Product Focus

Rockshocks

I, for one, am very proud of my heritage in goodold Great Britain. We are a proud nation, and it’s always good to see a British company like Rock Shocks carrying the traditional Union Jack emblem. Something else I have in common with its director and chief shock absorber builder, Gary Fleckney, is that we both adore the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!

Aided by his lovely wife, Caroline, who looks after the administration side of this successful company, Gary is a manufacturer of bespoke, fully rebuildable shock absorbers for motorcycles. Very much a part of the trials scene, the company can offer their shock absorber services to a host of other road and off-road based machines. Not just a successful engineer, Gary also believes in what he builds and sells and can be found most weekends putting his products to the ultimate test in off-road competition. Caroline also makes a very good cup of tea that comes highly Article: Trials Media

The sporting heritage of Rock Shocks goes back as far as 1976 with a long history of off-road competition success in all branches of the sport. The first Rock Shocks made their successful debut at the Scottish Six Day Trial, with every rider using Rock Shocks finishing the event. As a result of the lessons learned at the SSDT, Rock Shocks began to dominate trials in the 1980s with much success. Almost every British National Solo and Sidecar Trials Championship including Schoolboy Youth A and B classes held from 1980–1984 was won on Rock Shocks.

A new owner In February 2013, Gary Fleckney took over ownership of Rock Shocks from John Bull. Since then he has expanded the business through the development of new products in all areas of offroad. A very competent engineer himself, Gary has a hydraulic engineering background and has been an enthusiastic competitor since the1970s. His passion for the sport is clear, and he can be seen competing across the UK and Europe while testing and promoting the products he is so passionate about.

When Gary took over the company, he had a good hard look at what the customer wanted, and that was a lightweight premium product at an affordable price. He also knew that to suit the pocket it had to be rebuildable and easy to service. The answer was the new alloy-bodied Rock Shocks which featured 12mm piston rods, improved internal adjustable damping characteristics, hydraulic cushioning and extended top and bottom mounts. To suit a wide variety of applications Rock Shocks are available in lengths between 220mm to 425mm or, for the imperial guys, 8.5” to 16.75” with bushes to suit most models and machines.

Rebuildable An enormous advantage for the rider and his pocket is that Rock Shocks are fully rebuildable. The development of Rock Shocks is based on their own testing of the shocks alongside the importance of listening to their customers and their requirements. This is how the progression of the move to the larger-bodied shock absorber came about when some of the harder-charging riders on larger machines in motocross such as Tribsa, Metisse, Cheney and CCMs requested consistent damping for the more modern tracks and longer races that we now find in the ever-expanding calendar.

Another more recent move, due to growing requests to Rock Shocks from its ever-growing customer database, is the option to offer anodising in various colours to the aluminium components and the addition of an option for chrome or black springs. Even in the classic scene the riders still want to give their machines an individual look.

In addition to all this expansion with the product range and what it can offer, Rock Shocks have moved into the mono-shock or single shock market. Starting first with the aircooled machines, after an exhausting test period between 2015 and 2016, they felt that the time and the product was right — and how correct were they! The first mono-shocks using the Rock Shocks products had instant success in the air-cooled mono-shock championships, proving that they had got the product to the standard expected for the customer. Expanding the range Customer demand usually answers questions and Gary had been looking at developing front fork springs for a while. In 2017, he launched the new range as an addition to the Rock Shocks shock absorbers for a wide variety of applications. These were an instant hit and further endorsed the quality of their range of suspension products. “Fitted at the back — then why not at the front” was Gary’s thoughts on Rock Shocks, and how right he was.

Rock Shocks are now being used around the world from Australia to the USA on machines from AJS to Yamaha, in all forms of competition with success in all areas. As time has gone on, the products have expanded into classic scrambles, enduros, road, road racing and in fact even trials cars, quads, sidecars and aeroplanes; yes, the list is endless! Off the back of all this, Gary is also quite happy to undertake commissions for specials projects. The future Always proud to promote the winning products, Caroline has introduced a wide range of Rock Shocks merchandise offering riding jackets, polo shirts and sweatshirts, all of which can be personalised, as well as various styles of hats, mugs and other useful rider accessories.

Rock Shocks have been proud sponsors of the Northern British Bike Championships for the last two years and have also supported individual riders with products.

Gary Fleckney: “We not only test the products ourselves by riding in trials and scrambles but also involve some top-quality riders in the development of new products. It is an essential part of the ongoing development of products, which is essential for the future of the brand. Rider feedback can sometimes be the start of a new project as we listen to them and take on board their thoughts and ideas. We at Rock Shocks compete ourselves across Europe in trials and scrambles. We always carry spares and welcome the opportunity to speak to customers new, old, and those who just want to talk about motorcycles. I would like to thank everyone who has been a part of this adventure and for their part in making Rock Shocks a proud part of Great Britain and the Union Jack”.

From mono machines to Pre-65 ones, Rock Shocks have it all covered with their range of shock absorbers. In addition to all this expansion with the product range and what it can offer, Rock Shocks have moved into the mono-shock or single-shock market, starting with this replacement for the Yamaha Mono-Shock model.

A regular at the Telford Classic Show, Gary welcomes the opportunity to speak to customers new, old, and those who just want to talk about motorcycles.

Behind every successful man is a very supportive, strong woman. Gary’s wife Caroline introduced a range of casual products to further endorse the Rock Shocks brand.

Gary prides himself on attention to detail on every product that passes through his hands.

Another more recent move due to growing requests to Rock Shocks from its ever-growing customer database is the option to offer anodising in various colours to the aluminium components.

Proving that motorcyclists are the strangest of people, Gary Fleckney, seen here taming the notorious ‘Pipeline’ in the 2015 Pre-65 ‘Scottish’ along with Classic Trial Magazine editor John Hulme, shares a common interest in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!

Rock Shocks’ merchandise comes with riding jackets, polo shirts, beanies, wallets and sweatshirts, all of which can be personalised, as well as various styles of hats, mugs and other useful rider accessories.

Customer demand usually answers questions and Gary had been looking at developing front fork springs for a while. In 2017 he launched the new range as an addition to the Rock Shocks shock absorbers for a wide variety of applications.