Works Performance shock rebuild

[glib]

I have a pair of Works Performance shocks that came on my 1100ES. They need to be rebuilt and Works is out of business but Race Tech will do it for $300. Does anyone have experience with these? Are they worth rebuilding? What would be an equivalent shock with a company that is actually in business?

 

[storm 64]

Private Message Chuck78. He knows all about them.

 

[Nessism]

I didn't know Works went out of business. Edit: it seems the owner died. Bummer. RIP


I rebuilt a set a while back and wound up selling them to Salty_Monk (Dan) for his GS1000. One of them was leaking when I got them so I ordered up a rebuild kit from Works and installed them myself. A friend with a nitrogen tank then pressurized them. Doing the job was easy enough assuming you can get the seals you need and the shafts are not damaged. I've got about 80% of a quart of Works shock oil if you are in need.

 

[Guest]

I didn't know Works went out of business. Edit: it seems the owner died. Bummer. RIP
...

Might just be temporary. Forking by Frank almost went under when the owner died but his wife runs the business now.

 

[salty_monk]

They are superior to the Progressive, Ikon/Koni, Hagon and stock shocks I've ridden comparable bikes with..... The ARS system is very clever if you have that added. It serves to completely alter the spring rate rather than adding preload so you get the right rate throughout the stroke when adding a passenger.

Ed - want to take over a Shock company with me? - It seems like the worst thing about Works was QC and customer service if you read up on them.

 

[glib]

I didn't know Works went out of business. Edit: it seems the owner died. Bummer. RIP


I rebuilt a set a while back and wound up selling them to Salty_Monk (Dan) for his GS1000. One of them was leaking when I got them so I ordered up a rebuild kit from Works and installed them myself. A friend with a nitrogen tank then pressurized them. Doing the job was easy enough assuming you can get the seals you need and the shafts are not damaged. I've got about 80% of a quart of Works shock oil if you are in need.

Sad to see a good company go under like that. Do you think the brand oil would be critical? Race Tech won?t sell the seals but I?ve seen them on other sites. Just need to make sure to get the right ones.

 

[glib]

They are superior to the Progressive, Ikon/Koni, Hagon and stock shocks I've ridden comparable bikes with..... The ARS system is very clever if you have that added. It serves to completely alter the spring rate rather than adding preload so you get the right rate throughout the stroke when adding a passenger.

Ed - want to take over a Shock company with me? - It seems like the worst thing about Works was QC and customer service if you read up on them.

Brother, there is so much more to bikes than most people imagine. I am just learning about the suspension. I can tell when it stinks but I don?t think I?ve ever ridden a really well tuned suspension. I?d like to get emulators for the front too and block the anti-dive. The list never seems to end. When I had the works shocks on my bike there was no nitrogen pressure and they were puking oil. I remember going around a few curves and wondering why the rear end felt like it would wash out any moment. Put two and two together after being on the forum for a while.

 

[Guest]

They are superior to the Progressive, Ikon/Koni, Hagon and stock shocks I've ridden comparable bikes with..... The ARS system is very clever if you have that added. It serves to completely alter the spring rate rather than adding preload so you get the right rate throughout the stroke when adding a passenger.

Ed - want to take over a Shock company with me? - It seems like the worst thing about Works was QC and customer service if you read up on them.

A take over + rebranding is doable.
Omars DTR had a good business that went totally south when the owner ran into a number of issues. Looks like Omars Fiberglass Company has sprung out of the ashes & is making a go of it.
http://www.omarsfiberglass.com

 

[Nessism]

Nice pair of Work's shocks here...https://www.ebay.com/itm/Works-perf...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

[glib]

Nice pair of Work's shocks here...https://www.ebay.com/itm/Works-perf...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Those look just like mine. I just bought the rebuild seals. I?ll have to find someone local to add the 250 lbs of nitrogen but I should have a nice set after that.

 

[Carter Turk]

Wow, I had no idea they folded either.
Less than 2 years ago, I had my 13.5" dual street trackers refreshed by them.
It was around $225 for new seals, bushing, rod and recharge.
That did not include renewing coil spring.
Mine were weeping oil as well, after 16 years of daily use.
I also have a remote resevoir mono on the ES, not sure what the model name, definitely better than stock.

 

[glib]

There?s a small local Suzuki shop that's been around forever. I went there this morning to see if they could charge the shocks with nitrogen. $30 for the pair. Took five minutes. I can?t help but think that?s why they?re still small after all these years.

 

[goldbike]

I had Works Performance build me a set of ProRacers for my 78 GS1000 1 inch shorter $$$$. After 3 yrs. one of them lost nitrogen. Called Works on the last day they were in business to have them gone through. A nice guy named Eddie Flores talked to me at length. He told me he did all of Works Performance custom stuff. He said he had purchased ALL of the parts to do any and all rebuilds. I sent him mine,he called me back, told me what they needed and the cost. He sent them back and called me to boot. Perfect! I have been a Works Performance dealer for years. Eddie said he would go through any shock(s) I can send him. Contact him yourself. Eddie Flores, 11676 shelvon st. #2, Sun Valley CA 91352 Phone 818-696-3679 Hopes this helps someone, James

 

[glib]

I had Works Performance build me a set of ProRacers for my 78 GS1000 1 inch shorter $$$$. After 3 yrs. one of them lost nitrogen. Called Works on the last day they were in business to have them gone through. A nice guy named Eddie Flores talked to me at length. He told me he did all of Works Performance custom stuff. He said he had purchased ALL of the parts to do any and all rebuilds. I sent him mine,he called me back, told me what they needed and the cost. He sent them back and called me to boot. Perfect! I have been a Works Performance dealer for years. Eddie said he would go through any shock(s) I can send him. Contact him yourself. Eddie Flores, 11676 shelvon st. #2, Sun Valley CA 91352 Phone 818-696-3679 Hopes this helps someone, James

Excellent resource! Thanks for sharing.

 

[steve murdoch]

Thanks for that info, James.

 

[dorkburger]

I gotta ask... the back end feels like garbage after doing the front?

 

[glib]

Well since you asked, I am not too impressed with my Ohlins shocks right now. They bottom out too easily. The sag is correct but I have no idea about the spring rate or internals. I?m thinking about getting my rebuilt Works shocks charged with Nitrogen and trying them out.

Shifting to the realm of unrealistic expectations, I rode on Saturday with a guy on an Aprilia 1000r and I was left wanting in the corners. Though my front is solid in static testing, I could feel wobble when pushing hard in the corners. I?m not sure if it needs some damping adjustment or it?s my lack of skills or the bikes aged design limitations. But the Aprilia looked like liquid as it disappeared out front. After the ride, he said that while following closely behind me, he thought I did well to get the beast on skinny tires around the corners but could see that it was a battle. So am I expecting too much or is there more work to do?

 

[Big T]

Sounds like the front/rear is out of balance, stiffness wise

Try more spring preload at the rear if they're bottoming out

 

[salty_monk]

Or a heavier spring with less preload to get the right sag would be better or maybe increase the compression damping...

 

[Chuck78]

Eddie Flores, 11676 shelvon st. #2, Sun Valley CA 91352 Phone 818-696-3679

This is great! I might need some tuning parts and rebuild parts for some Works Pro Racer piggybacks that I have on the Rickman/Suzuki CR1100...

Works shocks are fantastic, and Gil Villaincort, the owner, really advanced the sport / industry / etc