How can you tell if your suspension is shot?

[King Rat]

How do you know if your suspension is done in?

I have had the bikes 8 years and 9 years now, one is at 100,000 miles and the other has racked up 65,000, both are still on the standard suspension which I have never touched from the day I picked each bike up. We just load up and go, whether that is solo or two-up. There is no sign of a leak or anything, so I wonder what people have to do to their bikes to be able to break them in so few miles (I read one bike on 30,000 with the suspension knackered )
Our bikes are an 1150 Adv 2-spark 2003 and a 2002 single spark standard GS1150 with the 42 litre tank (the older bike is a much stronger engine, faster, more willing and easier to ride. The Adv is more comfortable...what I really need is to put the old engine in the Adv clothing.

 

[Fanum]

In all honesty, regardless of what (sensible) advice you'll get regarding measuring drops, loads, bounces to settle etc, the only way you will know for sure is by seat of the pants feelings.....ride a bike with new suspension, or suspension set up for someone as close to your size as possible, and FEEL the difference

Looking on the up side, if you do buy new suspension, you'll either be over the moon with it or mildly disappointed....in the latter case, keep on with your old stuff until it's properly ready to swap out, and you won't have lost anything.

My guess is that you WILL notice and thoroughly enjoy the difference.....on an '02 and an '03 GS with those miles on them, they will almost certainly benefit from a swap out

(keep the OEM kit and get it restored BTW.......seal them up in greaseproof paper and keep them for the long term )

 

[Giles]

I say .... (to all of you )

Go and test ride bikes.

Your dealer wants you do do that. It doesn't have to be on the back of interest in a new bike or model, it doesn't tie you into a sales pitch, your dealer gets demo bikes for you the punter to try.

The benefit to you is immense. Constantly jumping on and off different bikes gives you a wealth of knowledge from tyres, geometry, suspension, different engine configurations, etc etc. It'll teach you what feels right, what feels wrong ...

Your own bike could be a pile of shite But if its the only one you ever ride ...... you'd never know ....

 

[Timolgra]

I test rode someone's 30k mile GS today after servicing it to find the standard suspension was awful compared to my own bike, I was glad to get back yet the owner's quite ok with it as far as I know

 

[Giles]

I test slept somebodies cardboard bed the other day ..... God it was uncomfortable. And the blanket was really itchy but he just didn't know ... sheesh .... some people .....

 

[King Rat]

I have been offered test rides by dealers I have dropped into, but I have never taken them up because I felt that as I had no intention of buying another bike it was rather false - plus I would be worried to death that I dropped it or did some damage that I know I couldn't afford to put right. My stuff has to last a long time - I still have (and use) my original Belstaff Trialsmaster, I bought it about 1980. It is fine.

 

[stolzy]

If you bike has 100K on it and you think there is a possibility the shock is shot . . .then the shock is almost certainly shot.

 

[King Rat]

If you bike has 100K on it and you think there is a possibility the shock is shot . . .then the shock is almost certainly shot.

No, I don't think it is shot. In fact I think it is fine. It is what other people have been saying that has got me wondering. Any slow deterioration over the years I will not have noticed because I will have got used to it as I went along. That is why I asked the first question - in other words, what are the signs to look for? It smooths bumps pretty well I think, and I ride it as hard as I ever had, nothing like as hard as most on here, I know, but I am not a hero and I often have £10,000 or more worth of camera gear on the bike which I cannot afford to put in the hedge or ditch either!

So, I ask again a different way: what are the signs to look for when assessing the condition of your shocks and suspension system?

My tyres wear evenly, so there is no patter from duff shock absorption and it doesn't go "boing, boing" after a bump either - which is why I think they are fine. BUT, I now have my doubts thanks to all the advice.

 

[Mr K]

No, I don't think it is shot. In fact I think it is fine. It is what other people have been saying that has got me wondering. Any slow deterioration over the years I will not have noticed because I will have got used to it as I went along. That is why I asked the first question - in other words, what are the signs to look for? It smooths bumps pretty well I think, and I ride it as hard as I ever had, nothing like as hard as most on here, I know, but I am not a hero and I often have £10,000 or more worth of camera gear on the bike which I cannot afford to put in the hedge or ditch either!

So, I ask again a different way: what are the signs to look for when assessing the condition of your shocks and suspension system?

My tyres wear evenly, so there is no patter from duff shock absorption and it doesn't go "boing, boing" after a bump either - which is why I think they are fine. BUT, I now have my doubts thanks to all the advice.

The chances are you have adapted to your deteriorating shocks and ride around their failings, certainly so if you don't feel the need to adjust it whether 2 up with luggage or solo.

 

[drinu64]

Wallowing, a harsh ride and visible deterioration like oil leaking...

 

[King Rat]

Wallowing, a harsh ride and visible deterioration like oil leaking...

Aha - thank you. I have none of that, so reckon they are fine...just as I thought.

 

[King Rat]

The chances are you have adapted to your deteriorating shocks and ride around their failings, certainly so if you don't feel the need to adjust it whether 2 up with luggage or solo.

But I have never adjusted them....even when they were newish. Even with the old dragon and our gear on they have never bottomed out, or wallowed. Mind you, I go more carefully with precious cargo aboard than I do when solo.

