Proper rear suspension test

Aidjay · Jun 23, 2010

Is there such a thing?

Other than the rear end "feeling wobbly" or "wooly" or, "just not right", which seems to be the most common descriptions I've read in here, is there a more scientific test?

I know with cars you can push the bonnet down and gauge the rebound. Its easy to see if its too bouncy or too slow to rebound.

This is a little tricky with the bike. I suspect my rear suspension is not 100%, but I'm so used to riding it that I may be numb to its problems. However, I don't want to go to the expense of replacing / refurbing the rear suspension when it doesn't need it. But obviously I don't want to have it fail on me.

The height of the rear seat still looks good and I can click through all the rotations of the adjuster.

Anyone got any advise on this, other than "play it safe and repair / replace it".

Bike is an R1150GSA with 61K on the clock, shock is original.

Cheers!

ELIMINATOR · Jun 23, 2010

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99343&highlight=shock

Might be of interest to you, noting your location.

Womble · Jun 23, 2010

61k on an original BMW shock - it'll be knackered as they tend to go at around 30k miles.

I can thoroughly recommend MCT in Stowmarket (regularly mentioned in RiDE, Bike etc.) who will either fit a nice shiny Ohlins, or will refurb the BMW one for about £100. They're just an hour from the M25, either via the M11 or the A12.

To fit a new shock, it's possible to have a ride-in-ride-out service. I'm not sure if that's possible with a refurb, but you should ask. Checking out Eliminator's thread, the stuff about the reservior didn't seem to be a problem for MCT as they offered to rebuild my old GS springer and it hasn't got a reservoir.

Darren, the owner, is a great suspension tuner and will tailor any settings to your weight and riding style.

GSmonkey · Jun 23, 2010

The real test is to go and ride a bike with a good shock. Then ride your bike again.

At 60k, its got to be real knackered.

Wrigsby1 · Jun 23, 2010

Also you would have to ride a GS ADV rather than an straight 1150 as ADV's felt softer from new.

When cold, push down on the rear seat and see how the bike rebounds, or sitting if this is too difficult. It should rebound under some damping control instead of looking like just spring reaction. Also test after a ride as it is usually the rebound damping that goes when the shock is warmed up. That is why bikes get so "wallowy" on old and knackered shocks.

A good "self teach" is to get the screwdriver out and try the above with the preload and rebound in different positions. You should see and feel the difference.

Just my 'umble experience...

robc · Jun 25, 2010

Mine's done 55k on the original shock. Still feels ok to me. Getting onto it after riding other bikes and it still feels fine. Mind you, my other bike has done ~50k on it's shock too :augie

Regards

Rob C

davegs · Jun 25, 2010

shocking

Mine has done over 87000 on the orignal and still dosent feel like a zebedee experiance boing!.
Dave GS

ahebron · Jun 26, 2010

davegs said:
Mine has done over 87000 on the orignal and still dosent feel like a zebedee experiance boing!.
Dave GS

robc said:
Mine's done 55k on the original shock. Still feels ok to me. Getting onto it after riding other bikes and it still feels fine. Mind you, my other bike has done ~50k on it's shock too

Regards

Rob C

I reckon that will be the problem. You have just got used to the way the shocker feels as it has deteriorated over time. A bit like not noticing people we see often aging.

Adrian

robc · Jun 27, 2010

Hi Adrian,
I rode a brand new R1200RT the other week. When I got back onto my 1150GS it still felt fine. Mind you, I did have the electrickery suspension set to "Comfort". I seem to like a soft rear end these days.

In my view, when the shock absorber no longer absorbs shocks that is when I will change it. My biking mantra these days is "If it isn't broken, ride it until it is".

Regards

Rob C

Wrigsby1 · Jun 27, 2010

ahebron said:
I reckon that will be the problem. You have just got used to the way the shocker feels as it has deteriorated over time. A bit like not noticing people we see often aging.

Adrian

Not being contrary

But why should an old shock always "have a problem"?

I have virtually never bought a bike with less than 20k on and have had many with upwards of 50k miles. I have had one shock blow its seal and one that lost some of it's rebounding when hot.

BM's seem to have pretty heavyweight shocks that last OK don't go AWOL too often. The damping etc seems to do something other than just be for show.

Many riders I have met might not know whether their shock was good, knackered, or gold plated Ohlins.

Shocks wear, degrade etc but they usually only really have a major problem if the damping goes, they spring a leak, or if the spring doesn't.

I have to say that when I rode the 1150GS when they 1st came out I preffered my 40k+ 11. The 1150 ADV was a better effort.

The previous owner of my GS was bollocked by M/Works for wanting to change the orig shock 'cos the chrome was a bit rusty

Aidjay · Jul 15, 2010

Just to close this out for anyone interested

I took my bike to All Bike Engineering, as suggested by Eliminator (thanks for the tip :thumb2

)

Nick checked the shock by taking it off the centre stand and pushing hard down on the back of the seat and watching the rebound. We could see that it was bouncing a bit on the rebound. He showed me how it should behave on another bike, basically comes back fast and then slows down suddenly without bouncing. He says the bouncing is because the gas shock is not doing the job and most of the load is now carried in the spring. Not good when you’re loaded up, as the spring can fail.

The shock was re-gassed for £100. The bike now has a slightly taller ride height and the pre-load adjuster actually does something! The bike doesn't feel massively different, but it generally feels more stable, especially in the corners.

Also picked up some great tips on green laning in my neck of the woods thanks to Nick's local knowledge, so money very well spent! :clap

Rockoz · Feb 3, 2011

Hi, I've used ABE before to buy fork stanchoins for my bandit as they were pitted at the top and didn't like going past the seals when the front end came down ;P
I've now got an 1150 GS and noticed when you push down on the arse end it comes up very slowly but my rebound adjuster (I think the screw at the bottom on the spring going all the way through the shock from offside to nearside?) is seized and I can't adjust it. Never been to ABE but I'm only 70ish miles away so may have to take a ride down when my arms out of plaster...

Proper rear suspension test

Aidjay

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ELIMINATOR

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Womble

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GSmonkey

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Wrigsby1

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robc

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davegs

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ahebron

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robc

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Wrigsby1

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Aidjay

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Rockoz

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