| Author | Message | ||
     Puddlepirate |
Has anyone else blown a rear shock yet? I got home yesterday to notice oil all over the swingarm (thought it was gas dripping from the cali can first). Turns out its the shock oil seal. With the bike being crated up in a month for the move back to the states, im not going to be a ble to fix it until this fall. Anyone here use racetech to rebuild the 1125 shock yet? Once the oil drains completely out, can i still safely commute for a few more weeks til the bike ships? | ||
| Jdugger |
Suspension is generally serviced annually, so if you have made it this far without ever doing anything to the shock, you were on borrowed time, anyway. The seal probably just got old and cracked, or may have even been nicked by a burr on the slider/shaft of the shock. It's not uncommon at all. When I rode the street, I had the stock shock upgraded with a linear rate spring and race tech valving. It's a nice upgrade. So, yes, it can be done, and the outcome will be positive. That said, the cost of the Showa shock on the EBR web site isn't but about double what it would cost to get your shock rebuilt, and it's a better piece overall, especially if you are in the 160-175lb weight range, which it comes set up for. I don't personally believe the bike is all that safe without any suspension oil in the rear shock -- you will have no damping. If your commute is mostly straight road, sure, I'll be you can get away with it without crashing, but geez.. not fun at all. | ||
| Puddlepirate |
Thanks for the advice, Jim. I'm going to be gone for half the next month anyway, so might as well run it to drain the gas out of it for the movers, and then pull the battery cables and let it sit. An uncle of mine rode his Goldwing halfway across the US with a blown rear shock, but flat highway is a bit different than the commute here, and dodging all these insane drivers. | ||
| Sprintst |
Pick up a used shock off ebay if you don't have the time or money to do it "right" | ||
| Terp_bueller |
My 2008 OEM shock is available if you decide to do a straight replacement. Shock has about 18k miles of use. $75 + freight. | ||
| Paulp1125cr |
What service needs to be done for your suspension? I've never done this before and I've owned quite a few bikes without an issue. Is this meant for racers or all bikes in general? | ||
| Puddlepirate |
the oil that came out of mine was nasty and dark. i've also never had to service a shock, other than the xb one i stuck to the sportster. racetech's videos make the process look do-able by the home mechanic. just wont be able to fill the nitrogen. terp, you have a pm incoming. | ||
| Sinnister |
I blew the one on my XB after 38k miles. You can't service a rear shock. I looked everywhere for parts for it and there is nothing. If I can't service something I just buy another one so I picked up a used lower mileage one. From what I was seeing you have to be a shop before companies like Showa will sell you serviceable parts for their rear shocks. | ||
| Stirz007 |
For street rider, you should probably refurbish forks every couple of years (every year is better, but depends on how much you ride, how hard, etc.) rear shock every three at most. If you have an '08, it's overdue. I do forks annually, shock every two years, but that's for track conditions. Forks you can do yourself if you're reasonably mechanically inclined. Takes an hour or so once you remove them from trees. Rear shock is pretty specialized for service, and it's best to send them out. Racetech, Lindemann, Ohlins USA, and a bunch of other shops do it - check with local racers or race shop for who they use locally. About $200 including new seals. You'll notice the difference right away if it's been a while since last service. Typical price sheet: http://www.le-suspension.com/shock-services/ (Message edited by Stirz007 on April 03, 2014) | ||
| Jdugger |
> What service needs to be done for your suspension? > I've never done this before and I've owned quite a few bikes without an issue. Jeff's advice is practical. The damping provided by your suspension is a function of pushing oil through constrained valves. Over time the seals deteriorate and the oil shears and the damping action changes or becomes ineffective. Little bits of metal get in the oil and wear on the valves as well. Good fresh suspension feels better, there's no doubt. You can go a long time on a lot of service items on a vehicle "without issue". That doesn't mean you aren't accelerating a major failure one day. Coolant flushing is another great example of this kind of upkeep that people should do and seem to always not bother with. (Message edited by jdugger on April 03, 2014) | ||
| Stirz007 |
Just got mine back from RaceTech today (two day turn-around after receipt by RT) - rebuild, new oil and seals. $183.52 out the door, including shipping and insurance. |
