Ohlin Chinese knock off Shocks

[srsupertrap]

I have seen numerous GS projects with these Chinese RFY shock installed. Anyone on the forum have any experience with these EBay RFY 13" shock absorbers, i.e. are they good or still junk?

The ad shows some Ohlin STX 36 in the background.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RFY-One-Pa...ash=item33dcb97368:g:rYAAAOSwKQ9aKK-D&vxp=mtr

 

[Guest]

I hope some reply with good results. They sure look cool and affordable.

 

[Guest]

I have read that they are not that great of out the box, but do work well after a little bit of attention.
There is a vendor who rebuilds them to take care of the issues, there are some reviews on his site also:
http://chrislivengood.net/wp/rfy-model-3-shock-analysis/
http://chrislivengood.net/wp/product/rfy-shock-rebuild/

 

[Guest]

I have his shocks on a Suzuki GT380 cafe build that I completed last summer. Have only put a few miles on them, but so far they seem fine.
A search for ?chrislivengood? returns around 20 hits. The ones I looked at expressed positive views of his shocks.
I met Chris at the Distinguished Gentleman?s Ride & he does know a good bit about this stuff.

 

[Nessism]

One possible issue I've read about is that there are only a few spring rates available. If they have the right weight for you, and the leverage ratio for your bike's rear end, then it's all good though.

 

[Guest]

One possible issue I've read about is that there are only a few spring rates available. If they have the right weight for you, and the leverage ratio for your bike's rear end, then it's all good though.

I didn?t think of mentioning this.


We originally got the shocks for the GT250 cafe build. The GT250 is considerably lighter than the GT380. Plus the GT250 rider (a friend/mechanic) is considerably lighter than the GT380 rider (me). The shocks were too stiff for the GT250 + rider.


We ended up getting JBS shocks for the GT250 & used the CLMoto shocks on the GT380. Picked JBS shocks that were intended for a small Honda. Haven?t measured saga, but both combos look reasonable.


Chris rode a Yamaha RD cafe at the DGR event. It might be the bike shown for his RD350 shock kit.
http://chrislivengood.net/wp/product-category/shock-kit/



I don?t know why the CLMoto shocks work for Chris?s RD & didn?t work well on the GT250. I talked to Chris about it after we had the GT250 & GT380 builds completed & on the road.

 

[Jonathan]

I have a pair on my XS650 cafe racer. The one so have have a high spring rate even with 0psi air in them, are heavily damped and work well on the cafe racer. If you have a preference for a plush ride rather than a sharp ride they probably won’t be for you.

 

[Guest]

I've heard RFY shocks have been improved by the factory since the chrislivengood fix a few years ago. I run a pair on my 80 gs1100 and they seem fine.

 

[swanny]

I have read that they are not that great of out the box, but do work well after a little bit of attention.
There is a vendor who rebuilds them to take care of the issues, there are some reviews on his site also:
http://chrislivengood.net/wp/rfy-model-3-shock-analysis/
http://chrislivengood.net/wp/product/rfy-shock-rebuild/

I read the reviews and he gives them a 'do not buy' at $130 right out of the box. Yes, he also has a rebuild listed at $80 to $200 plus, so if you figure that in to get a decent shock the price point is anywhere from over $200 to well over $300.

 

[limeex2]

I picked up a set of Bi-Tubo's from Italy on a group buy in a another forum for around $345. Good high quality shock, set up for my weight and rebuildable. Guys on the ZRX forum either run Ohlins or these. Will install this spring

 

[Guest]

We got the CLMoto shocks for the GT250 because the owner is on a budget and wanted the cool look of reservoir shocks. They were $203.
If that?s what you are after then they probably are a reasonable choice.


For the GT550 cafe build we are now working on, I got the somewhat more expensive YSS E302 shocks that were setup for my weight.
For the next-up T500 cafe build, I?m considering the expensive RaceTech G3-S IFP shocks.
These non-reservoir shocks are $350 & $800, respectively. The reservoir counterparts are $450 & $1,400 (ouch).


Seems like Hagons are a popular tight budget choice for non-reservoir shocks. I tried to talk the GT250 owner into them but he wasn?t having it.

 

[srsupertrap]

I read the reviews and he gives them a 'do not buy' at $130 right out of the box. Yes, he also has a rebuild listed at $80 to $200 plus, so if you figure that in to get a decent shock the price point is anywhere from over $200 to well over $300.

I am guessing the RFY shocks with the fake adjustment knob is the Generation 3 he is referring to. Anyway I would steer clear.

You would think an ISO 9001 registered company (RFY) would have work instruction, detailed assembly processes and calibrated equipment to produce a consistent shock absorber. After reading chrislivengood's disassembly comments, that appears not to be the case?

