HELP, my backs to soft!!!

[Zuki Bandit]

Put my bike in for a wof today and it passed. BUT...the old chap mentioned to me that the back shock is very soft, so much so that they checked for leaks. They didnt find any so it scraped through. He wasnt 100% sure on how to tighten it up as they dont get many Bandit 250's come in the shop.
Can anyone shed light on stiffening up suspension? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!


Cheers all

[Robert Taylor]

Put my bike in for a wof today and it passed. BUT...the old chap mentioned to me that the back shock is very soft, so much so that they checked for leaks. They didnt find any so it scraped through. He wasnt 100% sure on how to tighten it up as they dont get many Bandit 250's come in the shop.
Can anyone shed light on stiffening up suspension? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!


Cheers all

How many kilometres has the bike done? When you push down hard on the rear end and let it return does it spring back rather quickly and aftercycle before settling? Does the rear end wallow at speed over a bumpy road?

If it had done high Ks and you answer yes to the remaining questions then the shock is toast, endangering you and other road users in your path. Technically it should be a WOF failure, maybe not what you what to hear. But a worn rear shock with little or no damping seriouisly affects both the stability and steering of the bike.

[Zuki Bandit]

Thanks for the advise RT.
My bikes only done 20,000 kays and when I push down on the rear it springs back ok. Being new to riding i dont really have anything to compare the handling to. I guess if I can suss out how to adjust the shocks I might feel a difference.

[xwhatsit]

There's only the one shock on a Bandit 250, it'll be adjustable only for preload. I suppose you could jack up the preload right the way, would that stiffen things up? These things are often backwards to the way I think

20,000kms it may have done but Bandit 250s haven't been made for a quite a while and the shock may be stuffed anyway.

Did you get the WoF done at a bike shop? Or was it just a general place? If it was just a general place, they may have been surprised as on small, light bikes such as your 250, you don't need really stiff heavy-duty suspension. Just a thought?

Not entirely sure you know what you're looking for when you pressed down on the back of the bike. If the shock is shagged it will still spring back quickly; what you're looking for is the level of damping. If it's still got proper damping, then when you quickly release the weight off the back of the bike, it won't just pop back up like a toaster; it'll release more slowly and smoothly due to the oil damping it.

There might not have been any leaks because all the oil has been pumped out of the thing. Happens all the time with front forks, people think the forks have stopped leaking, but that's because there's no oil left

[Robert Taylor]

There's only the one shock on a Bandit 250, it'll be adjustable only for preload. I suppose you could jack up the preload right the way, would that stiffen things up? These things are often backwards to the way I think

20,000kms it may have done but Bandit 250s haven't been made for a quite a while and the shock may be stuffed anyway.

Did you get the WoF done at a bike shop? Or was it just a general place? If it was just a general place, they may have been surprised as on small, light bikes such as your 250, you don't need really stiff heavy-duty suspension. Just a thought?

Not entirely sure you know what you're looking for when you pressed down on the back of the bike. If the shock is shagged it will still spring back quickly; what you're looking for is the level of damping. If it's still got proper damping, then when you quickly release the weight off the back of the bike, it won't just pop back up like a toaster; it'll release more slowly and smoothly due to the oil damping it.

There might not have been any leaks because all the oil has been pumped out of the thing. Happens all the time with front forks, people think the forks have stopped leaking, but that's because there's no oil left

This is an excellent description. Also what is your personal height and weight? If the damping is still somewhere near okay it may respond to adding a little preload.

[Zuki Bandit]

Im 80 kg and 6'2.

[Robert Taylor]

Im 80 kg and 6'2.

Okay, it most certainly needs preload, but the spring is also too soft for your tall frame. The trouble is finding something of the exact dimensions and the rate you require for such a shock is very very difficult.