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I've read a couple posts with the theme.. 'is it time?'.. so here's mine.

I have just a hair under 56K on the bike.. is it time to replace the front/rear shock absorbers?
We ride her mostly two up. I've felt recently (after our return from the 'Dragon' that the front end is not as 'solid' as I thought it used to be. Part of me wonders.. am I imagining it or is it real?

Would like to know what the super mechanics (CycleRob, Boxer, etc. you know who you are) think?

Thanks,

Hawk

am I imagining it or is it real?

It's real!
It doesn't take a super mechanic to know that at 56k your shocks are probably done, it doesn't take a super mechanic to notice the difference new shocks make, and you don't have to be a super mechanic to wonder why you didn't do it earlier.
Just do it.

Ian

I did mine last year at 55K. It was way past time! I now know what people are talking about when they say they are "riding on rails"!
I'm sure Boxer will tell you can get 80K plus on the stock shocks!

Regardless of what Boxer says, yes it's time! Well past time! I lost that solid handling feeling in the curves around 25,000 and replaced the rear with an Ohlin and the return of my bike's handling was well worth it. The front did not make it much past that and has also been replaced.

One advantage to replacement is getting a rebuildable shock! My rear has already been rebuilt once.

Especially two up, you will notice the difference. Loss of handling happens slowly and you don't notice it.

You can get well over 80K on a rear shock! Let it go for another 25K. And don't order a used one from a guy who beat anorexia!

I followed Boxer with his worn out shock. Believe me, even if couldn't tell he needed one, I sure could just watching!

garr2, Buckster and wncbmw, you guys "took the words right out of my mouth". Boxer clearly was just jesting, except for the sound advice about buying a used shock . . . . unless your shock has lost all it's oil and you want a really cheap replacement.

I was surprised to learn from the experienced shock tech repairman (a friend/neighbor of wncbmw) that repaired my OilHead's oil weeping Ohlins rear shock that they (all shocks) should be "serviced" every 20K miles (32,187 km). Servicing means taking it apart to change the oil, shaft seals and sometimes piston seals. I was shocked (pun intended) when I saw the dark-n-filthy oil that came out of my Ohlins rear shock with about 22K miles of predominately dry weather riding. I was also very surprised at how thin and tiny, like a small rubber washer, the actual shaft oil seal was.

My F800ST's 4+ year old stock rear shock still works OK, but it will likely be replaced before it's 5th birthday. The most important key phrase mentioned in all the above posts to hawkdad was made by Vann; The performance deterioration happens so gradually that you do not notice the dramatic change between new and 56K miles of wear.

What have you paid for your new shocks? And is this a DIY replacement or best to leave it to a shop?

At 43k miles, my bike is definitely wallowing in the corners and I don't enjoy that feeling. I'm trying to decide if it's worth spending the $ on shocks, or just putting it towards some more modern machinery instead...

I think it was around $1300.00 for the Wilbers I chose. I did the install myself. It was pretty straight forward. Seems like their was one little trick to make it easy but I don't remember what it was. If I remember, I will post. Ted at Beemershop was a huge help!

Buckster wrote:I think it was around $1300.00 for the Wilbers I chose. I did the install myself. It was pretty straight forward. Seems like their was one little trick to make it easy but I don't remember what it was. If I remember, I will post. Ted at Beemershop was a huge help!

Thanks for the info. Beemershop is fairly local to me, so perhaps I'll have to swing by for a visit...

Boxer wrote:You can get well over 80K on a rear shock! Let it go for another 25K. And don't order a used one from a guy who beat anorexia!

I changed my avatar. And my shock had 30,000 less miles than your's did.