How to tell when new shocks/forks are needed?

[kerbse]

I bought my RS with already 70k on it. I'm sure the shocks and forks have never been replaced. How would I tell if they need to be or not? Also, where is the best place to buy the Fox or Ohlins?

[GrafikFeat]

Why not HyperPro? A pretty good alternative... :ear

[kerbse]

Where can I research and get them?

[bikerfish1100]

at 70K, your shocks are about 30,000 miles of fatigued, and about 15,000 of fully dead. there's nothing really in the forks to replace, unless the fork seals begin to leak. Ohlins, Wilbers and YSS (3 of the more common shock companies) are available from a few sources- i'd google, or do a search in this fprum.

welcome to the ride!

[GrafikFeat]

Where can I research and get them?

http://wilbersusa.com/hyperpro-motorcycle-shocks.htm :whistle

Give Klaus a call...

Contact Information
EPM Performance Imports
Klaus Huenecke - Owner


Toll Free: 877-786-6543

www.epmperf.com
Email: info@epmperf.com

He is in New Jersey.

[Belquar]

I bought mine from Klaus. Good guy. Knows a ton. Gonna cost you about 1500.00 bucks for front and rear. I knew mine needed replacing when the rear shock blew out and was pouring out all over my exhaust.

[GrafikFeat]

I knew mine needed replacing when the rear shock blew out and was pouring out all over my exhaust.

I'd say that's a good indicator! :laugh

[PGlaves]

Some folks will tell you that your OEM shocks are crap out of the box. Others will disagree and ride on them a long time. I'll be somewhere in the middle but closer to the long time bunch. I prefer to buy "new take-off" shocks or very low mileage shocks taken off by the owners who just have to have a premium shock like Ohlins or Wilburs or whatever. At half of OEM new price, or therabouts, I can replace shocks fairly frequently for the price of one set of Ohlins.

Now if I could ride as well as all those guys ...... well I'd have to have shocks worth more than the rest of the bike too ..... but I can't, so I don't.

[Belquar]

My deciding factor on which shock to get when I replaced mine was.....COST.

New OEM...front and rear was going to cost around $1100 bucks or something close to that. New Hyperpros was 1500 and they can be rebuilt and Klaus is only about a 1/2 hour from my house so that did it for me.

[maxscycle]

I'm sure the shocks and forks have never been replaced. How would I tell if they need to be or not?

But the question remains, I need a go/no-go way to tell if I need to replace my shock. I sat through the wilburs (I think it was wilburs) presentation at americade (i think is was americade) and the guy made it sound as though my bike was going to be riding like a piece of stuff after 20,000 miles. He went on about the ability to rebuild his brand of shock after 20-25000 miles of use over and over. I cornered him afterwards and told him my point of view.
I had just sold the last of my 4 harley electraglides. They each had 80-85,000 miles on them when I traded them in for a new harley. And I was unable to tell if the shocks/forks were "bad". (Like a car, it keeps bounces a bit after you hit a bump). The new harley didn't ride that much different then the old harley.
So the question remains, How do I tell when the shocks on my 06 r12gs become shot? It now has 26,000 mile on it and it feels the same as when I bought it.
Obvious leakage is one thing, but worn out?:confused:
max

[GrafikFeat]

But the question remains, I need a go/no-go way to tell if I need to replace my shock.

For me I could run over a nickel and tell you if it were heads or tails.

Basically, "bumps" get "sharper".

[bikerfish1100]

the fact is that your shocks DON'T feel like they did when new. Problem is the degradation is so slow, that you are generally comparing today to yesterday, or today to last week, but not to several months ago, and certainly not to a year or 2 ago, that you (we) don't feel the change happening. it's like watching your kids grow up, or your friends grow older (never ourselves, of course)... it's an incremental change, not easily observed when in close proximity.
if your shocks bounced repeatedly, they were trashed- no question. However, some riders are not discriminating or demanding enough to notice or to care. you may be that kind of rider. in which case, ride them till you are no longer happy with what they do, or until they begin leaking.
me? i tossed my stockers at 15K miles- not because they were worn out, but because they never really gave me the performance i wanted for the way i ride. I've rebuilt my shocks 1x since then, and they will be getting a 2nd rebuild this year or next. how did i know it was time to rebuild? same as when i dumped the stockers- they no longer performed like i wanted them to.
you'll likely have to make that same type of determination for yourself. There is no absolute definitive answer for ALL people- just A definitive for each individual rider.

