Best rear shock for race bike

[MARSHnc30]

Hi guys I have a nc30 that is a race bike have had it for 8 years and never even ridden it so The last few weeks have been stripping it down and spending a small fortune on it to return to road racing after 10 years out !! Hopefully will be running in the be see sub64 next year.

I need to replace the rear shock that is standard with just a ohlins spring in but I'm lost as to what race shock I should buy as I have been reading some disappointing reviews on the nitron shock and others raving about a cbr1000rr shock !!

Please help with some ideas thanks, Dan

[richyrd5]

well a good start is a cbr shock,i have one here if you want for cheap money...its a good race conversion with plenty of threads/posts about it on here.obviously the more expensive options will have better action but your not the only one to here about the nitron shocks.seem to be a few,but then again,some rave about them!! cbr shock is a good easy option requiring only minimal modification to the undertray..good luck!

[lukemillar]

The best shock will be the one that comes with the support to build and tailor it to your requirements. Shoe-horning shocks from other bikes is not this.

I personally would't get too hung up on brands. Instead look for a suspension reseller who knows their shit and that you can build a relationship with, especially if you are going to spend the coin on a decent shock

[MARSHnc30]

Thanks guys yea I didn't really want to use a shock that wasn't built specifically for the bike as I don't think it will work as it should do i have spent loads so far so a extra £550 won't hurt . I was on the verge of buying the nitron and then saw the bad reviews on here but I guess that with any shock there will be a split in the people who like it or hate it !!

[richyrd5]

ah,was under the impression as it was a race bike it was going to have the linkage changed so the cbr shock could work properly,certainly not a good idea to just chuck one on and hope for the best!!!so looks like that extra £550 is going to come in handy chap!lol.good luck

[MARSHnc30]

I will be changing the linkage for a rick oliver hrc one but got a bit happy yesterday on the Internet buying things so will have to wait a couple of weeks befor I spend the next 800 odd quid on the shock and linkage lol

[GeeTee]

I'm well happy with my Nitron, which was also supplied b uilt to my specification by Rick

[Neosophist]

I'm well happy with my Nitron, which was also supplied b uilt to my specification by Rick

Another +1 for nitron here.

Best thing you can do is contact some of the people on here that are still racing NC30s and see what they are using.

A lot of people commenting on shock performance might not really be using it to the maximum as a racer would, In this circumstances even a modern bodged in shock will initally feel 100x better than a tired clapped out 30 year old vfr shock, only when they are put through their paces will you find out that they peform crappy.

Since you are restoring a race-bike and aiming to be competitive, find out the above from racers what they are using and get the best you can afford.

Nitron do a range of shocks for budget and needs, but as already been said above, getting whatever shock you have properly set up aftewards will make the biggestdifferent to lap times.

Not sure on your racing ability / budget but if your biek has the later nc30 shockwith the remote reservoir it can be rebuilt by a number of suspension retailers and after an overhaul would probably make the best bolt in budget shock.

if you have the non res 89 shock dont bother with it, its junk compared to the later one.

[MARSHnc30]

Thanks for that guys. I want to spend the money on a good shock I was looking at the nitron and reading about it and to me sounds the business if set right.

When I last raced (back in 2005) I was at the sharp end in 600s doing low 49s around brands that was with a bike that had ohlins rear shock and tweaked front internals so I want this nc to handle as well as that did as I am going to be in the sub64 I need the handling to be spot on and like you say about a bodged in shock I'm not that keen on that idea either.
Thanks for the feedback guys

[marcus57]

I've only used mine for trackdays not racing but I've used both nitron and maxton and to me they both seemed to do the job nicely