After only 3 years (April 21, 2020 install date) and 12,315 miles, my YSS rear shock from Ted Porters is puking its guts out. Just saw this today after coming back from a ride and doing a clean-up on my bike. I did not see this last weekend. Not happy at all. I ride one-up, lightly loaded and all highway. I don't commute on my bike at all.

I think the warranty is only 2 years, so........... I have sent them an email with the same photos attached here. Let's see what they say.

Wow!  That sucks.  I have one of those on my K100RS that is 4 years old with about 10-12,000 miles. I guess I will have to keep a close eye on it now.  I am very glad I have an almost new Fox Twin Clicker on the shelf for a spare.

I wonder if these shocks can be easily rebuilt.  A seal, some fluid and a gas charge shouldn't cost too much.

Do you ride in dusty sandy conditions?

I have had 2 do it but I had over 50k miles on them so it didnt trouble me. Both were Z series ones and not the budget Y series. The Y series one I have has moved from my RT to my RS and has about 45k miles on it since 2014.

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:I have had 2 do it but I had over 50k miles on them so it didnt trouble me. Both were Z series ones and not the budget Y series. The Y series one I have has moved from my RT to my RS and has about 45k miles on it since 2014.

You've done well. Maybe mine was built on a Monday or a Friday? Isn't that what they say about cars? Don't buy one built on those days.

As you can see, mine is leaking from the top and bottom seals. If I could ride year-round, this would have lasted one year! This is just garbage!

Point-Seven-five wrote:Wow!  That sucks.  I have one of those on my K100RS that is 4 years old with about 10-12,000 miles. I guess I will have to keep a close eye on it now.  I am very glad I have an almost new Fox Twin Clicker on the shelf for a spare.

I wonder if these shocks can be easily rebuilt.  A seal, some fluid and a gas charge shouldn't cost too much.

Do you ride in dusty sandy conditions?

 Yes, it does suck! This is really poor quality as that is not much mileage at all.

They are fully rebuildable according to the Ted Porter site, so I'll have to see if there is a shop locally that can do this work as I don't want to incur any shipping costs which would make it more expensive. If so, I'll get a cost and make a decision from there.

Get in contact with Ted Porter for rebuild instructions.  If you take your time, shock rebuilding is not rocket surgery.  A lot of motocrossers rebuild their shocks a couple times a season.  Beyond the spring compressor to get the spring off, the rebuild uses normal shop tools, mainly a couple wrenches, a screwdriver and some sort of a vise to hold the shock while you work on it. 

The only part you will probably need is a shaft seal which can usually be sourced locally for a few dollars.  You can buy expensive "shock oil", but I have been using regular Automatic Transmission Fluid for about 50 years with no negative effects.  The viscosity is in the ballpark with the oil that is recommended and you can use the damping adjustment to compensate for it.

The big bucks will go into getting the shock charged with nitrogen at almost any competition motorcycle or snowmobile shop.  Shouldn't cost much more than 20 dollars.

As long s the shaft isn't bent, I would go for a rebuild.

Point-Seven-five wrote:Get in contact with Ted Porter for rebuild instructions.  If you take your time, shock rebuilding is not rocket surgery.  A lot of motocrossers rebuild their shocks a couple times a season.  Beyond the spring compressor to get the spring off, the rebuild uses normal shop tools, mainly a couple wrenches, a screwdriver and some sort of a vise to hold the shock while you work on it. 

The only part you will probably need is a shaft seal which can usually be sourced locally for a few dollars.  You can buy expensive "shock oil", but I have been using regular Automatic Transmission Fluid for about 50 years with no negative effects.  The viscosity is in the ballpark with the oil that is recommended and you can use the damping adjustment to compensate for it.

The big bucks will go into getting the shock charged with nitrogen at almost any competition motorcycle or snowmobile shop.  Shouldn't cost much more than 20 dollars.

As long s the shaft isn't bent, I would go for a rebuild.

 
Thanks. As long as I could get a spring compressor and the necessary rebuild parts, I don’t think rebuilding it would be beyond my skills. But I am going to wait until I get a response from Ted Porter. I want to hear what they have to say about the low-use failure of the seals that I have experienced.

I’m still shocked (no pun intended) at how little use I actually got out of my YSS. I don’t ride on gravel roads or in dusty or sandy conditions. Nor do I bounce around town on bad roads.

