shocks service

[PWM]

Anyone from this page in UK either service the rear shocks, or know someone who does a good job?

I don't want to buy a set of wilbers, but I think both these are fucked - unsurprisingly, considering the last two owners, who really just fucked up everything they touched.

I did think when I set the bike up a few days ago that there was very little preload adjustment but just took it as that; not willing to let it lie and investigating these shocks,  I go back to it today and find I have a whopping 9 clicks nearside and 20 offside as max, and can't even get near a basic setting.

Or do you have something for sale?

[seth]

Hiya your shocks can be refurbed and there is a thread on here to show you how to do it yourself.
The shocks are actually quite good but the adjusters are a weak point .

Loads of options for replacements
hagon nitros are the most popular with out spending a fortune .

[Andre]

Can't tell you where to get it done in your neck of the woods.

The preload repair can be done by yourself with the info http://gsx1400owners.org/forum_test/index.php?topic=130.0http://gsx1400owners.org/forum_test/index.php?topic=130.0 in this forum. Unless you run into some problems. The guy who repaired mine showed me the problem he ran into and apologized that it would take 1/2 hour longer. Problem was probably caused by using excessive force in the past to force the preload adjuster.

A full service is another animal. It starts with needing a nitrogen pressure system (or have it done by a technician). You could take plain air but it means that you need to bring it back up to pressure sooner (150+ PSI?), air has moisture corrosion), air expands with heat which changes the shocks handling characteristics, nitrogen does none of that. Then there are the pistons, seals, and other parts (tools!?) you may need to source.

Besides all this, a suspension specialist knows how to set the shocks up for your weight and riding needs/preferences.

Here you can see what might be involved in rebuilding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_InEnom2ec

Below a pic some of the stuff replaced on my shocks (besides the oil and nitrogen).

[gsxbarmy]

Service them yourself (as above), or in the UK, if you need a good place to get them overhauled, call Maxtons http://www.maxtonsuspension.co.uk/

[Mister Fishfinger]

Also in the UK, Brooks Suspension will rebuild them at £199 a pop:

https://www.brooksuspension.co.uk/suzuki-gsx1400-twin-shock-absorbers-rebuild-repair-service.html

Disclaimer: I haven't used them myself but they have a good reputation.

[Speedy1959]

When I owned a BMW R1200GS there was NO ONE in the UK that would / could rebuild them EXCEPT the company below..

http://firefoxracing.co.uk/

I had mine rebuilt / overhauled and it cost a fraction of the £1600 price of a new BMW shock!!
At that time my BMW dealership informed me they COULD NOT be serviced !!

At that time they were getting riders coming over from the continent on a "holiday" / refurb trip.

Highly recommended!

[PWM]

Thankyou for your input, fellas..

yes, the monkey who owned it before me had seized it on in click 9, it was jammed right there, hence me thinking that it could actually only be the final stop. The offside shock was adjusted to full slack.

I will whip them off and see if I can work some LM-413 into them and free them up. Considering I found mud inside the filler cap yesterday, who knows what I'll find  jamming up those adjusters.

[Kevan750]

Also in the UK, Brooks Suspension will rebuild them at £199 a pop:

https://www.brooksuspension.co.uk/suzuki-gsx1400-twin-shock-absorbers-rebuild-repair-service.html

Disclaimer: I haven't used them myself but they have a good reputation.

These are now £312 EACH! That's half the cost of new OHLINS? How can they possibly justify this cost?

[Hooli]

Because there is a lot of labour involved & Ohlins etc are a ripoff for road bikes anyway.

[grog]

First post Kevan, introductions are our usual protocol at start.As an answer, 312 each also robbery. cost around here is, just service and seals, 218 pounds, i converted , thats for both. Yes they work perfectly afterwards. I agree about so called best shocks, total rip off. 

[numbskull]

I emailed Firefox Racing a while ago about rebuilding as one of mine is leaking. Haven't had it done yet, but they quoted £70 - £90 per shock unless inspection turns up anything nasty.

