davetom Posted November 28, 2016 Report Share Posted November 28, 2016 As above, for my C15... I've budgeted about £150, not bothered if the Alloy ones are lighter, just wondered what current opinions are.. I've looked back through the archives and there's fans of either, but a lot of the opinions are a few years old so things may be different now? I see a lot of Betors about, but is that because they look a bit sexier or what ? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samwisemcg Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 (edited) It’s worth considering falcons are fully rebuildable by the manufacturer. I know people have managed to rebuild Betors, but I’m not sure of the results. Without wanting to throw a spanner in the works I had the same conundrum a couple of months ago. I needed to replace some worn out Betors on a cub & someone recommended njb experts. They are 115 for the steel bodies and 165 for the alloy. I got myself some steel shocks and so far they’ve been great, no complaints. I know that James Lampkin and Dan Thorpe both used them in the pre 65 SSDT, this year. Edited November 29, 2016 by samwisemcg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantic240motor Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 I bought steel Falcon shocks for my 240 Fantic a couple years ago and they've been fine. The main selling point for me was the fact Falcon could rebuild them if needed. NJB may well be able to offer the same rebuild service but I couldn't find any mention of it on their site. Their "Ultimate" shocks look interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzuki250 Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 I've used a couple of pairs of NJB, and the seem pretty good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davetom Posted November 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 Thanks, I've had NJB Trikshox for the past 5 years and they've served me well, just wondered what the others are like. Of course what I really want is a shock that will turn me into some sort of trials god, instead of the 'making the numbers up' clubman that I am now, but that might be asking a bit much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bezaboy Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 The Falcons are very good and Robin and team are most helpful. Bend a Betor and it is in the bin, Falcon back in a few days rebuilt. They would be top of my list. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon v8 Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 Agree with Bezaboy, the Betors are trash if you bend them and will soon leak if you don't. Falcons are excellent,had them on my HT5,really good. But also consider Rockshocks,they are top notch,and boss Gary Fleckney is always to be found using his products at Miller series events etc.He even tolerates me on my rigid... So we are spoilt for choice really,a good sign for the Classic/Twinshock world. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old trials fanatic Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 I dont disagree with any of the above. Will say i have had Betors on all my bikes and the ones on the James are 5 years old dont leak and i've never bent one yet. Perhaps i'm not trying hard enough ? My question is how much would it cost to have a pair of Falcons or Rockshocks rebuilt if you bent one as i have heard rumours its about the same as buying a new pair of Betors. Just wondered if anyone has had a pair rebuilt and knows the cost ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b40rt Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 (edited) I dont disagree with any of the above. Will say i have had Betors on all my bikes and the ones on the James are 5 years old dont leak and i've never bent one yet. Perhaps i'm not trying hard enough ? My question is how much would it cost to have a pair of Falcons or Rockshocks rebuilt if you bent one as i have heard rumours its about the same as buying a new pair of Betors. Just wondered if anyone has had a pair rebuilt and knows the cost ? Last new damper rod I bought was £15 (RS), and easy to rebuild yourself. From what I've seen you post, you would find it easy to do. Edited November 29, 2016 by b40rt 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon v8 Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 OTF, I can't comment on the cost,cos I sold my HT and now mainly ride a proper bike with no shocks.But, my old TY250 I had ages ago had Betor's and they leaked within about 6 months of me buying the bike.(No receipt) They were new just before I bought it. The pair I have now on my rat TY were given to me looking like new,I only use it for play and looking for dead elm trees in the wood - they now leak. The main point is that you CAN rebuild Falcons or Rockshocks, I am sick to death of c-ap we have to throw away because we can't get bits to repair them.Plus I'd rather support local business now the world is coming to and end with Brexit ! Not a rant,but I like to do business with local folk or those who are there for the long run. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davetom Posted November 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 Thanks lads for all the replies, don't know if it's the beer but I'm falling for the Rockshocks.. being able to rebuild easily is useful, I fall off quite often, and the wife could be persuaded to make up the extra cost with Xmas coming.. decisions,decisions..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleanorbust Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 Can't go wrong with Rockshocks. When I bought mine they made them up to suit my bike and weight. Believe the company is in differtent hands since then but guess they will still do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantic240motor Posted November 30, 2016 Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 Had the same issue with steel Betors leaking a few months after buying them. I had a receipt but the supplier pointed out if I'd damaged the shaft they will leak and they were not obliged to help. I checked and the shafts did have small dinks and scratches. Betor do have a reasonably priced repair kit and I did consider ordering a set and but hardly seemed worth it since I was going to replace with the same quality so could only expect the same life span. £120 wasted! When I spoke to Falcon they said the shafts on steel Betors are too soft. After a couple of years use the shafts on my steel Falcons are still undamaged so I believe Robin was correct and not just feeding me some sales talk. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djr Posted January 1, 2017 Report Share Posted January 1, 2017 (edited) I have had a Pair of Betor rear shocks on an Ossa for 7 years +, {they were already second hand when I got the bike} these have never leaked or bent, there are 2 types of Betor, some can be rebuilt , some cant a friend has Falcons on a moto cross bike and they were always leaking , he has sent them back a few times but they leak again, after getting fed up with this he modified something on the seal holders himself and they haven't leaked since we seem to have had the opposite experience to everyone else ! whatever you end up buying , I think its always best to get shocks that can be rebuilt Edited January 1, 2017 by djr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davetom Posted January 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2017 Went for Rockshocks in the end, all good so far. It was interesting to see how much 'stiction' there was on my 5yr old shocks. When apart, the springs were fine and the damper rod moved easily, but when together I could hardly start go compress them. Once the stiction was overcome,they were OK,say from 1" compressed. No complaints though, 5 years of abuse has to have some effects Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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