GPZ500s Rear Suspension

[black gpz500s]

Hello, new here.

My bike's rear shock has gone very stiff. If you push the back of the bike down it goes with a nasty creaking noise and does not spring back up. Lifting the back of the bike up by the grab rail releases it, again with a horrible noise. When riding over a bump it is very noisy.

Is there any maintenance I can do to ease the shock absorber?

And is it easy to get at?

Thanks.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Most likely the rear suspension linkages have seized. You need to strip and grease these, although you may also need to replace the bushes if they are badly seized up.

The GPZ is a minor pig for doing these as Kawasaki kindly designed the rear suspension so that when the centre stand is in the down position is blocks you from getting out the bolts for the front link. So despite a centre stand you need to use something (I used a pair of axle stands) under the lower frame rails to support the bike with the back end raised.

All the best

Keith
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[black gpz500s]

Thanks Kickstart.