I don’t see how that shaft would be bent either, but point taken.

I have rebuilt a Works performance and a Fox Twin Clicker using a pair of Tusk spring compressors I got on eBay.  They work pretty well, just remember to put a tiny bit of spline lube on the threads to make them easier to turn.  Mine came with just a light coat of oil on the threads.

Tusk spring compressor

RS Rider wrote:

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:I have had 2 do it but I had over 50k miles on them so it didnt trouble me. Both were Z series ones and not the budget Y series. The Y series one I have has moved from my RT to my RS and has about 45k miles on it since 2014.

You've done well. Maybe mine was built on a Monday or a Friday? Isn't that what they say about cars? Don't buy one built on those days.

As you can see, mine is leaking from the top and bottom seals. If I could ride year-round, this would have lasted one year! This is just garbage!

I wonder is the problem because you dont ride all year round.

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:

RS Rider wrote:

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:I have had 2 do it but I had over 50k miles on them so it didnt trouble me. Both were Z series ones and not the budget Y series. The Y series one I have has moved from my RT to my RS and has about 45k miles on it since 2014.

You've done well. Maybe mine was built on a Monday or a Friday? Isn't that what they say about cars? Don't buy one built on those days.

As you can see, mine is leaking from the top and bottom seals. If I could ride year-round, this would have lasted one year! This is just garbage!

I wonder is the problem because you dont ride all year round.

Hmmm. Failure rate is tied to seasonal, not steady riding? Garage-kept bike all year round. Is the quality really that poor?

RS Rider wrote:Hmmm. Failure rate is tied to seasonal, not steady riding? Garage-kept bike all year round. Is the quality really that poor?

Not the build quality, no. If the bike is unused for long periods then it's possible for the seals to dry out and there you are.

get a old moped inner tube , cut a section out and pull it over the shock , will last for years . i do this to most of mine and fit fork gaiters .

I heard from Ted Porter's BeemerShop. They want $190-$200 USD plus freight to rebuild. Their turnaround is currently 5-6 weeks. That's not cost-effective when taking into account the cost of a new one. They currently don't have any rebuild kits. They take 2-3 weeks and are ordered when the shock goes in the rebuild queue.

I talked with Casey at Ted Porter's. He said that mine didn't see a typical lifespan, but YSS wouldn't honor a warranty because it is 3 years old. He said a rebuild is typically 2 years or 20K miles, whichever comes first. So all you guys and gals out there in excess of that with no problems on your YSS, you are on borrowed time apparently!

I've contacted YSS directly about a rebuild kit and I have sent an email to a local BMW repair shop to see if he has a good, used, stock one laying around for sale to get me back on the road.

For now I have a hanger queen.

made in thailand , say no more 

Check fleabay. I found the stock one for $50 shipped. Working on my other one now.

What do you expect?
Cheap crap is crap anyway.
The only reason to buy these YSS is the money, but the quality challenges the price.
Since a friend had a terrible crash just after he mounted this shit on its bike and the shock broke, and,after a few weeks in coma, remained disabled, I never used any. If one is mounted on a bike I buy, I won't even sell it to replace: I destroy it.
Imha, I won't pay a single cent to rebuild it and will consider some serious stuff instead.

Dai wrote:

RS Rider wrote:Hmmm. Failure rate is tied to seasonal, not steady riding? Garage-kept bike all year round. Is the quality really that poor?

Not the build quality, no. If the bike is unused for long periods then it's possible for the seals to dry out and there you are.

Especially in a warm heated garage with very dry air. My money is on that as being the cause.

Hmmm, I have one on my K100RS and it has been great for going on 5 years. 

I am hard pressed to understand the cost to rebuild.  Maybe they replace a lot more than just the seal.  I have been rebuilding my shocks for almost 50 years and so far, have only once replaced more than the shaft seal.  That was on a Works Performance shock with a bad bladder in the reservoir.