[BlueDragon]

Must be the season for shock rebuild/replacement   

I've been looking into it as well. 

Here is what I've found - not mentioning any businesses here as I am not in bagging out a business - but clearly the first place I phoned up just wants to cater for people who have money that is burning a hole in their wallets/pockets, the top end of the market.. which I am not.  Whilst I am not "budget cheap and nasty", I have other things I need to budget for in life.


First suspension place I phoned up was in Sydney and they wanted $1500 for a full custom rebuild of the original shocks.  Which included all new seals, re-valve, new oil, re-gas, new springs to suit the weight of myself and pillion (wife).

Same place wanted near enough to $2500 for a set of rear shocks that were not even Ohlins, but RaceTech rear shocks out of the USA - again, custom made to my specs.

For a standard rebuild - which was new seals, oil and re-gas was just under $500.

For replacement front springs it was another $300 (from memory)

Proceeded to tell me that installing any other suspension brand was a waste of money, after I asked about other options for new rear shocks and that the original shocks in standard trim would be better than installing anything from  YSS, Nitron, Wilbers etc  also asked me if I was positive that my 1400 actually had adjustable compression and damping and he didn't think it did..   but they also tried to tell me that all progressive rate springs cause all bikes to wallow in corners and cause nothing but handling problems.  Find that hard to believe - if that was the case, then aftermarket manufacturers wouldn't make them. 

Also, I wanted progressive springs because of the crappy patched up roads we have in country NSW Australia.

Prices were with me doing the fitting, as I wasn't about to ride 6 hours to Sydney to their workshop, plus extra for shipping the shocks to them and back to me.

Can't say I was all that impressed, with talking to them on the phone, the impression he was giving me was that he just wanted to give me prices and get me off the phone so he could go do other things..  in fact I had to phone them twice as they never phoned me back.


I then phoned a place in Melbourne and got the opposite in customer service.  This person phoned me back straight away and proceeded to spend at least 1/2 hour on the phone going over all my options, pricing, recommendations etc and actually knew the 1400 and what it had in regards to suspension and adjustments.  Said that he had done quite a few with suspension. The more he explained things, I could tell he knew about the 1400.

The shop in Melbourne said a standard rebuild - no customisation would cost me around $450-$500.
can't remember how much a fully customised rebuild was on the OEM shocks. 

then asked me what my budget was, after me letting him know my weight, riding style, pillion weight and possible gear with panniers etc.

Again top end customised Wilbers or Nitron was going to be around the $2000 - $2400 mark, which is outside my budget, even with a lifetime warranty.

But then said that he has had no complaints at all from 1400 owners when their bikes were fitted with fully adjustable and customised YSS shocks.  with springs to suit my specs etc. for around $1300.  YSS RG362 shocks will adjustment for Preload, Damping and Compression, with external nitrogen canister and the custom springs can be my choice of colour at no extra charge.

Custom front springs will be around $200 or so.

All springs would be progressive - he agreed will give me better handling and comfort as I don't ride on a smooth race track and I am setting the bike up for touring, but still have good handling.

He said that there is nothing wrong with YSS and if there was, he would not stock them as it would hurt his business reputation.  He stocks them so that he caters for everyone's budget and can give people options. They come with a 2 year warranty and are fully re-buildable.

I'll be going with the customised YSS setup and new front springs.

[KoZi]

@BlueDragon If you are over than 105 kg with clothes change the springs in YSS shocks - standard will be to soft

[grog]

All i can say Dragon, wilbers springs in front end and service.progressive. Rears serviced. Total cost $800. Bike handles nice, bumps all nice. Not sure why waste money on new rear shocks.

[BlueDragon]

@BlueDragon If you are over than 105 kg with clothes change the springs in YSS shocks - standard will be to soft

Yep, cost is with custom springs - not the standard ones.