[mongerrr]

Copied from my build thread. I just wanted to post a quick review of the new YSS fork kit, since I haven't seen any English speakers with the kit so far.

Now that I have the Ohlins rear shocks, I could really feel how crappy the forks were. Not afraid to try something new, so I ordered the new YSS fork upgrade kit for the monkey. From Zeedparts, the kit is 202USD, which is significantly cheaper than the Racingbros and even cheaper than the Ohlins. When you consider that the YSS kit includes fork oil in the kit, you can't beat it for value for money.

You don't get 2 sets of springs like you would in the Ohlins, so you have to order the kit with the appropriate springs for your weight. I got mine with 6N/mm springs, which is the recommended rate for 90-110kg riders. The damping circuit looks very similar to the Ohlins kit. One difference that I did note was that there is no spacer/bushing at the bottom of the fork like there is in the Ohlins kit, so I suspect that the YSS springs are longer and actually the right length for this bike.

It's a night and day difference to the bike once it's installed. No more diving under braking and no more blowing through the stroke when landing jumps. I'd definitely recommend this kit to anyone who doesn't care much for the full adjustability of the RacingBros.

The other thing I did notice during installation was just how dodgy the forks are out of the factory. The issues I found during my disassembly were:

• One fork had damaged/missing chroming under the axle clamp/cap
• One fork had practically no loctite on the axle clamp/cap
• Fork legs had 170mL each of some really runny oil
• The holes used to clamp the fork were not drilled properly, so the fork holding tools couldn't clamp properly
• Stock springs were different lengths between the 2 fork legs. One had an extra winding in length.
• The damper piston rings were both in the rebound position out of the factory, so I had no compression damping leg, and 2 rebound damper legs. All fork kits on the market specify that the piston rings should face one in each direction for compression in one leg and rebound in the other

 

[Grom 2112]

Thank you for for the write up. These look good !

 

[R0B]

Likewise, thanks for the write up..............you've just cost me some cash

 

[Zeep]

Just received a text from DHL, that my adjustable YSS shocks should be here around 11/19.
I may need to consider this, if the weather holds this fall.

 

[GdubluG]

Guys hold off until the ride report. He has just given praise about the install. Someone on Advrider has installed this kit and cannot get the rebound to work properly. I believe he swapped over to Ohlins. For your money, the Ohlins kit is a lot better and it is not even $100 more than the YSS.

 

[mongerrr]

Guys hold off until the ride report. He has just given praise about the install. Someone on Advrider has installed this kit and cannot get the rebound to work properly. I believe he swapped over to Ohlins. For your money, the Ohlins kit is a lot better and it is not even $100 more than the YSS.

Any riding aspects you wanted to hear about in particular? I already mentioned a little in the original post.

I've ridden monkeys with the ohlins (fdk107) and racingbros kits and can honestly say that the yss works well and is up there with the other 2. I'm more of a motor guy than a suspension guru, so the adjustability of the racingbros isn't a big factor for me. If the kit has dampers specifically for the monkey (not shared with the grom), then that works for me.

Do you have a link to the advriders post?

Sent from my Atom_XL using Tapatalk

 

[GdubluG]

I think this is the thread pasted below. It’s a little messy over there but feel free to join in on the monkey ADV fun. I have tried Ohlins on my grom with the soft springs. It was nice a plush but would still bottom out on the big hits. I had Racing Bros on my monkey but was too stiff with the 6.5nmm springs so I swapped to Ohlins. Also the rebound top out on the racing Bros was terrible, made the rebound adjustment worthless. I am more of a suspension guy than motor. I have been messing deep with bike suspension for over 10 years now. All 5 of my motorcycles have upgraded suspension.

Honda Monkey 125 ABS - 2018

I'll be glad to never have to deal with the spinner again! It is a blast. I'm having the itch not being able to ride mine. Wednesday can't get here...

advrider.com

 

[50-50]

I think this is the thread pasted below. It’s a little messy over there but feel free to join in on the monkey ADV fun. I have tried Ohlins on my grom with the soft springs. It was nice a plush but would still bottom out on the big hits. I had Racing Bros on my monkey but was too stiff with the 6.5nmm springs so I swapped to Ohlins. Also the rebound top out on the racing Bros was terrible, made the rebound adjustment worthless. I am more of a suspension guy than motor. I have been messing deep with bike suspension for over 10 years now. All 5 of my motorcycles have upgraded suspension.