 

[Mr K]

But I have never adjusted them....even when they were newish. Even with the old dragon and our gear on they have never bottomed out, or wallowed. Mind you, I go more carefully with precious cargo aboard than I do when solo.

Well that's impossible: Either you suffer a spine jarringly harsh ride when you're solo or you are just so insensitive to the ride that it doesn't matter.

 

[Giles]

So You've never adjusted your bikes suspension for riding between solo and two up ??

 

[Scotriders]

It's amazing how many folk don't. Let's face it, if it doesn't adjust by pressing the ESA button on the bars it can be a bit of a pusy.
There'll be folk that don't adjust their tyre pressures either when two up.

 

[Myke Rocks]

If the bike rides like a pogo stick

It's a fair bet shock(s) are not good.
Me, I like a comfortable, wallowy ride, don't check tyre pressures in between replacing them, and can't notice any difference between any of the settings on the RT's ESA.
If a tyre pressure drops, I notice it instantly in the handling.
I know there are people out there who set their suspension up to the last, corner regularly on the ragged edge, and have to use the "dogs bollocks" of brake pads because none of the others are up to their riding capabilities,
but I find a comfortable and relaxed, easygoing style of riding to be a nicer way to get about. No, I do not go slowly, but I am never near the (handling) limit, so suspension settings are not a priority.
Maybe this is your situation as well.
Myke

 

[King Rat]

It's a fair bet shock(s) are not good.
Me, I like a comfortable, wallowy ride, don't check tyre pressures in between replacing them, and can't notice any difference between any of the settings on the RT's ESA.
If a tyre pressure drops, I notice it instantly in the handling.
I know there are people out there who set their suspension up to the last, corner regularly on the ragged edge, and have to use the "dogs bollocks" of brake pads because none of the others are up to their riding capabilities,
but I find a comfortable and relaxed, easygoing style of riding to be a nicer way to get about. No, I do not go slowly, but I am never near the (handling) limit, so suspension settings are not a priority.
Maybe this is your situation as well.
Myke

You sound like the same sort of rider as I am. No, I don't adjusttyre pressures for load, they get 36 front and 42 rear and that only changes when the pressure drops and usually get an incling of that when I am pushing it about to turn it round - the front feels heavy, but I wouldn't feel it when I ride until the front gets down to about 20psi, then it gets a bit wavery on roundabouts.

I don't have ESP, just the standard oil shocks the GS was supplied with - I wouldn't touch electric suspension with a barge pole (I DON'T CARE HOW GOOD IT IS, it is too expensive and too much to go wrong). Maybe getting someone else to ride my bikes would be the way to get an idea of what state they are in, pretty aweful probably - but they get me around. I rode down to Lake Como for one day of work - Bellaggio was the target. Left here Thursday evening, rode to Dover, caught ferry, had a nap on the ferry. Rode to Basel and got a B&B, rode to Bellagio Friday. B&B Friday night, did the work on Saturday, had dinner at Villa D'Este. Sunday morning saw the boats off and hit the road 10.30 Italian time, I was home here in Uttoxeter for 03.30 that night. I had my boating gear, my dinner suit/blck tie for the Saturday night dinner and all my camera kit - so not a light load, the camera gear alone is 19kgs. I used standard settings and standard tyre pressures. Just as I always have - how do you learn about all this stuff? I have only been riding for 45 years, it sounds like I have a lot to learn.

 

[Bendy toy]

I have similar attitudes. I certainly don't get exercised the the odd psi of tyre pressure.
But I do notice good or bad suspension. I don't like a tough ride and I like to know what they tyres are doing especially at the front.
Any untouched shocks showing 100K will be shot. But if the bike lives on motorways or goes gently down A roads some riders might be happy enough.
Wilbers state shocks should be serviced every 12K miles. Few bother (it's a major hassle) but we change gearbox oils at the same sort of distance. The shock is precision kit containing very little oil, but expected to do a tough job. It's no surprise (so called) non serviceable) shocks fail at 30K.

 

[Myke Rocks]

They would say that, wouldn't they?

Any untouched shocks showing 100K will be shot. But if the bike lives on motorways or goes gently down A roads some riders might be happy enough.
Wilbers state shocks should be serviced every 12K miles. Few bother (it's a major hassle) but we change gearbox oils at the same sort of distance. The shock is precision kit containing very little oil, but expected to do a tough job. It's no surprise (so called) non serviceable) shocks fail at 30K.

My current car has 150k on it. the shocks are good. Previous car (still in family) has 210,000 miles on it. Original shocks still good. Previous car had 650,000 miles on it. Front shocks were still good when it went to the great scrapyard in the sky.
I agree they do a very good job with very little oil, but they are very reliable.
You may, but I do not change gearbox, or for that matter, final drive oils as a matter of course. Bike has 40,000+ miles on it, and I have no intention of checking or changing either. No leaks, no problems.
Myke

 

[Pukmeister]

I'm surprised you don't notice some handling issues.

The oil in the shock goes thinner as the molecular chains get broken up through repeated use. It also gets contaminated with microscopic wear particles. Both affect ride quality/damping. Anti-foaming agents may also break down through use.

A shock service centre will replace the oil with fresh quality oil, clean and inspect internal parts and replace seals for new. If gas pressurised, a recharge will keep the oil from foaming when worked hard.

If you are happy with your shocks, ride on.