I never really understood the desire for a by-pass shock until I experienced them first hand. I've spent a fair bit of time in US Raptors, and was involved in locally-engineering its little brother as well. The improvement to ride comfort is extraordinary. Even on crappy cart spring rear ends (US one). Try holding two cups of hot coffee and getting the driver to punch up a set of extreme moguls at maximum attack - ask me how I know this... (crested at over 100km/hr, no spills). Now that's the Fox internal by-pass Shocks we are talking specifically there but a quality by-pass is quite comparable irrespective of brand or internal or external. The BP-51s have a ridiculous amount adjustability for for both rebound and jounce, and the 'softness' and compliance in the middle of the shock travel makes the vehicle so much less fatiguing to drive big distances. That, and you still have the ultimate control for big-hits with a progressive stop and no crash-through. And, of course, great body control. Due to cost they really aren't for everyone and either the value equation is there for you or it isn't. Personally I got a heads-up mid year that ARB were developing these for the Defo and immediately cancelled my Koni Raid order to wait for them. The Koni Raids will do the job, day-in and day-out no matter what you throw at them and are industrial quality. Bypass shocks means you get that and a level of comfort and plushness you'd think was impossible to achieve. Plus they have some really nice innovation and engineering in their design (have a look at one in bits or a cut-away) and are entirely Australian engineered and manufactured. Ridiculous price for what it costs to make them, but that's driven by market forces and they are comparable to other products so why not? A couple of years ago if you asked me if I'd throw $2.5k at a set of shocks for the D1 I would have scoffed at you (at best), and yet here I am likely to do just that. I guess I'm saying that you should experience them before writing them off. My 2c.
DiscoClax
'94 D1 3dr Aegean Blue - 300ci stroker RV8, 4HP24 & Compushift, usual bar-work, various APT gear, 235/85 M/Ts, 3deg arms, Detroit lockers, $$$$, etc.
'08 RRS TDV8 Rimini Red - 285/60R18 Falken AT3Ws, Rock slider-steps, APT full under-protection, Mitch Hitch, Tradesman rack, Traxide DBS, Gap IID
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