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/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> How long do shocks usally last? /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1092142940 Message started by jendesigner on 08/10/04 at 06:02:20 |
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Title: How long do shocks usally last? Post by jendesigner on 08/10/04 at 06:02:20 I have over 15,000 on the bike and was wondering how long the shocks last (average miles). I know the suspension isn't the best on this bike but I feel I'm riding a hardtail. Just wondering. How many people have changed their shocks already? If so, is there a better type to replace the old ones. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Autif on 08/10/04 at 09:01:31 You can try to change the setting of the stiffness of the shocks. It is an involved process for the front ones, but for the rear ones, it is quite simple. There is an allen bolt on each shock absorber. There are 5 settings, turning it counter clockwise makes it stiff, turning it clockwise makes it soft. All the best and ride safe! |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Jon on 08/10/04 at 09:11:05 > I have over 15,000 on the bike As shocks wear is they lose their damping. Springs will take a 'set' after a while, too, causing some functional loss of the primary (softer) coils. At 15K I think this would apply to your bike. Hagon makes replacement shocks for the LS650: http://www.davequinnmotorcycles.com |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Pat B on 08/10/04 at 10:18:05 Autif wrote:
Yea, I’d play with the preload of the shocks before replacement. When I got my bike I adjusted the preload. Setting it for the stiffest setting was like replacing it with a solid shaft, but the softest was way too soft for me. Try the adjustments, but try to ride 5-10 miles before you decide if you like the setting. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Jon on 08/10/04 at 10:46:27 > play with the preload of the shocks before replacement Tweaking the preload just compresses the softer coils, raises the seat height, stiffens the ride, and does nothing to enhance the damping. - - - - - - - - - FYI... If you find that you are getting hammered by your bike no matter what preload setting, the spring rate might be mismatched to your body weight. Aftermarket shocks can be assembled with different spring options. I think the previously mentioned Hagons give you a choice of three different progressive-wound springs for the LS650. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by jendesigner on 08/10/04 at 11:13:15 Thanks everyone. If I remember right I checked the setting once before, but it dosen't hurt to look again. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/10/04 at 14:11:59 If you only weigh in the 130 pound range (just guessing a woman's possible weight), then you needn't have your shocks on any more than the #3 position, maybe even just #2. For comparison, at 220 I run my shocks on #4 for daily use, and #5 if I'm going on a long ride fully loaded. Also, take a look inside the spring at the top of the shock body to check if you see any leakage from the seal. If still not happy, maybe then you need new shocks....the sky's the limit on what you can get (and so is the price). Not only a variable preload, but variable dampening too. Maybe some of these guys with the high mileage Savages can give some input. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by jendesigner on 08/11/04 at 06:06:35 I checked my setting, it was set tp the stiffest position. I've been riding it for 2 years like this! I went for a ride at the softest position last night, i'ts nice to have suspension!!! With the forward controls it's harder to stand up going over tracks or larger bumps, so this will make the ride much better. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Pat B on 08/11/04 at 08:10:44 jendesigner wrote:
After I got the setting correct it made the bike much better for the ride to work. What type of forward controls do you have?? I'd like to get a set, but don't know what type to get. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/11/04 at 08:52:01 jendesigner wrote:
Great....and you must weigh a LOT less than me :o BTW - I've been riding mine for over 4 years, and I think that my shocks are still okay. And I abuse mine more than you do ::) |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by jendesigner on 08/11/04 at 11:59:04 The forward controls I have are Highway Hawk from Seegercycle.com. They are not cheap, but worth every penny to me. Here is a link to my photos to see what they look like. http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jendesigner/album?.tok=pherjNBB6Zmni94S&.dir=/4fb4&.src=ph |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by cphilip on 08/11/04 at 12:09:52 Guys, were is the location of these adjustments on the rear? I see a hole in the lower chrome covering. Is it in there? I do not make out that its Allen Key though. I don't really see anything keyed there so might be wrong place? Or am I missing something? I have never checked to see where mine are set either. Since I bought it used I suspect its set up pretty high though. Could probably do better to go down a notch if it is. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by wrench on 08/11/04 at 13:18:03 > Guys, were is the location of these adjustments > ....I see a hole in the lower chrome covering Insert an adequately sized rod, allen wrench, or the screwdriver shaft in the tool kit and rotate the base clockwise or counter-clockwise. There are five preload settings. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by cphilip on 08/11/04 at 16:37:57 Ah ok... must take a fair amount of pressure to get em to move. Did mess with them but ran low on time and had to leave em till tomorrow to do it with something a bit longer to get more leverage. My real problem here is I do know know where they are at this point. Knowing the oral history of the Bike I would suspect they are all the way as stiff as they will go. The previous owner was reportedly a large guy and he road around with the little lady on the back too... and she was also reportedly not so little.... which is the reason he traded it in. Needed larger engine to haul them both around. So I am going to go clockwise? And then should I hear of feel a click or something to know its a notch down? |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Susan on 08/11/04 at 21:38:08 cphilip wrote:
