Motorcycle Shock Absorbers
A shock absorber controls how the suspension moves. Öhlins describes shocks as a buffer between the road surface and the motorcycle, damping the oscillations caused by bumps, uneven surfaces and rider inputs. This page carries shocks from makers including Öhlins and Progressive Suspension: single rear shocks, twin-shock pairs and a few front shocks, each titled with the bike it is listed for.
Single-tube and twin-tube
Öhlins builds its shocks in two systems. STX shocks use a single-tube design, which Öhlins calls a more compact and lightweight package. TTX shocks use a twin-tube design that separates the compression and rebound damping circuits. The Öhlins shock absorbers page carries STX 36, STX 46 and TTX models, including the black-finished STX 36 Blackline. Depending on the model, an Öhlins shock may have an internal reservoir, a piggyback reservoir or a hose-mounted external reservoir.
Progressive Suspension series
The Progressive Suspension shocks here come from its 412, 422, 444, 465, 494 and 944 series, most of them for Harley-Davidson Touring, Softail, Dyna and Sportster models, with others for Honda, Kawasaki and Triumph. Progressive describes the 412 as a double-wall steel body with nitrogen-charged, velocity-sensitive valving and a five-position preload adjuster.
Bikes with twin rear shocks, such as Harley-Davidson Touring models, take two shocks. Check the product page to see whether a listing is a pair or a single shock. Replacement springs are on the shock springs page, and preload spanners and shock pumps are with the suspension tools.
Will it fit my bike?
Every shock on this page is titled with the bike it is listed for. Check the exact model and year on the product page before ordering, as one bike can take different shocks in different years.
Can I adjust these shocks?
That depends on the shock. Öhlins lists preload, compression and rebound damping among the adjustments its shocks can offer, and Progressive Suspension says its 412 series has a five-position preload adjuster. Check the product page for the shock you are looking at.