 

[80GS850GBob]

I am guessing the RFY shocks with the fake adjustment knob is the Generation 3 he is referring to. Anyway I would steer clear.

You would think an ISO 9001 registered company (RFY) would have work instruction, detailed assembly processes and calibrated equipment to produce a consistent shock absorber. After reading chrislivengood's disassembly comments, that appears not to be the case?

ISO 9000 certification is just for the manufacturing processes..a workers "if I die" manual as we used to say....most companies keep it pretty light in the reading for ease of passing audits...some places write novels{lol}.

 

[Jonathan]

Cynically, I suspect the critics of these components haven?t any personal experience with them...

 

[salty_monk]

I've used a set. They are ok. As good as a stock shock or a progressive, bit harsh maybe.

I've heard that the "improved" ones are very good. I didn't so much like the quality of the shock eyes etc to be honest but they seemed to last ok. I went Stock, Ikon, Progressive, RFY, Works performance. The Ikons & Works are the best of that list... The works have it if I had to choose and their ARS adjustment is very clever (actually changes spring rate not pre-load - that is independent)
I've ridden GS's with most things fitted incl Ohlins, Marzocchi & Hagons. Not YSS. To be honest at a certain point the shocks don't matter. Most people can't ride past the limitations of the other bits enough to tell the difference.

 

[GRAND ROUGE]

I have a set of RFY Shocks........modified by Chris Livengood...... on my GS 1100E. Said shocks do not have the fake knob on reservoir or the height? adjuster on bottom. I installed the shocks August 3, 2015. Chris machined a perfect set of lower clevis mounts. I think total cost was $240.00 Could not be more pleased. My all up riding weight is as high as 250 when soft saddle bags full and max riding gear worn. Usually closer to 220. Six Thousand and Seventy miles......these shocks are wonderful. 140 or perhaps 123 lb/in springs (have the spec somewhere), 10 wt. Maxima oil. and.....I think.... 50 lbs. Nitrogen (have that spec somewhere too). Pre load set at less than 1/4 inch. After a fair bit of 'playing.'...... Pre load is absolutely something that has to be properly set. Too much (very common) and rebound is really really harsh....on any shock. I have owned my GS since new. Just turned Thirty Nine Thousand miles. Have an NOS set of stockers........for the original look... Have used Hagon, Marzocchi, TEC. These modded RFY shocks are by far the best. Northern California secondary roads are absolute crap. Rough and poorly patched. The damping and rebound are well balanced for my riding style and road conditions. Very very seldom bottom out.....and when they do.....no jarring. My front suspension has Sonic 1.0 springs, Race Tech Gold Emulators, 5/8 spring pre load, 15 wt. Maxima oil level is 5 1/2 inches below fork top. Ride is supple and well controlled at both ends.

 

[glib]

I have a set of RFY Shocks........modified by Chris Livengood...... on my GS 1100E. Said shocks do not have the fake knob on reservoir or the height? adjuster on bottom. I installed the shocks August 3, 2015. Chris machined a perfect set of lower clevis mounts. I think total cost was $240.00 Could not be more pleased. My all up riding weight is as high as 250 when soft saddle bags full and max riding gear worn. Usually closer to 220. Six Thousand and Seventy miles......these shocks are wonderful. 140 or perhaps 123 lb/in springs (have the spec somewhere), 10 wt. Maxima oil. and.....I think.... 50 lbs. Nitrogen (have that spec somewhere too). Pre load set at less than 1/4 inch. After a fair bit of 'playing.'...... Pre load is absolutely something that has to be properly set. Too much (very common) and rebound is really really harsh....on any shock. I have owned my GS since new. Just turned Thirty Nine Thousand miles. Have an NOS set of stockers........for the original look... Have used Hagon, Marzocchi, TEC. These modded RFY shocks are by far the best. Northern California secondary roads are absolute crap. Rough and poorly patched. The damping and rebound are well balanced for my riding style and road conditions. Very very seldom bottom out.....and when they do.....no jarring. My front suspension has Sonic 1.0 springs, Race Tech Gold Emulators, 5/8 spring pre loadView attachment 53643, 15 wt. Maxima oil level is 5 1/2 inches below fork top. Ride is supple and well controlled at both ends.

Looks like your bike was just uncrated! Nice. Where in NorCal are you describing? Are you far from me? My Sonic 1.0s and Race Tech Emulators were just shipped. I have Ohlins in the back. Getting ready for Spring!

 

[Guest]

that is a fine looking 1100 e, sir.

