111R shock absorbers

[halfpenny43]

Hi all

Need to get some new shocks on my 2004 111R.

Car my daily trooper and covers 15k miles a year mostly motorways and a couple of track days a year.

Are Nitrons the way to go or are there other alternatives ?

I'm told that Nitron NTR's drop the car an extra 2mm ? Twice the price of the street versions too - worth it ?

Steven

[Gooby]

Budget?

[GKP]

I'd stick with factory dampers unless you're spending many weekends pounding around racetracks. They're an excellent compromise between everday comfort and track composure. It's almost as if the company who specced them knew what they were doing...

[halfpenny43]

Budget ideally under a grand.

Only do maybe 4 track days a year - mostly touring and commuting on motorways

[MiniDiva]

Well, for about £700 you could have a set of Nitron Street Series - they are their more road focussed shock, that will put up with track days but aren't focussed on that particularly. They are an ideal replacement for the standard Bilsteins, but a bit nicer
The next step up would be the NTR Fast Road shocks, for about £1300 - 1-way adjustable and perfectly capable of 4 track days per year, yet still giving you reasonable road comfort. You can run them at normal ride height or lower if required.

Up to you really, depends how serious you get on your track days

Alternatives are Ohlins, you can pick up the 2-way adjustable Lotus Sport ones with remote resevoir for about £1200 - I'm running them at the moment and pleased with them, but will be changing to Nitron Track Day Pro's soon so there may be a set up for grabs - very little mileage on them! Just waiting for Nitrons to arrive before getting them on for Spa

Edited by MiniDiva on Monday 14th February 19:54

[halfpenny43]

Cheers MiniDiva - let me know what you do.

I was thinking Nitron Street also - but am told they are on a 3 month lead-time.

[stinkysteve]

Albeit mine is a rover engined S2, the Street Series i got for it are single adjustable.

They were more or less the same cost as replacement bilsteins. (circa £600-650?)

I do find them hard on rough roads. (most roads then!)

I need to soften them up for road use, but only doing 20 miles every fortnight to keep her exercised until the weather improves. Once i start my summer thrashes i'll adjust them.

If i was doing 15k per year (even with 4 track days) i'd stick with the OEM Bilsteins.

[halfpenny43]

Cheers all for the replies.

I think that Bilsteins or Nitron Street set to a softer setting will be the way to go.

Just need to try and find a Nitron Street as they don't appear to be on back order with many of the usual Lotus online retailers