shock question

[jfc230]

how can i tell if the front shock on a 9611gs is still good? what symptoms would a weak shock display? also the same question for the rear shock. thanks.jc

[Motowalt]

Shocks wear so gradually, that it's hard to tell by just looking or even riding on them.

If there are no fluid eaks, they probably are fine.

That said, if you replace them with new ones, you will notice the difference immediately.

Hope this helps...

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

Mine had only 20,000 miles on when I replaced them but the difference was incredible. My rear shock had been weeping a little but after the new shocks were fitted the height of the bike was immediately noticeably restored to a degree that I had not realized they were starting to sag as much as they were.

With the telelever the front always feels kind of vague anyway compared to conventional forks and is difficult to tell in a normal way, but like motophoria said the difference will be noticeable especially with higher miles.

[bikerfish1100]

Shocks wear so gradually, that it's hard to tell by just looking or even riding on them.

If there are no fluid eaks, they probably are fine.

That said, if you replace them with new ones, you will notice the difference immediately.

Hope this helps...


true on all of that, except that it must be understood that "fine" is a very relative and subjective term. Using the measure of "not leaking" as equaling "fine" menas that they function, and keep things from hitting that should not hit. It does not mean that they are performing as they should.

how many miles on your bike? generally, stock shocks are pretty well trashed (or should at least be put there) by 60K miles. i replaced my perfectly functioning ones at around 15K miles because i was very unhappy with their performance, and have considered the upgrade to Wilbers/Ohlins to be one of the best improvements i have done to my bike (and i've done quite a few little "tweaks" in the performance realm. Wilbers, Ohlins, Penske, Bitubo, Hyperpro, YSS or most of the other available top-end shocks will vastly improve the ride and handling of any bike.

Does your bike wallow thru corners? Does it do the wiggle dance when you don't expect it to? Does it bounce more than once on the rebound after going over an uneven surface? Does it give you hard hits to your butt over broken pavement? Those are all signs of shocks that should go bye-bye.

[jfc230]

responding to bikerfish...
cornering seems like a dream compared to my last bike.... the 96 has 64k on it ,the shocks have been replaced with a shorter set in order to allow me to sit flat footed,i dont know the milage on these. what i do experience is hard knocks to my butt,also most concerning is what seems like alot of up and down on the front end ..going thru the gears mostly, and somewhat upon breaking...are these bad ,weak ,shock symptoms??

thanks

jc.

[bikerfish1100]

can't say definitively (not familiar with how much travel and "softness" is okay on a big GS)- but if those symptoms were being exhibited by my bike, then yeah, those shocks would be due for a rebuild.

hard knocks & front end dive are not what i would expect from a Telelever/Paralever equipped BMW. What brand shocks are they?