SuzukiSavage.com - How long do shocks usally last?

sunny Senior Member 2004 No Login Offline rock this town Posts: 293 d/fw texas Gender:	Re: How long do shocks usally last? Reply #45 - 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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Susan Serious Thumper 2004 No Login Offline Been AWOL but I'm back... Posts: 682 Eastern PA Gender:	Re: How long do shocks usally last? Reply #46 - 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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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: How long do shocks usally last? Reply #47 - 08/23/04 at 13:18:54 That just proves that WD40 is the most important tool in the box 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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sunny Senior Member 2004 No Login Offline rock this town Posts: 293 d/fw texas Gender:	Re: How long do shocks usally last? Reply #48 - 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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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: How long do shocks usally last? Reply #49 - 08/23/04 at 14:41:47 Well, you're back in the saddle now.... 8)
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LittleRedster

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Re: How long do shocks usally last?
Reply #50 - 08/25/04 at 14:23:07

sunny wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:

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...

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. Undecided

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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sunny

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Re: How long do shocks usally last?
Reply #51 - 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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Savage_Greg

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Re: How long do shocks usally last?
Reply #52 - 08/25/04 at 14:35:14

Well, the "Gang's all here" Grin

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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LittleRedster Ex Member	Re: How long do shocks usally last? Reply #53 - 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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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: How long do shocks usally last? Reply #54 - 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...
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Jon

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Re: How long do shocks usally last?
Reply #55 - 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. Shocked

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Susan Serious Thumper 2004 No Login Offline Been AWOL but I'm back... Posts: 682 Eastern PA Gender:	Re: How long do shocks usally last? Reply #56 - 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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Savage_Greg

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Re: How long do shocks usally last?
Reply #57 - 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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LittleRedster

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Re: How long do shocks usally last?
Reply #58 - 08/27/04 at 10:18:16

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:

It would be easier too if you had a way to raise the rear wheel and get some of the weight off the springs.

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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bassman29 Ex Member	Re: How long do shocks usally last? Reply #59 - 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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