I'm still happy with my custom made YSS. It was ordered from Jax Garage in Melbourne Victoria and built in the Netherlands. It was a custom made shorter shock made to my weight and riding style they asked all the relevant questions. From the date of the order to getting it in Queensland was a total of 6 days. I was informed virtually every day of the build as in we received your order day 1, we are assembling your shock day 2, we have dispatched your shock day 3. I received it on day 6. I fitted it on day 7 and was suitably impressed on its performance straight out of the box. I've never had to change any of the settings which is probably due to all the questions they asked. 
Regards Martin.

with only one shock you need to be sure its a good one , to many fitting cheap shocks and if it fails its not good , you get what you pay for , in the UK we have a lot of springs failing on car suspension ? turns out most are now buying from the same place , china , who have no quality control .  close to me we have a spring manufacturer with only one order , they make the springs for the MOD and have done for over 100 years , nice to see some not going for price over quality

Point-Seven-five wrote:Hmmm, I have one on my K100RS and it has been great for going on 5 years. 

I am hard pressed to understand the cost to rebuild.  Maybe they replace a lot more than just the seal.  I have been rebuilding my shocks for almost 50 years and so far, have only once replaced more than the shaft seal.  That was on a Works Performance shock with a bad bladder in the reservoir.

A new head seal and an oil change was all that was mentioned with respect to the cost they quoted.

MartinW wrote:I'm still happy with my custom made YSS. It was ordered from Jax Garage in Melbourne Victoria and built in the Netherlands. It was a custom made shorter shock made to my weight and riding style they asked all the relevant questions. From the date of the order to getting it in Queensland was a total of 6 days. I was informed virtually every day of the build as in we received your order day 1, we are assembling your shock day 2, we have dispatched your shock day 3. I received it on day 6. I fitted it on day 7 and was suitably impressed on its performance straight out of the box. I've never had to change any of the settings which is probably due to all the questions they asked. 
Regards Martin.

My YSS from Ted Porter's BeemerShop was "custom tuned" for me, too. After ordering the shock, you provide weight and load information, etc, so they set it up for you.

All you guys that are still going strong with your YSS after a few years are fortunate. While Casey at Ted Porter's said mine failed early, YSS won't honor a 2 year warranty on a 3 year old shock.

I did a search on YSS and came across a number of sites discussing them.  One in particular was an adventure rider forum where riders who appear to be doing round the world(RTW) trips discus things. 

Apparently these YSS shocks are widely available in "developing" countries and as a result several of these riders have had experience with them in out of the way corners of the globe.  Even considering that they are not riding on fresh pavement their experiences aren't even as good as yours.  It appears that YSS has a problem keeping oil in their products to put it mildly.

Then, to add insult to injury, despite claiming them to be rebuildable, it looks like YSS will not sell rebuild kits or provide instructions to end users.  As I mentioned, I have been rebuilding my own shocks for many years, and in almost every case the part(s) and oil never cost me more than 10-15 bucks and the time without any special tools was about an hour.  To charge $200 and take 5-6 weeks is ridiculous.  To say that they need to be rebuilt every two years is obscene. 

Rest assured that I will remember this thread the next time I need a shock or fork spring.  I am beginning to think my shock surviving for as long as it did was a fluke.  Maybe it's time to take the Twin Clicker out of storage and find a spot for the reservoir.

I am thinking it might be interesting to send a link to this thread to Ted Porter to see what their response may be.

I continue my search for a replacement. What about IKON out of Australia?

https://www.ikonsuspension.com.au/

They make one for my bike and Euro MotoElectrics has stock. There is a large Aussie rider presence on this forum, so it would be good to hear from you guys and gals.

I used many shocks on various K, here is my advice from the best to the worst

Ohlins is expensive but very, very good stuff. You don't need the full options one with the hydraulic preload, a simple hook does the job and never leaks. Some just offer the rebound hydraulic control, other propose separate rebound and compression control. I have no preference.

Fournales, french air shock. Very light, very comfortable once you find the correct pressure. Preload is easily adjustable by increasing or decreasing the air pressure. Needs a special pump. No more setting is available, and it tends to be missing rebound damping with hich pressures. Easy to rebuild. Cheaper than Ohlins.

WP, previously White Power, was an optional shock for K's. Not available new anymore. It was pretty good stuff also, precisely dedicated to these bikes. If you find a used one, it's OK and easily rebuildable. I think that they only came with the combined rebound&damper control.Hydraulic preload is optional.

Shock Factory: made in France also, the founder, Mike Capon, is a neighbor. He knows his job.
Good products, good quality, but sometimes mistakes in dimension, instantly corrected with a very good customer service. Very stable settings, available with combined or separate setting for rebound and compression.

Wilbers: German made, very similar to Shock Factory.

