Scooterotica

Now that I need to replace my rear shock I like the idea of the adjustable R1 unit sold as an upgrade with bushes and machined down nuts as advertised on eBay.

What's the general feeling regarding these? Any good?

I have one on a bike and it works well (lots of adjustment and smooth with the correct spring) but I like my BGM and Protec shocks better. The R1 is a very heavy shock and really isn't made for the Lambretta engine movement geometry (there are a few that have snapped).

I've had one for a couple of years and really like it. I have also heard about the top mount snapping but so long as you use the Teflon bushes (never use brass ones) and only tighten hand tight you should have no problems but do keep an eye on worn silent blocks, upgrading to the extended ones sold by Andy Francis, Just Lambretta will help stop excessive sideways movement too.

Grumpy225 wrote:I have one on a bike and it works well (lots of adjustment and smooth with the correct spring) but I like my BGM and Protec shocks better. The R1 is a very heavy shock and really isn't made for the Lambretta engine movement geometry (there are a few that have snapped).

Right, just read of a few that have snapped, no good to me that so will probably go for a British made Protech, the BGM ones are for me anyway just to over priced.

I've used nylon bushes and have never snapped one. I get the brass bushes snapping them as there's no give. Lambretta Shock have to flex in all positions. Plenty of brands have failed in the past but I've not had an original Innocenti or older Escort ones go wrong.

The other advantage to the R1 is that it's only 295mm long whereas most others are 300mm or more. That makes a big difference with frame clearance for some of the reed valve manifolds.

Great shock.. I found it worked very well...

however the normal mounting method on a Lambretta means that oil seal for the unit is facing upwards and dirt settles on it and will cause an oil leak and the end of the shock or an expensive rebuild.

They were great in there day when choice was limited I sold lots well over 250 most of mine came via Italy and californa and were in top condition most now are 10 years old as the newer r1 don't fit there should be a date on the explosion sticker on the strut part of the shock ifits been removed ask yourself why
I use an Atomic one which is really a bgm but with a third off or more if your lucky

Right guys, enough of R1 shocks, to many ifs and buts for me can't be arsed with all that crap that surrounds them, snapping, dodgy bushes, different springs, wrong geometry, can only do the nuts up finger tight etc etc...

So I've gone and bought a Protech fully adjustable, designed specifically for the Lambretta and comes with a three year guarantee.

Thanks for your input guys.

Scooterdude wrote: So I've gone and bought a Protech fully adjustable, designed specifically for the Lambretta and comes with a three year guarantee.

Thanks for your input guys.

you won't regret buying the protech, I run one on one of my gp's with an uprated spring from "chiggy" at lambretta upgrades, gonna get another one for my TS1 when it needs a new one