Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > 4 wheels > Light Overland Vehicle Tech
Light Overland Vehicle Tech Tech issues, tips and hints, prepping for travel
Under 3500kg vehicles, e.g. Land Cruiser, Land Rover, Subaru etc.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 5 May 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Posts: 360
Shocks for my 60

Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone has any shock absorber recommendations you could share with me?
I’m expecting the OME springs for my 60 series TLC in the next day or two, but still haven’t decided on which dampers to go for yet.
They’ll have a pretty tough time, but I’d ideally get a set that are up to multiple month long desert trips carrying half a ton in the back at times.
Some preconceptions I’ve had (rightly or wrongly) were that gas is the way to go, Koni Heavy Tracks are as tough as they get & OME have had some bad reports for durability??
Looking at the Koni website, it looks as if they are a more conventional oil shock?
I’m not interested in brand image and certainly don’t want to spend a single penny I don’t have to….so……

Are the Koni’s worth the money? (They are at the absolute upper limit of what I could justify spending)
Any comments on the OME shocks?
Might I be better just getting a new standard OEM Toyota set?
Or anything else I should be looking at?

Any comments gratefully received
Sam
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 6 May 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Northumberland, UK
Posts: 549
Shocking!

Hi Sam,

Well, the Koni's are very good, you'll have to work hard to bust one. On the other hand I've been running OME's for years on a variety of 4x4s and have yet to have one fail. For example my 120 series Land Cruiser has 150,000km (desert and the tarmac to get there) on its first set of OME shocks.

For the money, (Koni's £175 - OME £55 per corner) I'd consider going OME with a couple of spares should the worst happen. After all, it's not a big job to swap them out.

Happy trails,

Jojo
__________________
Atlas Overland - Specialist adventure tour company providing off-road holidays for 4x4 enthusiasts in Europe and North Africa.
Tours to Morocco, Iceland, Arctic Circle, Portugal, Alps, Pyrenees, Eastern Europe, Corsica, and UK weekend tours.

Last edited by Peter Girling; 6 May 2009 at 00:11. Reason: speling
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 6 May 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Posts: 360
Thanks Jojo, just the sort of experiences i was after.
For £175 you must be talking Heavy Track 'Raids' (i def wont be going there!!)
The Koni's i was looking at were about £100 a corner, just 'Heavy Track' not the 'Raid' version.
Glad to hear you've had good experiences with the OME's, i must admit i hadn't got a price on them yet, but if i can pick them up for £50 ish a corner they've got to be a serious contender.

Thanks again
Sam
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 6 May 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Ghana
Posts: 289
yet more shocking

The general consensus seems to be that the 60 series (like the 40s) and OME are very, very well matched. I ran a set on a heavily laden Defender expedition/rainforest 4 wheeling vehicle and had nothing but praise for OME. I am aware they are re-branded Monroes or whatever with different valving but they do tend to work. Like anything there are a few failures which of course get a lot of attention as the overland community exchanges so much info over the web IMHO. Toyota's OEM shocks (Tokico) are also however very good. In almost 14 years of beating up Toyotas in West Africa I have only ever blown one - on a heavily laden 75 being thrashed at the time. IIRC the Old Man Emu and Tokico are both gas charged while the Konis are not. Arguably a twin tube 'normal' oil shock can take stone dents etc better than a mono tube shock. But I wouldn't get worried about that really. For what you describe I would go with the emus or OE - yes the Koni Raids are pricey, but wait until you put them up against Bilstein/Fox or King dampers which are in another league altogether. The one advantage of high priced shocks is that they can be re-built, but to be honest when I once had high end shocks on a road car re-built it cost as much as a cheap normal shock, so you are unlikely to really see any saving there, and as you say you don't want to spend anything you don't have to... And you are unlikely to find a re-building place while overlanding!
When your shocks are taking a real beating and start to fade (i.e. lose their damping ability due to extreme heat buildup) you should back off or stop - otherwise they will fail. At the end of the day a busted shock is not huge issue, I would go OME and stick an old front and rear in a side panel or tied well to a chassis rail.

As I said the matching - be it vehicle or springs is very important. As you are going OME springs I wouldn't hesitate to go the same route with the shocks.

The worst shocks I have come across are the fronts on D22 Nissans - they look like they belong on a VW Polo, and being torsion bar IFS they work HARD - and last about three months here. Of course that is totally irrelevant to a 60 series :-) Any shock that you are fitting must be matched to the travel of your suspension - shock absorbers do not like being used as bump stops or spring travel limiters... Another reason to go with matched OME dampers and springs!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 6 May 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Posts: 360
Thanks Gil, much appreciated
It looks like the OME's are more like £80 each (unless i'm looking in the wrong places) but it definitely sounds like they're a good option.
I agree with your point about matching components, it's got to be a good thing.
I need to get a price for the OEM shocks (a fair bit less that the UK dealer price i hope) and go from there i guess.
At the end of the day, a knackered shock is not going to leave me stranded somewhere, which i suppose is why i'd struggle to justify spending a fortune on them.....but.....i don't want to be replacing them after every trip either!!

Time to sleep on it i think
Thanks guys
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Wilbers Shocks? Ian Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 4 6 May 2009 13:08
Hagon Shocks bodie Equipment Reviews 5 19 Nov 2008 23:59
Hagon Shocks bullit375 Yamaha Tech 8 13 Nov 2008 12:04
XT 600 'AIR shocks?' How much air??? Martynbiker Yamaha Tech 10 24 Nov 2007 13:02
Hot Shocks? POB/London Honda Tech 2 27 Feb 2004 13:53

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:37.