Reactive Suspension - Shocks

Most standard shocks have a whole catalogue of faults and cannot justify having a single penny spent on them so replacement is the only sensible option.

All Penske shocks are custom built at the factory in the USA to your specific requirements.

Penske Shock Absorbers

Using technology developed in F1 and Indy Car, Penske engineers have designed the ultimate motorcycle shock absorber, we have tested other manufacturers shocks against the Penske and have proven time and again that the Penske is the best shock on the market. The shocks are uniquely available with a number of adjuster and piston options allowing us to specify the best possible shock for your use, they are not a "shock in a box", one shock suits all, as supplied by many companies. They are of a fully CNC machined construction with no cast parts making them both lightweight and strong, they have extremely hard wearing surface finishes for reduced friction and increased oil life.

Typically we supply three models of shock, the 8900E Sport Shock, the 8981 and the 8987, other adjuster options are available should they be required. They are of a "modular" construction and share many common parts, all have an adjustable length bottom mount to allow the optimisation of the rear ride height without removing the shock from the motorcycle, spring preload and rebound adjustment. All our Penske shocks are fitted with a Hypercoils spring as standard, matched to your weight.

The Sport Shock is an emulsion shock for street riders who want a quality replacement shock for road, commuting or touring use.

It is a complete Penske Shock, minus the reservoir, it retains normal spring preload, rebound, and ride height adjustment, and can be upgraded to an 8981 or an 8987 at any time in the future, you don't need to buy a complete replacement shock, just the reservoir.

8983
Based on the ever popular and highly successful 8981, the 8983 provides new dimensions of adjustability and versatility to the racer, trackday riders and road customers. Its modular design means either piggyback or remote reservoir options are available.
The all new compression adjuster features an adjustable parabolic needle bleed bypass with 20 clicks of adjustment giving enhanced linear steps between settings. This latest model sets the standard in double-adjustable shock absorbers in terms of performance, quality, and value.

8987
The 8987 is the ultimate tuning tool for the professional racer, there are separate adjusters for both high and low speed shaft movements. The high speed adjuster controls larger track inconsistencies while the low speed adjuster controls slow shaft movements such as pitching. Unlike many on the market this high speed adjuster actually works, with a very wide range of adjustment.

Penske Upgrades

We have a number of piston and valving options to improve the action of your Penske shock. Whether you have bought an Ebay bargain you want modifying to suit yourself or you want an increase in performance we have a solution to suit your needs.

Penske Lower Preload Adjuster Kit

On bikes with heavily braced swing arms it is often necessary to remove the shock to adjust the preload. This kit fits on to the bottom of the shock which is more accessible allowing the preload to be adjusted with the shock in place.

Penske Twin Shocks

The highest quality twin shocks available on the market today, adjustable for rebound and spring preload and custom built in either silver or black.

Öhlins Shock Absorbers

More than 60 World Championship titles are definitive proof that Öhlins shock absorbers offer outstanding performance and reliability.

Öhlins manufactures more than 300 different shock absorber models. Based on your bike's performance, its price and space available they have designed a shock that suits it.

Hypercoil Springs

All coil springs look similar but there are huge differences not immediately apparent or visible to the naked eye.
Hypercoils are a different product to other springs on the market. They are manufactured from the very best materials to closer tolerances. As Hypercoils have a wider range of wire sizes in stock than other manufacturers they are able to select the exact wire diameter to optimize the spring design.

In addition to multiple inspections, Hypercoils springs undergo an exacting heat treatment and shot peening process to ensure accuracy and the inside diameter of the end coils are bevelled to keep the spring from hanging up on the shoulder of the spring seat. They are more reliable, more accurate, lighter, will not lose free length, and generally offer more deflection than any other spring available.

Load Centralizing Hydraulic Spring Perches

Load Centralizing Hydraulic Spring Perch pic

An inherent characteristic of coil springs is that they produce a lateral, or sideways load as they are unable to distribute their load forces evenly around the face of the end coils when used with fixed position perches. This lateral loading manifests itself as a bending load with the result being highly increased frictional forces within the damper, these extra friction forces result in lowered tire grip levels, and improved tire wear.

The assembly allows the end coils of the spring to tilt (up to 4 degrees) as compressive loads are applied and the hydraulic pressure centralizes the load around the centreline of the shock absorber. The result is that up to 96% of the bending load on the shock absorber is eliminated, with attendant increases in mechanical grip.
Units are currently available in two basic types; add-on’s and full replacement.

The add-on style can be used with any existing shock absorbers just by fitting between the existing spring perch and the spring, whereas the full-replacement style totally replaces the existing perch. Currently, full-replacement perches are available for Penske and Ohlins shock absorbers.

View a video of the perch in use here.

Titanium Springs

Titanium springs are one of a limited number of weight saving opportunities allowed under production class rules.

The properties of titanium allow the spring designer to utilize a larger wire diameter and many fewer coils to provide a spring rate that is equivalent to the steel spring being replaced.

The resulting Titanium spring is both significantly lighter (typically by 40%) and will provide more travel due to having fewer coils.

This gives the titanium springs the characteristic "open spaced coil" look. Additionally titanium is essentially impervious to corrosion so the springs need not be coated.

The lower weight of titanium springs lowers the system mass of the suspension which then generates less inertia. These effects contribute to a more responsive suspension providing maximum tire contact.

Shock Warmer

A dampers purpose is to absorb energy and convert it in to heat. Heat affects damping in a number of ways, oil viscosity changes becoming thinner as the temperature rises, heat also changes the density of the fluid due to expansion, and mechanical tolerances also change with temperature.

Manufacturers incorporate temperature compensation devices into their dampers which are effective at higher temperatures typically above 60°C. However track testing has revealed that it can take anywhere from 4 to 10 laps to reach this temperature dependant upon operating conditions. Shock dyno testing carried out by ourselves and Penske Racing Shocks has revealed that damping force can decrease by 10% during this warm up period. This means that the damper operation at the start of a race will be much stiffer than at the end of the race.

Pre-heated shock absorbers will ensure consistent damping performance throughout a race, improve tyre wear and increase rider confidence.

The warmer simply wraps around the shock body and fastens with Velcro. It will heat the shock to 60°C in 45 minutes, and is fitted with a long loop for quick removal.

It is available in two lengths for coil-over and non coil-over shocks.

Spare Parts/ Shock Conversion

We carry a full range of spare parts to keep your shock working at it's optimum performance level.

If you have bought a Penske shock for a bike that you want to replace it can often be more economical to convert the shock to fit your new bike rather than having to buy a complete new shock.