OK quick question

wilbur · Traffic Copper Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Karma :

Went out tonight to buy beer on The GPZ500.

The suspension was eeeerm just wrong. it is picking up bumps it would normally sail over.

I had a few thoughts.

1) picked up a nail- no all looks OK as are the tyre pressures.

2) rear shock siezed - I suspect this may be the case. I hope not. stripping it is not trivial.

3) Hot spots on the chain-cannot see it, it has only done about 2K and I do look after it.

Any other things to look for ?

It is a bit difficult to explain how it feels.

I'll slap some WD40 on the monoshock in the morning.

It does get covered in crap and got drenched in some floods last week. Thank you to the complete wankers who drove in the opposite direction in your 4x4s though a one foot flood whilst I was poodling through in the opposie direction.

Cheers

NSR Mick · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Karma :

The oil in your shock is cold therefore increasing the damping.
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wilbur · Traffic Copper Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Karma :

Hmm could be. never noticed it before and I have been riding for 30 years.

But cheers.

NSR Mick · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Karma :

Maybe not then, but after riding for 30 years you would know that your suspension linkages wont sieze in 1 day.

How long is it since you last rode it.
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

landy.s11a · Scooby Slapper Joined: 19 May 2005 Karma :

sometimes when things are sh1tty..ie getting drenched by inconsiderate drivers, you tend to notice things you don't notice when you're enjoying the ride, when its raining and windy I notice rattles and noises on the beema all the time, when its dry I tend to ride the tits out of it and never notice the noises etc.

hope you get it sorted

Lee
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wilbur · Traffic Copper Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Spraying WD40 on the linkage will have next to no effect.

The GPZ linkage is a minor bugger to strip. Mainly because Kawasaki in their infinate wisdom designed it so that when the centre stand is down it blocks one of the linkage bolts. Need to use an axle stand under each of the frame rails. The bushes themselves run in plastic "bearings", which are a poor fit even when new.

The way you describe it sounds almost like the suspension has suddenly got firmer. Cannot think of anything that would cause that, except maybe a spring breaking.

All the best

Keith
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Not unheard of to have problems with the shock, they get all the crap of the day sprayed up off the back wheel onto them). I sent an old one with a seized adjuster to a guy a couple of years ago when his one actually snapped the shaft.

As I recall (and it is a while since I did this), you can put it up on the stand then undo the dogbones and the top shock bolt (for which you will need a socket with a long extension, fiddly but do-able).

You should then be able to rotate the unitrak casting into a position that allows removal of the bottom bolt. The shock can then be manouvered out with a little muttered cursing and mildly skinned knuckles. You might need to take the back wheel out to allow you to drop the swingarm all the way to the ground, can't remember offhand.

When you put it back in, clart it with waxoil (or similar) and fix a section of car inner tube round it with cable ties (just the brackets sticking out) to act as a gaiter.

Could also be the unitrak bushes but excessive play is more usual here.

wilbur · Traffic Copper Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Karma :

Thank you people. Pretty much confims my thoughts. Had a look at it this morning. Yep it is stupidly positioned,as said it gets all the crap. The spring "looks" OK.

I'll give it a few weeks, I dont do a massive mileage. If I need to get it changed I'll probably bite the bullet and pay a man. My knuckles are covered in scars already.

Anyway, cheers.