Testing Shocks

[VetteRacer]

Trying to get back into riding after a few years off... My R1100S has been sitting for awhile now. It looks like the front Ohlins might have leaked a little bit, so I sent out a few feelers to get them both rebuilt (sent feelers to PPR and Roger).

My main question is, how do I know if a shock is in need of service or not? I have the factory shocks in a box somewhere, haven't been on bike since at least 05. What can I do to see if they will still be good to get the bike on the road while Ohlins are out for rebuild?



Matt

[adrianw]

Find one of these in your county:

http://www.hydraulics.uk.com/files/downloads/shock-absorber-test.pdf

[wswartzwel]

Welcome back Matt. Roger has a shock dyno, and does great work. I have some of his rebuilds on my S.

I heard your friend Jeff Williams, has his old boxer cup back again.

[VetteRacer]

Adrian, wow, thats a lot more of a test then I was expecting. I was thinking something home based.
From the email I already got back from ProPilot it sounds like the turn around is quick, since I have other issues to attend to on the bike I won't miss out on not having a shock for a week. For some reason I was expecting it to be a 2 week turn around... Waiting on Roger to get back to me as well.

Bill, thanks, glad to be back. Bike has been sitting in garage giving me sad eyes for awhile. Time to stop neglecting it!
I saw that he got it back, must be weird riding it again... I sent him a PM but it doesn't seem he visits often, will have to call him. Haven't talked to him in a number of years either...

Matt

[wiggledbits]

If it was me after a few years so long as the springs held the wheels up and there were no oil squirting out of the shock on a bounce test... bolt um up and ride like you stole the thing! Especially living in Sun Diego. But that is just one man's opinion. :-)

Happy riding!

[Rapid Dog]

...hey Vetter, where you been? In the Navy?

I used PetterssonStig when he was in Cali, but he's moved. Very fair price and turnaround.
Pettersson Pro Suspension uses OHLINS Motorcycle Suspensions and Forks

If the one is leaking it's probably due, so why not do both I say.
I was told by suspension pro Javier Gonzalez that they should be serviced every two years...

[VetteRacer]

rapid, howdy!! Air Force for awhile, now working in San Diego at a TV station... Just had other things going that put riding on back burner.. Still in the same place?

Looking like Pro Pilot or Roger will be doing it, have some more questions out to both.

Matt

[Rapid Dog]

...still in Achton kid.
Glad to hear you're doing well.

[bradzdotcom]

matt~

i'll save you some time/money:
the oil is shot. it needs to be replaced.
it's all black and icky (technical term) and needs new fish oil to be happy again.

take off the shocks, put them in a box, send them on a spring break adventure.
they'll thank you for it later.

[Bob Hancock]

Originally Posted by VetteRacer

My main question is, how do I know if a shock is in need of service or not? Matt

Matt, looks like you've found the solution, but to answer your question, I offer a bit of anecdotal evidence. On my '04 R11S I had Ohlins on both ends. At the 30,000 mile mark I took both off and had them rebuilt. According to the tech doing the work the rear was toast with black ugly oil in it although not leaking. The front still looked great inside. So that tells me that the front of a BMW telelever should last longer than 30k miles without complications.
FWIW.

[Deans BMW]

San Jose BMW has a Shock Dyno and is an authorized Ohlin rebuilder.