need is some feedback, has anyone else any experiance
of these YSS shocks on a GS ?
I wish to replace both front & rear on my 1100GS




Mr Puffin
XT500 Thumpers Forum UK - Index

Margus did you have any luck with a YSS shock, and if so how would you rate them as regards reliability, handling, quality etc,
regards Mike T.

Hi there

while travelling trough South East Asia in 2008, my travelmate needed an new shock for her Transalp. We bought an YSS in Kuala Lumpur. Unfortunately it was not the right model but we only found out while on route to the North of Thailand. The shock blew the seal and lost all the oil. I did 2 phone calls to the company in Bangkok and had a chat with the boss himself. They were very helpful and after sending the shock by mail from Chiang Mai to Bangkok they called me back and explained that it was the wrong shock for the Transalp. So they asked how much weight we carry on the bike and how heavy the driver is. The built a complete new shock and fitted the proper spring and all for free!! Was sent to us within a few days and off we were. We have ridden some tough roads since then including southern part of Africa.
The shock hasn't showed any weakness and my mate is happy with it.

While near Bangkok we met another traveller on a Triumph and his rear shocks had also died. I gave him the contact of YSS, he called them and made an appointment. Next day he drove to the factory and the made two brandnew shocks from scratch. The price was ok and they were adjustable.

As far as I was informed, YSS had some kind of cooperation with White Power and one of their Engineers was over in Thailand to tell them how things work and how to build them.

I would go for it. They have retailers all over the world. Just check their website. All the bikers up in Chiang Mai drive those YSS and are happy with them. Motorcycle Touring & Maps: Thailand : Laos : Golden Triangle

Greets

Claudio

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I traveled half my trip with a YSS...unbelievably nice shock compared to my stock. The only problem I had was when I initially recieved it.

Considering I had been traveling through parts of the world that was quoting weights in kgs, I accidentally told the YSS dealer(in America) my traveling weight in kgs...and he presumed it was pounds. So I blew out my shock in the first week. The dealer had a replacement unit sent DHL waiting for me in the next big city I was passing through...Ulaan Batur. 50k miles on the second shock and no issues.

Quite a nice unit....that took quite a beating!

Putting on the new shock...

Busted shock...

Replacement shock arrives

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edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com

Likewise when touring SE Asia on my VFR750 I blew my shock and got a YSS replacement via Sunny Cycles in KL.

It did the job but now back home in the UK (after flying the bike back - is that bad for shocks?) mine has failed. Probably overloaded it with girlfirend and our camping kit on our way the UK HUBB.

So does anyone recommend a good suspension guy who could service/rebuild my YSS shock here in the UK?

Paul

Paul Read - View from the saddle

Just found the answer: Kamar Motorsport

Check the YSS Website:

Y.S.S. :: World Class Suspension ::

Claudio

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Hello

Currently in Thailand and doing a search too have my YSS shock rebuilt.
Thought I,d have my original shock replaced as it had 70,000km on it before begining a long ride with a YSS ,
for a BMW R100R, GS size shock.

At 6000km the first oil appeared and now at 15,000km its empty of oil which covered my back wheel in oil.
Been told it,ll take a week to get rebuilt here in Thailand where its made.

Hello

Thought I,d just give the end story of my YSS shock.

After two weeks I got my YSS shock back and back on the road finally again.

It had been sent off too the YSS factory here in Thailand.
It had been built in 2009 and had taken till 2012 to be sold , where by the one year guarantee had expired.
Cost 3500 Bhat or around US$120 to be rebuilt plus another 1000 Bhat too be delivered .

I,ve probably got another 15-20,000km to the end of my trip so will be watching it very closely.

Guess use know my opinion now.

Hi Karter257 (and everyone)

Just wrote a message, but it magically disappeared so if I end up double posting, I'm sorry.

Anyways, I know your post is quite old, but was wondering how you fared with Kamar Motorsport?

We are looking to replace the original shocks of our 2004 BMW F650 GSs with YSS ones in preparation for our RTW (anybody speak now if this is a really bad idea?). We also found HOME and were wondering if anyone knows if either of these (or anyone else) are good/knowledgeable/reliable? It seems YSS suppliers are hard to find in the UK, unless I'm just being stupid?

Thanks
followingtarmac

For 'us' the main problem is repairing them on the road.

To repair a blown seal you need
new seals
oil ... ATF might do the job and should be available most places. While shock oil might be preferable .. the ATF will work until you can get the better stuff.
pressure .. about 120psi ... ok they use nitrogen for this but normal air will do .. and you can get pumps for bicycle suspension forks that will do that ... and they have a gauge!

So the above are the basics for a seal repair to get you moving ... you'll need the tools to do the removal and replacement too. Given the resources of most remote places to repair stuff to keep themselves going I'd think if you have the seals and shock pump an effective repair could be done.

You may have noticed from my earlier post, that we had been considering YSS and we did finally get them from Kamar Motorsport.

We gave them the bike details and how much weight we'd be carrying and they got the shocks built and set up accordingly and sent to us. (Relevant blog post here: Rear Shocks | followingtarmac) We then had our mechanic Dave Wilkins (in London) fit them for us, as we didn't have all the tools.

All was well till one day in Georgia both started leaking fluid. Yes there had been super bumpy roads recently. But we hadn't carried more luggage than we'd said we would and the shocks were supposed to be made for this. What the...?

W couldn't get hold of YSS, but Kamar came up trumps, contacting them for us. And once they'd actually got hold of YSS, they immediately sent two brand new rear suspensions bu superfast DHL at no cost to us. Their only request, would we send the old ones back if at all possible, so they could investigate what had gone wrong and make improvements? (More details in this blog post: YSS Customer Service | followingtarmac)

So I would still recommend them Most people never have problems wih them, far as I could read up, and if the shocks go, YSS are super helpful!

NB though: When fitting the new shocks, use strong steel bolts top and bottom. We had simply used the old, softer stock BMW bolt and it had sheard off. The force's gotta go somewhere... you make the shocks stronger, the bolt is next.

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http://followingtarmac.com/