You can use an allen wrench. Put it in the hole that is toward the bottom of the shock (the hole is near the top of the large chrome ring at the bottom of the shock). There are five settings. To stiffen, turn it clockwise. To soften, go counterclockwise. When I changed this on my 2004 I heard a definite, loud click at each setting. To make sure you are on the same setting on each side, go all the way to the counterclockwise position (softest setting) and then count the same number of clicks on each side. This is important -- if they are set differently it could affect the handling of the bike. BTW, you can't tell if they are in the same spot by looking at the shocks (since the same shock is used on both sides, position 1 on the left is in the exact opposite spot as position 1 on the right). |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/12/04 at 02:44:40 cphilip wrote:
The "notches" for the preload adjustment are difficult to see because of the cosmetic chrome cover. Clockwise stiffens the preload and counter clockwise softens it. As everyone has said...find an appropriate sized tool to insert in the hole and turn it. It will go continuously meaning that there is no stop in stiffest direction. If you go too far in the stiff direct, it will jump to the softest position #1, however if it is at the #5 position it can go backwards toward #1. If they don't move under firm pressure, try squirting some WD40 on the chrome ring from underneath....and that reminds me ::) You may need to lay on the floor and look up into the cover to see what is really going on. I know that we hate to do that, but if you do, it will all begin to make sense. Take a look. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by sunny on 08/12/04 at 07:28:09 when i looked into the hole in the chrome cover i most certainly did NOT see an opening that would require an allen wrench. actually, it appears that the bolt is stripped out. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Susan on 08/12/04 at 07:36:10 Greg_650 wrote:
I didn't have this issue. In my case the tool ends up bumping up against the bike which made it easy for me to know I was in the softest position. Of course you can also tell it is in the softest and not the stiffest by sitting on the bike and bouncing a little. :) |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by cphilip on 08/12/04 at 12:51:04 Greg_650 wrote:
That all sounds logical Greg and thanks. I will do some crawling. Have not gotten a chance to do that with the storms coming our way. But will. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/12/04 at 14:01:50 sunny wrote:
Misunderstanding? Either you or me... The allen wrench is just a tool, but what you see through the hole in the chrome cover is just a simple hole in the shock adjuster. Not an actual allen wrench type bolt or anything. Just a hole that you put the allen (or anything appropriate) into and turn the cover and the adjuster at the same time. Even a simple rod or screwdriver will work if it fits. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/12/04 at 14:05:24 Susan wrote:
Except that they turn the same direction on different sides of the bike. So it bumps into different parts of the bike. It is still best to look up in there to make sure they are set on the same notches. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by cphilip on 08/12/04 at 15:31:13 yea and right now it seems my "holes" are not in the same position on each side. So either they do not line up the same on each side or this previous owner has them off set from one another. High time I looked into this isn't it? :D I think it makes sense to "look" like Greg says. So you can understand the settings and match them up for certain on each side. One more question. Are the clicks audible or tactile. ie can I feel em or hear em? Not that it matters I suppose if I can see them but might be good to know. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Susan on 08/12/04 at 18:14:02 cphilip wrote:
Maybe I can clear this up: 1. Clicks are audible. 2. Holes are not in the same position because the same shock is used on both sides. This means you get a mirror image effect. 3. To echo Greg's point, you can use any tool in the hole. I just mentioned an allen wrench because that is what I used. All you are doing is using a tool for leverage to turn the chrome cover and the underlying shock adjuster. Hope that helps! :) |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/13/04 at 03:07:58 I took the little cosmetic off my bike. Not that easy to do either. The shocks now look like shocks on older bikes. I wanted to be able to see the position and adjust it more easily. As Susan said, the adjustment has a very tactile feel to it. Kind of a "boing" or thump into each position. You can tell when it moves. If it is really hard, then I suggest a dose of WD40. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by cphilip on 08/14/04 at 11:37:48 OK got it done finaly. And as suspected the big dude that used to own this had em all the way up. I ended up placing them in the last notch before returning all the way up. However earlier it was stated there were five positions. I could be counting them wrong but I seem to be only counting four? I see the real steep drop and then only three more step drops up. I am in the last one before the highest one so it really doesn't matter. A quick test run and I could feel it was a tad softer. So for now I am going to ride like that a while. I suspect the highest setting was a tad more harsh than I needed weighing in at about 170 or so. And from extrapolating some of the others of your examples I theorized about that setting would be good. But time will tell. