11-11-2014, 04:25 AM
My Sportster was a great test of stock Showa vs Ohlins and they Ohlins were night and day better, even on that crappy Sportster with the wrong angle swingarm. (Parallel to the ground swingarm). However, I am 160 soaking wet. We are all different weights. No one shock will work for all of us. Many testers were happy with the stock shocks as were the original engineers in Japan, some of whom, in fact, worked for the World Superbike and MotoGP teams. Every speck of the engineering of this motorcycle was looked at by a team of many engineers, young and old. It is a motorcycle to just go out and enjoy a relaxing ride. It's not the CBR1000RR. If you make a super powerful motor, you better spend some serious money on the frame and suspension too. Early KZ1000s were totaled en masse. But for what this bike is intended, it hits the mark dead on. Torque. Relax. Take your time. Stop for lunch. Meet friends.