Hyperpro: Dutch made, very similar to the previous one. Never tested.

OEM shock. Not so bad afterall...for a standard use, with normal payload, it's a good value for money. But not adjustable, only preload. The single damper without spring is still available, very cheap, as a spare part at James Sherlock's for 118£: https://www.james-sherlock.co.uk/shop/k75-k100-k1100-k1200/suspension/rear-suspension/bilstein-damper-detail.
The BOGE Nivomat are very unreliable, don't deserve to mention.

EMC: Don't. Believe me.

Hagon: very good shock to mount on your bike if you're about to sell it. Quickly.

YSS: is it an acronym for You Sell Shit or for Your Shock Sucks?

IKON: I had not-so-good feedbacks about these products, but never used one on a K100.

I hope it will help...

The thread is interesting so far.

Across my Ks I have had a spread of schocks:

Standard.
Koni. [Not Ikon]
RAM
Hagon
YSS Y series
YSS Z series.

Standard one is rubbish. I have had 2 on Ks I bought and they failed.

Koni to this day has by far been the nicest one of all and I want it rebuilt. But being quoted €400 sucks for what you can actually do yourself.

RAM is OK It came on K1100LT.

Hagon is on my new K, still learning it as I have only done about 1500 miles on it.

YSS Y series was a replacement for the standard shock on my RT, it did lots of heavily laden miles on that then I took it off and put it on the 83 RS which came with standard BMW shock. I was going to Kedada and decided not to risk a BMW shock. It has done abouit 25 k miles since then, a lot of it pulling trailer. At this point it is 9 years old and my guess is that it has about 65-70k miles on it. My good friend [ex BMW] who passed away set this one up for me with a word of warning to get the sag and preload right or I would wreck it if too little. 

YSS Z series has seen 2 failures. My K1100LT came with one and it failed, I replaced with with similar and it also failed at just over 2 years. Maybe 30k miles, need to check my records. However it did do lots of towing and pulling trailer.

I know the YSS Y series is by far the cheapest out of the lot of them, at about half the price of the Z series it has outlasted them big time.

My thought a lot of the time is either buy the very best made to last or else buy cheapest and expect to replace. Buying in between is money not well spent.

RS Rider wrote: So all you guys and gals out there in excess of that with no problems on your YSS, you are on borrowed time apparently!
While Casey at Ted Porter's said mine failed early, YSS won't honor a 2 year warranty on a 3 year old shock.

It seems to me that time-past-warranty is a gift, not borrowed, as is life on earth in general. Some companies are more generous with that gift because their products' design and materials are of higher quality, but the cost for the gift of time-past-warranty is greater, as JBT indicates.

Casey could have meant early according to anecdotal lifespan reports. The Law of Averages is a fickle mistress and being on the downside of it sucks, but when a product has a two-year warranty that's all I expect. My YSS El Cheapo model is now starting its third year, so prayer flags or votive candles could be my only choices to extend its life from here on out. I've been pounding it along 15 miles of potholes and ruts to reach pavement and the wider world almost daily during the six-month riding season here. Off season it's stored in an unheated, cement-floored workshop.

I don't  think we should consider ourselves on borrowed time when a warranty expires, but rather that we will be paying from that point forward. Now, if we exceed the manufacturers recommended rebuild time/mileage, then yes, we should consider ourselves on borrowed time.

With regard to rebuilds, Casey did say that the typical industry standard re rear shocks is 2 years or 20K miles, whichever occurs first. Even Ohlins states 2 years/30K km on their site.

I have gotten some very nice shocks on eBay over the years for pretty good prices.  If you can afford to spend a little time watching the listings, you can find some pretty good deals.

I have a Works Performance that cost me $150 on my RT that I put a seal and charge in for about 30 bucks about 20k miles ago.  Thing still looks new.

I also have a Fox Twin clicker for my RS that will replace the YSS that's on it now.  It's my second one, I had another on a different bike and they are really nice with preload, compression and rebound settings.  It's almost brand new and cost me about $200.

Both companies are no longer making shocks for K bikes, but you can still get parts on line.  Performance from both is top of the line in my opinion.  Both companies were very popular with desert racers and motocrossers back in the 80's and 90's when they were making shocks for the K bikes.

Those fancy European shocks are nice, but I have a hard time spending 2/3 of what my bike is worth on a rear shock.