I have a set of RFY Shocks........modified by Chris Livengood...... on my GS 1100E. Said shocks do not have the fake knob on reservoir or the height? adjuster on bottom. I installed the shocks August 3, 2015. Chris machined a perfect set of lower clevis mounts. I think total cost was $240.00 Could not be more pleased. My all up riding weight is as high as 250 when soft saddle bags full and max riding gear worn. Usually closer to 220. Six Thousand and Seventy miles......these shocks are wonderful. 140 or perhaps 123 lb/in springs (have the spec somewhere), 10 wt. Maxima oil. and.....I think.... 50 lbs. Nitrogen (have that spec somewhere too). Pre load set at less than 1/4 inch. After a fair bit of 'playing.'...... Pre load is absolutely something that has to be properly set. Too much (very common) and rebound is really really harsh....on any shock. I have owned my GS since new. Just turned Thirty Nine Thousand miles. Have an NOS set of stockers........for the original look... Have used Hagon, Marzocchi, TEC. These modded RFY shocks are by far the best. Northern California secondary roads are absolute crap. Rough and poorly patched. The damping and rebound are well balanced for my riding style and road conditions. Very very seldom bottom out.....and when they do.....no jarring. My front suspension has Sonic 1.0 springs, Race Tech Gold Emulators, 5/8 spring pre loadView attachment 53643, 15 wt. Maxima oil level is 5 1/2 inches below fork top. Ride is supple and well controlled at both ends.

 

[Guest]

One consideration against the RFY shocks is that they don?t have a lot of travel. That might play into the harshness that salty_monk mentioned.


With a bit of luck this summer I?ll have the GT550 on the road with the YSS shocks. Will be interesting to see how it compares to the GT380 with the CLMoto / modified RFY shocks.

 

[Chuck78]

You get what you pay for. With the Chinese quality o-rings that come in the RFY's, I bet that they will not outlast a $200 pair of Hagons. But you will get more condistention damping due to the reservoir design via Dr. DeCarbon...
The Clevis is the other thing. It was one mentioned above that a set of clevis's were needed to be machine Up by Chris Livengood of CLMototech. Are the RFY clevis mounts only wide enough for the 19mm Honda clevis?

I'm a firm believer of only putting real money into rebuildable shocks, unless you really just don't care or are flipping a bike and don't care what the new owner will think. So these would one-up a cheap $209 Hagon or Progressive from that perspective, but I guarantee the O-rings and wiper seals will wear out faster than a Hagon or Progressive!

YSS E-302 is the shock that I always recommend, because it is rebuildable and just a step up in price from the cheapest Hagon or Progressive, and much better quality.
The YSS C-302 is a step up from that, and is a piggyback, but that is in the mid $400 range.

Now that Works Performance is out of business ( the owner / motorcycle legend Gil
Vallaincourt passed away recently, and the company was run into the ground over the next year ir so without Gil at the helm), I will really have to start looking into the RaceTech stuff. I never liked the look of them, they looked too modern and futuristic for my tastes. Racetech is an incredible company and offers a very wide range of tuning expertise and products, and I feel it is very important to support a company like that. Matt Wiley, one of their head techs there, is a total suspension wizard... as well as the owner/founder and numerous other employees...
the price point of $380 on the RaceTech G3-S IFP really is a good deal, internal floating piston is in reality the equivalent of a piggy back, it just can't handle as much travel unless the shock is really long.







I have a YSS G-362 adjustable rebound piggyback set, and they are absolutely amazing for the price, I believe they sell for $569?





I like the old school eaely 1980's Fox Street Shox for budget builds, also called Fox Gas Shox to those who are more familiar with their Motocross versions. The valving is pretty basic, but they are rebuildable with parts that you can get it any o-ring or seal supplier, and Rusk County Manufacturing reproduces the pistons and shafts. The big perks to those is that they are rebuildable, and they have a schrader valve at the top so you can charge them with nitrogen, which is a significant added bonus for an emulsion shock, keeping them under pressure reduces the shock fade as they heat up and go through bumpy sections, and also the nitrogen does not expand like atmospheric air does, so when the shock gets hot, the damping does not change due to the air cushion expanding.



I have a really nice set of Works Pro Racer piggybacks which are killer...
but primarily I have been collecting '79-'84-ish Fox Factory Shox when I can get them for a reasonable price (they often sell used for $550-900). They have the most advanced valving and piston and jet design of any shock of the era of our bikes, and are what Wes Cooley, Eddie Lawson and a lot of other Pro Racers were running in the early 80s before mono shocks. They are basically on par with $800 ohlins piggybacks of modern days, no external adjustment is the only drawback. But a modern shock like that with external adjustment costs $1,100! Unless you are looking at the $800 YSS or Gazi piggybacks.

Ikon are anot her decent shock, but they are not much more advanced than the vintage Koni's which they are reproductions of, or rather a continuation of. The alloy body versions have threaded preload adjustment, but cost a fortune for a twin tube emulsion shock at nearly $600. The steel body versions are around $400, and worth considering