Featured Tyres (again)

The Street Twin was never intended to be a sports bike but as you've discovered the handling can be massively improved with a decent set of tyres. Most ST owners have by now realised what a mistake Triumph made with those terrible Phantoms and swopping to just about any other tyre is an improvement. I lived with them for a few weeks, thinking the twitching and inability to cope with our crap roads was somehow down to me getting used to a new bike. But it wasn't me. The Continentals on mine have made a significant difference. I'm glad to hear you've seen the light

 

Avon Storms on my ST and any handling issues don't seem to be down to the tyres.

Rear shockers are another story. Previous owner had fitted what looks like TEC units and I couldn't recommend them. At an advertised price under £200 I think that says it all, two up they are rubbish with minimal damping i.e. bottoming out, on certain shape road defects.

 

Yup, TEC shocks are pretty basic and twiddling with the damping adjuster does bugger-all. I still think they're an improvement over the OE shocks but Hagons have got to be better, or YSS.

Went on the bike to the 'Wings and Wheels' show at the old Woodfield airfield in Cheshire today. My wife came with me, her first time as pillion in over 30 years. Being two-up really showed how poor the TEC shocks are. I think it's about time I upgraded

Also bumped into Paul AKA RevPaul, on his Street Cup. Nice to meet you Paul and put a face to a name.

 

Good to meet you too @beerkat, good show wasn't it? Hopefully we'll meet again (did you see what I did there?) somewhere.

Following a puncture my Street Cup's rubbish Pirelli Phantoms were binned for a pair of Avon Road Rider Mk2s, night and day improvement in handling no more white-lining or drifting out in corners. I have Triumph's accessory Fox shocks on my SC; very happy with them as fitted straight out of the box on standard settings. They work well with TEC's progressive springs in the front forks which give a much better ride than Triumph's standard springs. One day I'll experiment with properly setting up the rear shocks but as I say at present I'm very happy with them as they are.

Enjoy your rides.

 

YSS RG units are ordered and I await their arrival as we speak @beerkat

Brook suspension Bradford.

https://www.brooksuspension.co.uk/t...s-rg362-twin-shock-absorbers-16-22#additional

 

Tell me why you chose YSS over the Fox shocks or the less-expensive Hagons. Just curious. I will be very interested to hear how they perform. I would imagine pretty well considering the cost.

 

The YSS is fully rebuildable plus they have rebound AND compression adjustments.
A lot of the shocks in that range have one OR the other not both.

So YSS has;
Compression adjustment
Rebound adjustment
Length can be +/_ 5mm
Preload is infintely variable by ring collar.

Even the Ohlins at this budget doesn't possess both damping adjustments.

@beerkat to answer the Hagon query;
There seems three price points for this application.
£400 ish
£700 ish
And
£1300 ish.

I speculated that the £400 area whilst an improvement over OE may still be lacking for two up use. They may be perfectly fine for solo use so I wouldn't dismiss them entirely but that is not my criteria.

The £700 area is a significant investment, without being silly, in my opinion for what I am after. The wife has really taken to this bike as pillion (she has a full licence) and enjoys it's foibles, but not the suspension ramming the seat up her 4rse so something needed to happen.

At this bikes performance level and intended use frankly £1300 shocks would be a waste in my opinion. Yes great on something more sporty but I want plush rough road handling not race track performance from a 60 hp twin

Hope that helps but your mileage may vary etc. just my opinions for what they are worth.

 

For £700 you could do far worse than the Fox. Made with and for Triumph, great reputation, etc etc (I'm certainly happy with mine).

 

I'm certainly not knocking Fox as they are a company with an excellent reputation.

For me the adjustability of the YSS won it.

 

The Fox units do have both preload and compression adjustment, FWIW.

 

You didn't read my post correctly;
The YSS have both adjustable rebound and compression damping. At this price point I'm not aware of anyone else offering this are you?

They all offer preload adjustment.

 

I understood your post. I was just sharing the adjustment capabilities of the Fox, so readers understand the options available.

 

Not having rebound adjustment is poor, as you can't adjust how quickly the shocks extend after a hit.

 

or restore themselves such as after a mid corner pothole etc.
Rebound makes a big difference if multiple ripples are encountered as if excessive this can lead to a stacking effect thus reducing ground clearance; If insufficient then it will be like a ride on a pogo stick.