Suspension upgrades
The upgrade that makes the bike better everywhere, forever. Springs matched to your weight first, then cartridges and a shock when you outride the stock internals. Steering dampers and triple clamps live here too.
The short answer
Start with springs and fresh oil set for your weight ($150–300) — most stock suspension is sprung for a rider lighter than you. Cartridges and a quality shock come when you're on track and out of adjustment range. A setup session is worth more than the next part.
From budget to premium
Where each brand sits on price and reputation — not an endorsement. They're listed because they make parts for this category.
| Brand | Tier | Origin | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| K-Tech | premium | GB | The direct Öhlins challenger — DDS Pro trades blows with the TTX GP for similar money. |
| Nitron | premium | GB | Hand-built British race shocks with a strong club-racing following. |
| Penske | premium | US | US race-shop favorite — built, serviced, and rebuilt in Pennsylvania. |
| Öhlins | premium | SE | The benchmark everything else is priced against; TTX GP shocks and NIX cartridges. |
| Andreani | mid | IT | Italian cartridge kits — the mid-priced path to real fork internals. |
| YSS | budget | TH | Thai-built shocks in the $400–700 band; the budget way off worn stock units. |
The parts riders compare
Typical US street prices. Most of these are model-specific when you check out — verify fitment for your exact year and market before buying.
| Part | Tier | Typical price | Fitment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Öhlins FGRT 200-series complete fork set | premium | $2,970 | model-specific — full fork replacement, race-oriented |
| Öhlins TTX GP rear shock | premium | $1,650 | model-specific — order the spring rate for your weight |
| K-Tech DDS Lite rear shock | premium | $1,400 | model-specific — order the spring rate for your weight |
| Öhlins NIX30 fork cartridge kit | premium | $1,300 | model-specific kit — order springs for your rider weight |
| Penske 8983 double-adjustable shock | premium | $1,300 | model-specific — built to order; strong US race support network |
| GPR V5-S steering stabilizer | premium | $530 | model-specific mount kit — pick your bike's exact part |
| Öhlins steering damper | premium | $490 | model-specific mount kit — pick your bike's exact part |
| Nitron R1 rear shock | mid | $810 | model-specific — built to order with your spring rate |
| Andreani Misano fork cartridge kit | mid | $770 | model-specific kit — order springs for your rider weight |
| K-Tech Razor-R Lite rear shock | mid | $600 | model-specific — strong value for lightweight and middleweight bikes |
| YSS rear shock | budget | $500 | model-specific — the budget path to a sprung-for-you rear end |
| Race Tech Gold Valve kit | budget | $300 | fork-specific — best installed by a suspension tuner |
| HyperPro progressive fork springs | budget | $200 | model-specific — pick your bike's exact part |
| Race Tech fork springs | budget | $150 | model-specific — use the rate calculator for your weight |
Or search “motorcycle fork springs” where you already shop:
Some links may earn Unstocked a commission at no cost to you. Prices shown are typical street prices — always verify fitment and price at the retailer. Model-specific parts (exhausts, rearsets, bodywork) can run 2–3× between bikes — the sheet shows a typical figure.
Read first
- The first motorcycle mods, in order: seven for the street — The first mods most riders make — tail tidy to suspension setup — in the order thousands of threads converged on, with real prices and the steps worth skipping.
- Motorcycle suspension first — springs and sag before power — Before the exhaust, before the tune — why springs and sag set for your actual weight do more than any horsepower mod, and how to buy in at $250 or $2,500.
- Track bike prep: what to upgrade, in what order — The usual track upgrades, in order — tires, brakes, suspension, ergonomics, crash protection, then power — with typical street prices, real failure modes, and what tech inspection actually checks.
Suspension by model
What each bike's page says about suspension: the brands that fit, the year splits and the gotchas, quoted from the 42 bike pages that have a note on it.
Honda CBR600RR
2013+ Big Piston Fork is the better starting point; 2007–2012 conventional cartridge forks take full kits. Shock shopping needs care: Öhlins catalogs multiple TTX variants with different PC40 year windows — mounts are close, spec isn't. Verify the exact fitment window before buying used.
Kawasaki ZX-6R
2013+ SFF-BP fork responds well to springs and oil for your weight before you spend cartridge money. Öhlins and K-Tech both make full kits; 2009–2012 BPF bikes take different internals — don't cross-shop the year ranges.
Suzuki GSX-R600
L1's Big Piston Fork takes springs and revalving well; Öhlins and K-Tech cartridges are the step beyond. The most repeated advice in the paddock: get it sprung for your weight before buying anything gold.
Yamaha R6
Öhlins NIX30 cartridges with a TTX shock is the gold-standard baseline; K-Tech and GP Suspension are the peer alternatives. The budget path — springs and oil for your weight — is still the biggest single improvement per dollar.
Aprilia RSV4
Know your trim: RR/base = manual Sachs/Öhlins by year, RF/Factory = Öhlins mechanical, 2021+ Factory = Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 semi-active. Semi-active still needs rider-weight springs; K-Tech and Öhlins both support the platform.