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by klx650sm2002 on 08/14/04 at 12:01:10 At one time people used to use especially matched shock absorbers in an effort to stop the swingarm from twisting. Clive W |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Susan on 08/14/04 at 14:32:26 So what position are people riding in? (Your answer will be most useful to others if you include whether you ride 1 or 2 people and your weight). I ride in position 2 (second softest). I never carry a passenger and weigh just over 100 lbs. Even for me position 1 seemed too soft... |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Kropatchek on 08/14/04 at 16:09:26 I ride in pos 2, single and weight 74 Kg. >:( |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by gitarzan on 08/14/04 at 17:50:18 Mine, when I got it was in the middle position. It goes from the middle point, two down or two up, then all the way down. Why they do that, I don't know. At any rate, it's obvious that once it's in position 6 it's there to stay unless you take the shock off or maybe put the bike on a jack. Anyway I set mine to all they way soft, and it felt pretty good. But I am a man, and a man who sets performance above comfort ::) So, I raised it to 5 (hard) and decided it was a little bit more bumpity than I wanted, and not that I couldn't take it, of course being a man who cherishes performance over comfort, but I wanted to see if setting 4 would provide better performance at the risk of also providing more comfort. ;) So, when I went to make the adjustment, I could not remember which way to turn it. Since I am a man and don't like to rely on printed instructions (it would uncomfortably close to referring to a map, after all) and I did not feel like walking inside the house to get the book, so, since I am also a man of logic, I deduced that I had a 50/50 chance of getting it right. I never have been a very lucky person, so after turning the wrong way, I went ahead and did the other shock to match and have been riding along very comfortably ever since. ;D |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/15/04 at 03:29:46 I can't take it anymore. AHHHHH! Since I am a "man of tools" that likes performance, and at 220 lbs need a little comfort, too, I'll clear this up. Since I have my cosmetic covers removed, I'm going downstairs to take a picture of the adjusters. I know they are hard to see, and that is why I took mine apart. Back in a few.... |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/15/04 at 04:11:39 Okay, here it is. The shock adjuster is a ring that supports the spring with 2 sets of notches. Each side of the ring has 5 notches for 5 positions. If you turn the adjuster past the stifftest #5 (biggest notch), it drops down to the #1 position (littlest notch), and then it continues from #1 to #5 again. You can't see it here, but there are 2 stops under this ring. One on each side. The stop is the oblong thing with 2 weld marks. That way the ring is supported equally on each side at the same notch level. However there is only one hole in the adjuster (and the chrome cover) for turning. Mine is on #4. Funny too, how the camera flash really brings out the spots of rust and dirt. Guess that I'd better get to waxing ::) http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/215/215131/folders/156326/1187899ShockAdjust02web.jpg |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Autif on 08/16/04 at 07:58:22 u the man greg!! |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/16/04 at 13:28:28 And after having a close look at my own dirty wheel and rust spots, I spent 5 hours detailing the bike yesterday ::) |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by gitarzan on 08/17/04 at 14:03:03 It's no longer a rat bike? ??? |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/17/04 at 14:45:11 It's a clean rat.... 8) http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/215/215131/pages/543347/04GMDEngine01web.jpg |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Susan on 08/17/04 at 16:41:20 Greg_650 wrote:
She's beautiful! |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/18/04 at 02:12:28 Thanks. ;D My wife won't say that since her 2001 is a "full dresser" by comparison. ::) |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by klx650sm2002 on 08/18/04 at 06:21:18 Greg I have a picture of Your Engine/header/carb/battery as my wallpaper, just thought You'd like to know. Clive W :D |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/18/04 at 08:56:01 Cool. Send me one of your KLX. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by sunny on 08/18/04 at 10:01:10 ok. i see how i totally misunderstood how to adjust the shocks. unfortunately, it's still not 100% clear to me how to move from one setting to another... ::hopes everyone will be patient with me:: |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by klx650sm2002 on 08/18/04 at 11:33:30 Sorry Greg but I'm not equiped to send pictures, yet. Clive W :D |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Susan on 08/18/04 at 12:18:16 Sunny, Call me tonight and I will walk you through it. I'll send you my phone number in a separate message. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/18/04 at 14:38:00 You go, Susan. If there are still some difficulties, let me know. I will always help a fellow Savage. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by sunny on 08/23/04 at 07:24:56 i did it! and it feels a bit better. thanks susan! |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Susan on 08/23/04 at 07:29:59 sunny wrote:
Cool! I am glad it worked out. What position are you riding? |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by sunny on 08/23/04 at 08:46:48 #2. i had to use a hammer for more leverage to push the allen wrench around. my screwdriver was bending... |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Susan on 08/23/04 at 12:33:22 Wow! Your shocks must have been supertight to bend the screwdriver. Glad it worked out. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/23/04 at 13:18:54 That just proves that WD40 is the most important tool in the box :D PS - I met another Savage today...he is a real newbie with a '96. The chrome cover on one of his shocks was turned so that you couldn't get to the hole in the adjuster. That means that a previous owner took them apart or something. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by sunny on 08/23/04 at 13:55:49 funny. i had applied wd40 a few days prior, you know, back when i thought turning the allen wrench itself would adjust the shocks...(it's ok. we can all laugh about that now) it could be that i have just been overtired due to being sick. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/23/04 at 14:41:47 Well, you're back in the saddle now.... 8) |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by LittleRedster on 08/25/04 at 14:23:07 sunny wrote:
After reading this thread I decided to see if mine needed to be adjusted. Greg's photo is worth a thousand words, however, I'm still lost too. I've inserted an appropriately-sized (I think) allen wrench, but can't figure out whether to TWIST it like I'm using a screwdriver or push it left or right, as the photo makes it appear I have to do. :-/ Greg, I was going to email you about this off-list, but decided there still might be someone like me who just-doesn't-get-it. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by sunny on 08/25/04 at 14:33:18 i know i know i know! you don't twist the allen wrench itself, you push it (or pull it) around the base of the shock. the external chrome cover will rotate with the internal part that you are moving around. placing the allen wrench in the hole is just adding a handle to the internal mechanism, that's all. a strong screwdriver that fits in the openings will work just as well. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/25/04 at 14:35:14 Well, the "Gang's all here" ;D Hi CHeryl. Look at the picture and think of turning the adjuster ring. From the picture that I posted...if I wanted to be stiffer and move from #4 to #5, I would turn it to the left. And if I wanted softer, I would go to the right. There are 2 silly things about all this. One is the chrome ring which means that you have to look up into the ring from below, and Two is that Suzuki didn't give a real tool to do it with.... Might need to use a little WD40 too, the night before. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by LittleRedster on 08/25/04 at 14:39:27 Hi Greg, thanks! and thanks to you too, Sunny. Going home right now to try again. I probably just didn't have enough "oomph" and will try a little WD40, as well. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/25/04 at 14:45:22 It would be easier too if you had a way to raise the rear wheel and get some of the weight off the springs. Just a thought... :P |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Jon on 08/25/04 at 14:56:12 > It would be easier too if you had a way to raise the > rear wheel and get some of the weight off the > springs. See your local auto parts store for one of the Chinese-made motorcycle lifts currently in circulation. They are good for up to 1500#, and I've seen them on sale for only $50. Be sure to tie down the handlebars with these jacks so the bike doesn't fall off---that's always good for a big adrenaline rush. :o |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Susan on 08/25/04 at 19:18:42 Way to go Sunny! P.S. Cheryl, It might be easier if you took the weight off but I was able to do it pretty easily with the bike sitting in place. It may depend on whether your bike has sat out for a while. Mine is only a few months old which probably made it less hard to turn. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/26/04 at 15:06:17 By the way, I read another article in Motorcycle Cruiser today (slow work day) that concerns what the preload adjustment really does. I can't remember exactly who, but someone else here in this list has already correctly explained the same thing (all that I did was explain how to do it). If anyone is interested, I'll gladly scan it and post it. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by LittleRedster on 08/27/04 at 10:18:16 Greg_650 wrote:
Yeah, I thought of that, too, but after Sunny's further clarification I got it without too much trouble. However, I admit, on one side I couldn't budge it all the way to position one, but lo and behold, one of my biker buddies stopped by soon after and was able to help me out. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by bassman29 on 08/29/04 at 14:38:36 I tried this adjustment today and wow, what a difference! I went from having what felt like no rear suspension to a soft ride with one click. Actually it was more like a "clang" - I could definitely tell when the setting changed. Thanks to all who offered advice on this. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by gitarzan on 08/30/04 at 14:05:01 Clang? I'll bet you turned it from 5 to 1. For some reason Suzuki made the settings go 1-2-3-4-5-1. I went "over the deep side" as well. Actually I'm real happy with the setting, so that's good. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/30/04 at 14:19:19 gitarzan wrote:
I thought the same thing ::) but I didn't want to mention that it will be a pill to get it back to say position 4 if you wanted that since there is only one hole....but you could always remove the lower shock bolt and turn the bottom of the shock. |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by gitarzan on 08/30/04 at 14:34:05 That project will wait until I have some other need to remove them. I tried other settings and would be riding on 1 anyway. The idea of turning it around is a keen-o idea! I was thinking it would take a lot of pulling to force it back... :-/ |
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Title: Re: How long do shocks usally last? Post by Greg_650 on 08/31/04 at 03:06:24 gitarzan wrote:
If you get a buddy to lean the bike over and pull up, the other shock spring will push the swingarm far enough to allow you to get the shock back on. I did this to another Savage last week (for a different reason). |
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