[BubbaZanetti]

Some folks will tell you that your OEM shocks are crap out of the box. Others will disagree and ride on them a long time. I'll be somewhere in the middle but closer to the long time bunch. I prefer to buy "new take-off" shocks or very low mileage shocks taken off by the owners who just have to have a premium shock like Ohlins or Wilburs or whatever. At half of OEM new price, or therabouts, I can replace shocks fairly frequently for the price of one set of Ohlins.

Now if I could ride as well as all those guys ...... well I'd have to have shocks worth more than the rest of the bike too ..... but I can't, so I don't.

my take on the situation as well

i feel aftermarket shocks are highway robbery, no matter how good they make your bike ride.

[kantuckid]

I Have never really understood why after market shocks cost as they do? I understand precision manufacturing and low volume sales factors, but they are still way to high for me!!! What is there about a bike shock that makes it so much more expensive than the ones I buy for my 4 wheeled vehicle? I'll vote for used OEM shocks every time since I can go on a nice vacation for the price difference!!!
I am still cloudy on any "way to tell" when a shock is used up on a bike, other than just having lost its ability to rebound or something blatantly obvious ?

[OfficerImpersonator]

http://wilbersusa.com/hyperpro-motorcycle-shocks.htm :whistle

Give Klaus a call...

Contact Information
EPM Performance Imports
Klaus Huenecke - Owner


Toll Free: 877-786-6543

www.epmperf.com
Email: info@epmperf.com

He is in New Jersey.

+1

Klaus's customer service can't be beat. When my clutch input shaft failed, the shop noticed my rear shock was shot. Since it was apparent my bike would be torn apart in the shop for a couple of weeks, I called Klaus. Klaus emailed me an extensive questionnaire about my bike, my loads (luggage, passengers, my weight with my riding gear, etc.), and my type of riding. He used this information to properly calibrate the shock. Five days after speaking with Klaus, my new shock arrived at the shop. That means in five days, the shock was ordered by Klaus in New Jersey, built in Germany, shipped to New Jersey, and then shipped to Seattle. How can you beat that?

The only problem with getting a high performance new rear shock is that I now recognize the deficiencies in my front shocks. Oh well. Maybe next year.

If you want new shocks for your bike, at least call or email Klaus for his suggestions. You can always tell him "thanks but no thanks" and get an OEM shock. But I'm willing to bet he'll talk you out of the OEM shock and convince you to go with after-market.

[shoeman]

I am always amazed at the after market stuff people will buy. My stock '98Rt would, at the hands of a top rider, lap me on a track if I rode a top of the line Ducati. Ditto what Paul Glaves says.

[GrantMacEachern]

I'll preface this with the fact that I am no suspension guru or racetrack demi-god. I would suspect that OEM shocks are more than fine for the average rider.

I do question what the riders weight and anticipated loads are. I often see reference to OEM shocks being designed or calibrated for approximately 180-190lb rider.
If you're packing on an extra 50 to 100 lbs of lard (hey, i've been to the rallies and seen it all) and also riding shocks with high mileage I would suspect the performance would not be there.
If your loads are higher than average wouldn't it be better to have a set of shocks "tailored" for you? Even a more entry level pair?

[OfficerImpersonator]

I went with the Hyper-Pros simply because they can be re-built when they wear out, unlike the OEM part which is disposable.

I'm not much for "disposing" of $750 rear shocks once they fail. If I can get a top-of-the-line fully adjustable and rebuild-able model for $250 more, that's saving money and resources in my book.

[bikerfish1100]

I am always amazed at the after market stuff people will buy. My stock '98Rt would, at the hands of a top rider, lap me on a track if I rode a top of the line Ducati. Ditto what Paul Glaves says.

that just says that it's more the rider than the machine. regardless, the ride and handling upgrade from stock to Ohlins or Wilbers (i have one of each) is superb, and to me, very much worth the extra coin.

[OfficerImpersonator]

An improvement to suspension also yields benefits to braking and handling as the tires do a better job of maintaining contact with the ground.