Abstract: Shock absorber having variable damping characteristics. The shock absorber includes a shock absorber cylinder containing a damping medium. A piston rod extends into the shock absorber cylinder. A piston is arranged on a free end of the piston rod. The piston is structured and arranged to divide a space inside the shock absorber cylinder into two chambers. The two chambers are in fluid communication with each other via a main flow channel and a plurality of secondary flow channels. A valve device is structured and arranged to open and close the secondary flow channels. The valve device comprises a plurality of separately controllable spool valves movably arranged on a base member and a plurality of valve members having different flow characteristics. One of the valve members is assigned to one of the secondary flow channels and another of the valve members is assigned to another of the secondary flow channels.