BMW M1000RR
Mechanical throughout — no DDC to work around. Springs for rider weight first; Öhlins and K-Tech both support the platform and every national-level tuner can service it.
BMW S1000RR
DDC (electronic) vs manual changes every suspension purchase. DDC bikes take DDC-specific springs or a full mechanical conversion; manual bikes take standard Öhlins/K-Tech cartridges and shocks. Spring for rider weight before valving.
Ducati Panigale V4
V4 S runs Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 semi-active (NIX30 to 2021, NPX25/30 pressurized from 2022); the base bike runs Showa/Sachs. Setup for your weight first. Race conversions to mechanical cartridges exist but cost real money — talk to your trackside tuner before ordering.
Honda CBR1000RR
Split by trim, not just year: base SC77 Showa BPF/balance-free vs SP Öhlins S-EC — money goes much further modding a base bike. Spring rates for your weight are step zero regardless of trim.
Kawasaki ZX-10R
2016+ Showa Balance Free hardware is close to race-grade stock — pay a tuner for setup before buying parts. 2011–15 big-piston forks take cartridge kits well; Öhlins TTX and K-Tech DDS anchor the rear-shock upgrade path.
Suzuki GSX-R1000
Base model runs a Showa BPF, the R runs BFF/BFRC — fork parts are not shared between them. Öhlins TTX GP and K-Tech DDS are the shock benchmarks; buy whichever your trackside tuner services.
Suzuki GSX-R750
The L1 BPF responds well to springs and valving; cartridge kits from Öhlins and K-Tech exist because the chassis is shared with the 600. Fork internals differ slightly between 600 and 750 — verify spring rates per model.
Yamaha R1
Öhlins TTX GP and K-Tech DDS are the two names at the sharp end. R1M owners: the electronic Öhlins ERS is its own ecosystem — mechanical cartridge kits don't apply without replacing the whole system.
Aprilia RS 660
Base bikes run a budget KYB fork and a stock shock (Aprilia's 2020–2023 sheets do not name its maker; the 2025 sheet says Kayaba) — spring for your weight first, then K-Tech or Öhlins cartridges and shock for track pace. The 2025 Factory ships Öhlins NIX30/STX46 from the crate.
Ducati Panigale V2
Showa BPF fork and Sachs shock on the standard bike. Get it sprung for your weight before buying hardware; Öhlins NIX30 cartridges plus a TTX36 shock is the established upgrade path, with K-Tech as the challenger brand.
Honda CBR500R
2013–2021 forks are conventional 41 mm units, preload-adjustable from 2016; 2022+ bikes have the SFF-BP, which Honda says is the same setup as the CBR650R. Sportbike Track Gear lists a K-Tech Razor-RR shock for 2013–2018; Honda replaced the shock in 2019.
Honda CBR650R
The fork is an SFF on 2019–2020 bikes and an SFF-BP from 2021, so cartridge kits and springs are year-specific. Öhlins lists an STX46 shock for 2019–2024. Spring for your weight before buying cartridges.
Kawasaki Ninja 650
Non-adjustable 41 mm fork and a preload-only shock. Fit springs and oil for your weight, then a shock: YSS lists a shock and fork parts for Ninja 650 2017–22, and Nitron lists Z650 2017–25 shocks (ask the seller to confirm the Ninja 650).
Suzuki GSX-8R
The 8R's Showa SFF-BP fork is not the 8S's KYB: Öhlins lists a NIX30 Supersport cartridge kit for the 8R and a NIX30 Street kit for the 8S. Öhlins' STX 46 shock lists both bikes; Bitubo lists an EBH cartridge kit for the 8R. Suzuki lists a preload adjuster on the shock only.
Suzuki SV650
Nothing on an SV pays back like suspension. Budget path: straight-rate springs for your weight plus Race Tech Gold Valve emulators up front (~$300 in parts, typical street price) and a used or YSS shock. Race path: the GSX-R600/750 front-end swap — the most documented donor swap in club racing — plus an Öhlins/Nitron/Penske shock.
Triumph Daytona 660
2024–25: non-adjustable SFF-BP fork and a preload-only shock. 2026: the fork adjusts for compression and rebound, the shock stays preload-only. Nitron lists Daytona 660 shocks for 2024–26, and the fork travel is 110 mm against the Trident's 120 mm.
Yamaha R7
Shock first: the stock unit is the single most-replaced R7 part. Öhlins, K-Tech, Penske and JRi all make direct fitments — order sprung for your weight. Fork springs or full cartridges after.
Yamaha R9
Fully adjustable KYB at both ends, high- and low-speed compression included. Set sag and clickers first; Graves lists A- and B-spec rear linkage kits and a rear shock shim kit for racers.
Aprilia Tuono 660
Trim decides everything: 2021–24 base = preload-only shock (upgrade it), 2022–24 Factory = fully adjustable KYB/Sachs (spring it for your weight), 2025+ = Öhlins from the crate. Suspension listings are trim- and year-specific.
