Suspension wiggles - is it bad?

[Disco Dan]

Ok, with bike on its centre stand and firmly gripping the top of the rear wheel it moves when pulled upwards. Erm, ok... it moves about 3-4mm before any resistance from the shock.

Is that bad? Swing arm bearing?

[xwhatsit]

If it moves sideways at all you're in the shit. Don't know about your question though :)

[James Deuce]

Typical Kawasaki bagginess. If it's the original shock it was toast somewhere between 10000 and 20000 kms.

If the suspension hasn't been serviced EVER (like most bikes) then there may be significant wear in suspension linkages allowing things to slop about before the shock takes up the load.

You're lucky you have a centrestand. You can rip the rear end to bits and service or replace things without having to head for the shop.

[White trash]

Suspension linkage bearings or shock bushings Dan and yes it is bad. Get it fixed.

Interestingly for me, while working on the K7 the other night we found exactly the same problem. Not bad for a 6 month old bike having travelled less than 8000 kays. Way to go Suzuki.

[Disco Dan]

Typical Kawasaki bagginess. If it's the original shock it was toast somewhere between 10000 and 20000 kms.

If the suspension hasn't been serviced EVER (like most bikes) then there may be significant wear in suspension linkages allowing things to slop about before the shock takes up the load.

You're lucky you have a centrestand. You can rip the rear end to bits and service or replace things without having to head for the shop.


Not sure if it is the original shock, but the bikes done 34,000 miles now - 4000 of those being me.

Bike shop picked it up, said it was nothing to worry about but should get it fixed soonish.


Suspension linkage bearings or shock bushings Dan and yes it is bad. Get it fixed.

Interestingly for me, while working on the K7 the other night we found exactly the same problem. Not bad for a 6 month old bike having travelled less than 8000 kays. Way to go Suzuki.

Ah ok, cheers - finally an excuse to get my hands dirty up her rear end :eek5: Did the front end of her about 1000 miles ago, that was no biggie. Its the rear i've never done myself before.

...sheesh more $$$$$ :sweatdrop:sweatdrop

[Robert Taylor]

Suspension linkage bearings or shock bushings Dan and yes it is bad. Get it fixed.

Interestingly for me, while working on the K7 the other night we found exactly the same problem. Not bad for a 6 month old bike having travelled less than 8000 kays. Way to go Suzuki.

You will often find a small amount of vertical movement in all names / models of bikes, even when brand new. Try slightly loosening the locknuts on the shock mounting bolts and feel the play, it can be horrifying. The tolerance between mounting bolt, shock distance bushes and the frame holes is often very ''generous'' Of course what you feel at the wheel is very magnified to the actual clearance at the mounting bolts.

But if the bike has done mileage strip and inspect the linkages. In especially the land of the rising sun there appears to be a serious shortage of assembly grease!

[Disco Dan]

You will often find a small amount of vertical movement in all names / models of bikes, even when brand new. Try slightly loosening the locknuts on the shock mounting bolts and feel the play, it can be horrifying. The tolerance between mounting bolt, shock distance bushes and the frame holes is often very ''generous'' Of course what you feel at the wheel is very magnified to the actual clearance at the mounting bolts.

But if the bike has done mileage strip and inspect the linkages. In especially the land of the rising sun there appears to be a serious shortage of assembly grease!

Sounds like it could be worth me replacing my rear shock while im at it?

What sort of $$$ am I looking at for this sort of work? I would probably do it myself, so just a parts estimate?

Cheers

[Robert Taylor]

Sounds like it could be worth me replacing my rear shock while im at it?

What sort of $$$ am I looking at for this sort of work? I would probably do it myself, so just a parts estimate?

Cheers

PM me on that one.