X-Town 300 -Shock Absorber Replacement with YSS

[Neil955i]

Well, they're fitted!  Only covered 8 miles so far so review later.

[Neil955i]

Well, they're fitted!  Only covered 8 miles so far so review later.

[Iahawk]

shocks look great..eagerly awaiting a full ride report! (and while we're at it, can we talk a little bit about the dirt I see on your scoot?..my cleaning OCD makes me want to get out the detail spray and microfibers....but..must...resist..)

[Stig / Major Tom]

Well done Neil -! Know you have to be happy.

Hawk is excited with their appearance ...but don't they look just like the stock shock turned end for end?

Nevertheless - they are to improve your ride. So, well done getting them purchased and installed!



Stig

[Neil955i]

shocks look great..eagerly awaiting a full ride report! (and while we're at it, can we talk a little bit about the dirt I see on your scoot?..my cleaning OCD makes me want to get out the detail spray and microfibers....but..must...resist..)

Hawk, I feel your pain, but not enough to get out the bucket & leather!  You can’t keep a bike pristine in the UK if you use it regularly, there’s just too much rain & murk.  It gets a good clean maybe once a month.  Perhaps I’ll send you a photo after the next one 😂  Here's one I did earlier:

PS  See that scrape just below the foot board I tried to cover with a sticker?  Over enthusiastic cornering at a roundabout!

[Neil955i]

See where you’re coming from Stig, USD forks I’m familiar with, but rear shocks?… Went over familiar bumps and potholes yesterday with far less drama so hopes are high.

[Iahawk]

Hawk, I feel your pain, but not enough to get out the bucket & leather!  You can’t keep a bike pristine in the UK if you use it regularly, there’s just too much rain & murk.  It gets a good clean maybe once a month.  Perhaps I’ll send you a photo after the next one 😂  Here's one I did earlier:

PS  See that scrape just below the foot board I tried to cover with a sticker?  Over enthusiastic cornering at a roundabout!

nice - Clean looking scoot! Love the floorboard scrape, too, that means you're out enjoying it!

[Neil955i]

I promised a review of the YSS shocks, so after about 50 miles on them here are my initial thoughts.  Are they better than stock?  Yes, but not by the transformational amount I saw when I did the same upgrade on my Honda PCX 125.  No down side, but I'd describe the improvements as noticeable without being outstanding. 

Have they raised the ride height at the back?  I think yes, but only by a cm or two.  Cornering clearance does seem a little better as I tried hard and failed earlier to scrape the centre stand!

Do they soak up the bumps better.  Yes.  Now this is noticeable as I have tracked down some local well known bumpy roads and rather than losing any more fillings, I am finding the bump absorption to be much kinder on my coccyx!  Seriously the old shocks were bottoming out on these bumps where the YSS are soaking them up.  I'm still to test this aspect 2 up.

Worth the money?  For me, yes as I was beginning to dread long rides on bumpy roads with all the punishment my back was taking.  If you only ever ride silky smooth tarmac (but how many of us have that luxury?), then probably not.

Overall I'm glad I did the upgrade.  Although the improvements are incremental, the way they tackle the rough tarmac has made it worth it for me.

[Stig / Major Tom]

and that is what it's all about!
Better ride over bad roads.
I don't think my pair of shocks on my Kymco are worse than my single Piaggio shock - but the ride, with a much firmer stock seat, on the big wheel Piaggio is so much better over the bad roads than is the passage on the 12" LIKE200i wheels! The Piaggio sounds and feels like it's undergoing much less punishment!

Frankly - I look forward to the Piaggio days, as I continue to alternate rides between the two scooters.
There is just this one section of my route that I cannot avoid - and the LIKE really does not like those 4 blocks!

Out on the open roads - the big wheeled Piaggio feels very motorcycle-like in its tracking & stability. Like you'd be able to take your hands off the bars and steer with your knees while you make a tuna sandwich. I skip lunching on the Kymco.

Stig

[Neil955i]

😂. Like that closing reference Stig.