Ducati Monster
Base 937: non-adjustable 43 mm fork, preload/rebound shock. First move is springs for your weight; the established ladder is cartridges (Andreani, Öhlins) plus a TTX-class or YSS-class shock by budget. The SP's Öhlins package is the factory's own answer.
Ducati Streetfighter V4
V4 S: Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 semi-active; base: Showa BPF and Sachs. A steering damper is already fitted from the factory — this bike wheelies off cam in third. Setup for rider weight first, mechanical race conversion only for committed track bikes.
Honda CB500F
2013–2021 forks are conventional 41 mm units with preload adjustment from 2016; 2022+ bikes have the SFF-BP, which Honda says is the same setup as the CB650R. The 2019 update changed the shock, so buy by year, not by model.
Honda CB650R
Know your fork: SFF (2019–2020) vs SFF-BP (2021+) take different cartridge kits and springs — K-Tech and Andreani cover both, with distinct SKUs. Nitron and YSS list rear shocks; heavier riders benefit from springs before anything else.
Kawasaki Z650
The known weak point: preload-only shock, soft fork. Springs and oil for your weight run a few hundred dollars and transform it; K-Tech, Nitron and YSS make direct-fit shocks. Anyone over the stock design weight feels the difference immediately.
Kawasaki Z900
The stock shock is the known weak point — under-damped for the weight and pace. Öhlins S46 (the SE's factory unit), K-Tech and Nitron all have direct fitments; fork springs for your weight finish the job. Community-reported: the SE shock retrofits to base bikes — verify linkage specs for your year.
Suzuki GSX-8S
KYB 41 mm inverted fork with 5.1 in travel and a KYB link-type shock with a cam-style preload adjuster (Suzuki, 2023–2024 pages). Öhlins' NIX30 Street kit is the 8S-specific (Kayaba fork) part; don't buy the 8R's Showa kit. Öhlins' STX 46 shock lists both bikes.
Triumph Street Triple 765
Trim decides the plan: R = Showa SFF fork and a basic shock (shock first — Nitron/K-Tech/Öhlins all list it); RS = Showa BPF + Öhlins STX40 (springs and setup, not replacement). Listings are trim-specific.
Triumph Trident 660
SFF (2021–24) or SFF-BP (2025+) fork, neither adjustable, and a preload-only shock until 2026 added rebound. Nitron lists a TVT22 cartridge kit and R1/R3 shocks for 2021–24. Fit springs for your weight first; fork parts are year-specific.
Yamaha MT-07
The single most agreed-on weakness. Fork cartridges from Andreani, K-Tech or Matris, or springs-and-oil on a budget; Öhlins, Nitron and YSS cover shocks from premium to entry. Spring rates for your weight matter more than brand.
Yamaha MT-09
2014–16: underdamped both ends, springs and revalve minimum. 2017–20: improved but still soft. 2021+: decent base, SP adds Öhlins rear. K-Tech, Öhlins and Race Tech cover the upgrade paths; spring for your weight first.
Honda Grom
YSS shocks are the budget classic, Öhlins the premium pick, and minimoto specialists carry fork springs and internals. An adult at speed is far outside the stock suspension's design brief — this matters more than engine work.
KTM 390 Duke
Gen 2's non-adjustable WP APEX fork is the bike's known ceiling. Springs for rider weight, then Andreani-class cartridge kits and a YSS or WP APEX PRO shock — the lightweight-racing crowd has validated all of it.
Kawasaki Ninja 300
Kawasaki lists a 37 mm telescopic fork (4.7 in travel) and a Uni-Trak shock with 5-way preload (5.2 in), the same on Kawasaki's 2014, 2017 and 2026 pages. Öhlins lists a NIX 22 mm cartridge kit with springs and an S36 shock for 2013–2017; Spears lists an Andreani Misano cartridge kit.
Kawasaki Ninja 400 & Ninja 500
The defining upgrade. Stock is soft and underdamped for anyone at pace: springs for your weight first, then cartridges and a shock. The lightweight-race crowd (Spears, Norton Motorsports, Traxxion) has fitments and settings on the shelf; community-reported budget path is a used GSX-R rear shock with the right length and spring.
Kawasaki Z400
Kawasaki fitted springs about 10 percent lighter than the Ninja 400's on the same non-adjustable 41 mm fork and preload-only rear shock. Fit springs for your weight first. Nitron lists the Z400 by name (fork cartridge kit 2019–22, shock 2018–21); Traxxion, YSS and Andreani list the Ninja 400.
Yamaha MT-03
The fork and shock mounts are the 2019+ R3's, with the fork sprung softer for the naked. Fit springs for your weight first, then R3 cartridge internals (Traxxion lists the R3) and a shock. Norton Racing sells the adapter for the Ninja 650R shock swap on the R3.
Yamaha R3
The most repeated advice on the platform: spring it for your weight. K-Tech, Traxxion and Race Tech handle fork internals; Nitron, YSS and Öhlins cover shocks across budget tiers. Premium hardware is optional — correct springs aren't.
Prices are typical US street prices at publish time and drift with sales and supply — verify at the retailer. Fitment is advisory: always confirm the exact part number for your year, generation and market before buying.