Shock "gone"??

[Geekay]

Been out for a ride on my 2016 ('66) GSA today - i last used it a couple of weekends ago with my daughter on the back and all was well.

Today, heading out it immediately felt "soft" - like it was bouncing around a lot more than usual. I've been riding my Z1000 a lot recently which has a firmer ride so i tried to put the soft feeling out of my mind and persuade myself that it was just cos i'd been riding the Z.

however, even pootling around, after a few miles it was clear something was up - i got off the bike and there is just no damping at all - you can easily compress the rear suspension with your hand on the passenger handrail. I mean, easily - and it bounces back and hits what i assume is the "upper limiter" of the shock as it hits full extension.

On the road, of course, its a totally liability - like a bucking bronco!

Is this how it goes? is this how the famous sachs ESA shocks "go"?

if it is then I'm really annoyed!! - the bike is totally unridable - imagine if this happened in the swiss alps when you were two up and luggage?? - it would need to be recovered, you couldnt carry on with it. Ive had suspension "go off" over mileage, but this was just "fine" and then "fucked"

Here's a video - but i think i already know what's wrong with it...

the bike is a 2016, '66' plate - it has just turned 15,000 miles (i mean, it turned over it when i headed out this morning)
bought from Bowker Motorrad in Preston in Dec17 - it was an ex BMW management bike with 3,600 on the clock. Its been serviced solely by them but of course it is now out of warranty.

Am i likely to be "on my own" with this or has anyone any experience of BMW taking kind to things like this? How should i play this with my dealer in asking for help? ( I don't even know if they are open!)
thanks in advance for any guidance.

 

[littleade]

The Missenden Flyer had the rear shock go on his out of warranty and went back to his dealer and they initially refused to do anything but after making a video and posting in on youtube miraculously BMW sorted him out. The dealer's response IIRC was that he should have gone to the dealer principle rather than the bod behind the counter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsJgcL-MA4w

edit: I've looked for the follow on video but can't find it so he may have covered what BMW did for him in a video that contains other stuff too. It's a know issue so I'd start with your dealers top man and go from there. Good luck

 

[Stevie4scoops]

Been out for a ride on my 2016 ('66) GSA today - i last used it a couple of weekends ago with my daughter on the back and all was well.

Today, heading out it immediately felt "soft" - like it was bouncing around a lot more than usual. I've been riding my Z1000 a lot recently which has a firmer ride so i tried to put the soft feeling out of my mind and persuade myself that it was just cos i'd been riding the Z.

however, even pootling around, after a few miles it was clear something was up - i got off the bike and there is just no damping at all - you can easily compress the rear suspension with your hand on the passenger handrail. I mean, easily - and it bounces back and hits what i assume is the "upper limiter" of the shock as it hits full extension.

On the road, of course, its a totally liability - like a bucking bronco!

Is this how it goes? is this how the famous sachs ESA shocks "go"?

if it is then I'm really annoyed!! - the bike is totally unridable - imagine if this happened in the swiss alps when you were two up and luggage?? - it would need to be recovered, you couldnt carry on with it. Ive had suspension "go off" over mileage, but this was just "fine" and then "fucked"

Here's a video - but i think i already know what's wrong with it...

the bike is a 2016, '66' plate - it has just turned 15,000 miles (i mean, it turned over it when i headed out this morning)
bought from Bowker Motorrad in Preston in Dec17 - it was an ex BMW management bike with 3,600 on the clock. Its been serviced solely by them but of course it is now out of warranty.

Am i likely to be "on my own" with this or has anyone any experience of BMW taking kind to things like this? How should i play this with my dealer in asking for help? ( I don't even know if they are open!)
thanks in advance for any guidance.

BMW were good when I had a switch stop working well out of guarantee and I'm sure if you're pleasant they will be generous towards you to.

 

[flatdog]

Just don’t go in with all guns blazing. You never know..

 

[Santa-2512]

Looks like front & rear have failed,

Normally there's is almost sod all all movement from the units,

the front is near on compressible due to the set up lol

 

[littleade]

here's his update, it's only brief at 37:38 but is proof the dealer sorted it in the end

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbQpFWN94Z4

 

[sparky56]

There's a guy on here who might be able to help.
https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/504259-rear-shock-fefurbishment?highlight=denz0

 

[Geekay]

Looks like front & rear have failed,

Normally there's is almost sod all all movement from the units,

the front is near on compressible due to the set up lol

I’m not sure about the front - it’s pretty solid. I think there’s so much energy being “rebounded” that it’s rocking the bike, if you see what I mean.

Thank you all. I will approach bowkers in the morning and see what they say.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Denz0]

What can I say this is not the end of the world...

I see leaking LC shocks almost every day on my table mileage? Between 5-30K mils.

A couple of facts if the bike did 30K or is older then 3 years there is a very small chance that the dealer will do anything more then installation of new shock.

Front shocks don't have the dust seal as standard! Yes, no dust seal only one seal in that shock!!!
That's why they go so quick...

When the front shock is serviced sealhead is machined and dust seal is added along with different oil seal and couple of other mods.


Good news is them shock can be serviced for the fraction of the costs.

If someone is interested in that kind of magic just let me know.
Dyno graph force vs displacement showing working shock VS leaking shock and should be clear how much dampig you lose after the small leak

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

[Denz0]

There's a guy on here who might be able to help.
https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/504259-rear-shock-fefurbishment?highlight=denz0

Thanks for sharing I think I'm not know in the LC section

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

[Geekay]

What can I say this is not the end of the world...

I see leaking LC shocks almost every day on my table mileage? Between 5-30K mils.

A couple of facts if the bike did 30K or is older then 3 years there is a very small chance that the dealer will do anything more then installation of new shock.

Front shocks don't have the dust seal as standard! Yes, no dust seal only one seal in that shock!!!
That's why they go so quick...

When the front shock is serviced sealhead is machined and dust seal is added along with different oil seal and couple of other mods.


Good news is them shock can be serviced for the fraction of the costs.

If someone is interested in that kind of magic just let me know.
Dyno graph force vs displacement showing working shock VS leaking shock and should be clear how much dampig you lose after the small leak

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Hi denz0 - I’ve seen you work some magic on these before and was hoping you’d respond.

Tell me though, you say “servicing” but if you watch my video in the YouTube link, it’s absolutely goosed! Can it be brought back to life?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[sparky56]

Thanks for sharing I think I'm not know in the LC section

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

You're welcome. I think it is always good to know what services are available on this forum.

 

[Denz0]

The only time I can't fix them is when the rod is damaged, not a little scratch but really done.

I say servicing but this is a bit more than that
That's more like engineering.

Most of the parts need to be machined to make it work.
I use completely different seal designs and they are custom made.

I don't use any old seal or oring everything is brand new

After the repair, all the shocks are dyno-tested for performance and ESA response.
During the test shocks are accelerated to 250mm/sec for about 10 min during this time shock gets up to about 50'C
And if anything was wrong with it it would fail instantly.
I also found the picture of the front shock with dust seal added during the service

From the video I can see the oil is completely gone from the shock and the front look very suspicious too.
So if your shock looks better then one on the picture it can be done...

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

[Neil W]

My last esa equipped bike sh@t its front shock at under 1000 miles and then at 33 month old and under 13,000 miles (under extended warranty) needed fronts and rears replaced.........both were leaking with zero damping.
Needless to say the new bike was specced without esa

 

[Tyzer]

Ive said it before, i would never own a GS out of warranty unless you have deep pockets !

If i was to keep one long term i would probably buy a standard GS or something Japanese .