Suspension service, worth it???

[Bendy toy]

I had a Dutch WP emulsion shock on one of my bikes. It was bought used but transformed the handling. Sadly I left it too long before having it serviced. It came back rock hard because the internals got shagged and the new valve shimming was guesswork.

 

[Da1sycat]

Hutchy interested to hear how this goes. Who is Clarence and they well thought of in GS circles or a recommendation?

 

[hutchy]

Hutchy interested to hear how this goes. Who is Clarence and they well thought of in GS circles or a recommendation?

No probs mate

Just want to try all options beginning with the basics on the current oem shock and go from there, lost of advice on here, which has helped

A member of this parish recommended Clarence Bell, he's an Ohlins man and does a huge amount of work for the off road racers In this part of the World

Just as a quick outline of what he's doing,

He drills the shock body to get into it
Strips it down
New oil in
New seals fitted
Re gassed via a Schrader valve fitted to said drilled hole

Job done

I let you know what improvements if any I notice, I'm really after improved 2 up handling, she has been wallowing a bit through the bendy stuff

If there isn't an improvement then it will be a new spring from hyperpro next

If that doesn't produce the goods then a new shock, probably nitron

H


Sent from my iPad using Technology I do not understand

 

[newboy]

Will a Schrader valve hold it?

I'm no mechanic lol - but surely a shock must have v high pressure?
Higher than a tyre??

 

[ahutcheon]

Will a Schrader valve hold it?

I'm no mechanic lol - but surely a shock must have v high pressure?
Higher than a tyre??

The trick (for 1989..) back shock on my XR250 has a Schrader valve on the remote reservoir, and that is supposed to be gassed up with 284 psi of nitrogen. The valve design is held closed by the pressure it's holding in, so shouldn't be a worry.

 

[newboy]

The trick (for 1989..) back shock on my XR250 has a Schrader valve on the remote reservoir, and that is supposed to be gassed up with 284 psi of nitrogen. The valve design is held closed by the pressure it's holding in, so shouldn't be a worry.

Told you I didnt have a clue...

 

[hutchy]

Hutchy interested to hear how this goes. Who is Clarence and they well thought of in GS circles or a recommendation?

Got the shock back today!

Looking pretty decent, impossible to tell if there is a difference until it's ridden loaded.

Cost me £150 for a full refurb.

Clarence is a top chap, tells you like it is, recommended Wilbur's over Ohlins if I wanted to upgrade, no catch just his experienced opinion, and if someone builds shocks for the NW200 and Dundrod racers then I would tend to listen to him!!!!

I will fit this later this week and let you know the craic, can't be any worse than before 2 up! It rode like a fat kid on a skateboard with loose wheels

H

Sent from my iPad using Technology I do not understand

 

[hutchy]

Quick update on how it's going now it's been reinstalled,

This is solo riding:

Most noticeably it actually holds a very good line, before it just wasn't sure about it, it kind of held one but gave little or no confidence, tended to meander around a touch, now there is loads of confidence inspiring feedback coming form the rear, it turns and hold just so much better, so much smoother, which all equals much more enjoyment


I haven't tried it 2 up yet so will report back once SWMBO gets her leg over and some luggage thrown on

Two down sides I have noticed, one is that the preload adjuster is somewhat stiffer to set to hard, hopefully this will loosen up with time and the second one is, if this much improvement can be gained form a stock refurbed shock how much better would a wilburs or Ohlins really be?

Food for thought......

 

[Big Lee]

...... probably not as much as you think considering the money you`d spend

I had my Tiger 1050 done by MCT http://www.mctsuspension.com/ and he told me that my suspension was working as good as Ohlins after it had been rebuilt but the Ohlins could be tweaked a bit more than the oe stuff due to all the adjusters on them. That was good enough for me!