Honda Monkey 125 ABS - 2018

I'll be glad to never have to deal with the spinner again! It is a blast. I'm having the itch not being able to ride mine. Wednesday can't get here...

advrider.com

It’s odd that Ohlins, of all companies, didn’t make theirs adjustable. That defeats the purpose of aftermarket suspension IMO.

What do you mean by rebound top out? I am not a suspension guru.

 

[GdubluG]

When the forks rebound out of a hit/compression there is a small top out spring that slows down the force. RacingBros top out spring is way too soft making the top out clunky if rebound is adjusted too fast. The reason Ohlins went with non-adjustable they know what they are doing and are not going to put them on just for looks.

Racing bros compression adjusters are pretty much useless as well because anyone average weight (160-190lbs) is going to be in a situation where the springs are too soft soft or too hard. The soft 5.5Nmm are best suited for riders 150 lbs and the slightly heavier 6.5Nmm are for rider over 200lbs. You going to have the compression turned all the way in with too soft of springs or turned all the way out with too heavy springs.

 

[GdubluG]

Here is a picture of the Racing bros kit. See the small springs in the lower section, the rebound side is too weak.

 

[50-50]

When the forks rebound out of a hit/compression there is a small top out spring that slows down the force. RacingBros top out spring is way too soft making the top out clunky if rebound is adjusted too fast. The reason Ohlins went with non-adjustable they know what they are doing and are not going to put them on just for looks.

Racing bros compression adjusters are pretty much useless as well because anyone average weight (160-190lbs) is going to be in a situation where the springs are too soft soft or too hard. The soft 5.5Nmm are best suited for riders 150 lbs and the slightly heavier 6.5Nmm are for rider over 200lbs. You going to have the compression turned all the way in with too soft of springs or turned all the way out with too heavy springs.

Ok that makes sense. Thank you for the explanation and photo.

Ohlins does know what they’re doing, but there are people out there that are unhappy with them. I see “too stiff” as the most common complaint, but maybe they chose the wrong springs?

 

[GdubluG]

If someone says the Ohlins is too stiff, they either have the wrong springs or wrong oil. Best part about the Ohlins is that it technically comes with 3 different spring rates.

 

[3sexy5u]

I am at the ideal 150lbs for the RacingBros kit, and will say that the the specified oil Wt on the rebound circuit should be heavier, my adjuster is almost dialed in all the way. That would also contribute to top out clunk,

Sometimes people mistake the feeling of being planted as being "stiff". Most stock suspension is under-damped in the name of road-going comfort.

 

[mongerrr]

Sometimes people mistake the feeling of being planted as being "stiff". Most stock suspension is under-damped in the name of road-going comfort.

You're dead right. I thought my new suspension was a bit stiff until I hit the brakes on a bumpy road. Now I know it's just working properly



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[50-50]

If someone says the Ohlins is too stiff, they either have the wrong springs or wrong oil. Best part about the Ohlins is that it technically comes with 3 different spring rates.

The third option by using the soft spring in one leg and the stiff spring in the other?

 

[GdubluG]

The third option by using the soft spring in one leg and the stiff spring in the other?

That is correct. I am currently running that setup with great results. I weigh around 170. Sorry OP for jacking this thread a bit but I feel it is a good opportunity to compare our limited options for this necessary upgrade.

 

[drahzi1]

Will this kit fit a 2022 MSX Grom?

 

[NJ-Brett]

I did the progressive suspension kit on my 2021 Monkey and have no issue with it at all.
Street and dirt are both nice, but I don't do high jumps, just little ones.

You can tune them a bit with oil viscosity and level, and preload on the springs.
Considering the amount of travel, with the Ohlins blackline shocks on the back, its the best suspension I have had on a bike in a long time.

 

[drahzi1]

Will this kit fit a 2022 MSX Grom?

UPDATE:
On Bikerbitz.com I found 2 YSS kits for the 2021 (2022 USA) Grom based on rider weight
they come from the 2018 Monkey, had the Heavier kit (I weigh 190LB)installed as well as the rear YSS G Series Shock
what a difference in Ride and Handling no more bottoming out the rear shock......so well worth the investment.