R1 shocks or escort

[Jaspvilla]

Hi i have read articles of people fitting R1 shocks to series 2 lambrettas, i am currently rebuilding a series 1 (very similar) and wanted to keep everything original but dont understand the benefits i may get from a modern shock against the one i removed which seems fine, just needs cleanng up.

What are the benefits from a R1 shock?

Thanks

[paulmgreen]

Adjustability!

[ForemanBob]

With shocks like the R1, you can adjust damping and rebound rates, in addition to the preload on the spring to suit your scooter.

Alternatively bolt on a standard shock, and get what the factory intended.

[victor]

When I still lived in Rome, and had a GTs 250 as daily transport, I fitted front BiTubo shocks, with gas dampening, which greatly improved handling but also comfort and cobble stones became almost unnoticeable whereas earlier I'd been able to feel everyone of them.

Inspired by this I fitted double BiTubo's on the rear end, incredibly expensive, but this unfortunately wasn't noticeable at all. Didn't improve handling nor comfort the slightest.

I finally installed urethane bushings instead of the rubber ones on the rear end, which made a great difference.

However, following this, my suspicion is that for Lambrettas, and Vespas, the rear shocks are of minor importance (should you not be a racer or seriously overweight), since the suspension distance on the rear is even shorter than on a GTs...

The front shocks on the other hand I'd say are where you should invest your money. They are visible too so important to get some good looking ones

[Jaspvilla]

Thanks for the advice, now i have to make a decision, especially on the front end! Cheers

[Muppet]

escort made for Lambretta; r1shock made for big heavy bikes complexed linkage adapted to fit bushed n resprung so they must be right,
muppet

[Doom Patrol]

I've got a nifty fully adjustable shocker on one of my scooters and a standard Escort one on another. I'm not sure there is any appreciable difference to be honest.

[coaster]

escort made for Lambretta; r1shock made for big heavy bikes complexed linkage adapted to fit bushed n resprung so they must be right,
muppet

Fair point but that is just based on assumptions, does anyone KNOW that the the valves in an R1 are unsuitable or is it just ASSUMED that they are wrong. The R1 shock conversion seems to have been the performance choice for several years now but now seems to be questioned (quite rightely in respect of the bushes) because there are a couple of aftermarket shocks available all of which seem to have issues of their own. I would just appreciate some objective and factual opinion on the subject rather than conjecture.

I confess to having only just fitted an R1 shock having had it pointed out to me on the Eurolambretta trip that my rear end was bouncing a lot (I hope it was my scoot he was talking about ). That was with an Escort fitted. I've only done 20 or so miles with the R1 whcih is fitted with a 180lb spring and the difference is amazing and I haven't touched the preload or rebound settings yet.

Informed comments welcome

[mickdale]

i put a r1 shock on my old gp - firmed up the handling but didnt like the hard ride - i tended to feel all the bumps in the road - as i wasnt on a smooth racetrack and wasnt impressing anyone with my cornering round roundabouts i took it off and put the escort one back on - smoother ride and easier on my back

im running a hagon one at the mo but wouldnt be upset if i had to put an escort one back on - thay are also incredibly cheap and tend to last a long time - have been told by a scooter mechanic/tuner that the new ones may not be quite up to the same quality standrds as previous ones......

all this is only personal opinion obviuosly

[Muppet]

http://www.google.co.uk/search?tbm=isch ... ih=268#i=0
http://www.google.co.uk/search?tbm=isch ... h=268#i=11


this will be better on a Lambretta? It's obviously designed internally to suit a resprung rebushed version ? :wtf: