How to tell if the rear shock it going bad?

[Gamecock]

I don't think I have a problem, but if I start to I want to know it. The Yamaha dealer told me that "if it holds air, it's fine". Is that completly true? I am gonna crawl undernear and look for oil before the riding season and keep a close eye on it. I would honestly rather pay to have a new one than have a problem on a trip....which brings me to....

 

If the rear shock went out, other than riding like crap, can you still ride it? (I would have it replaced, but would rather have it done local than having to go back and get it.

 

Thanks (hope this isn't too much of a repeat question)

 

 

 

Ben

[Seaking]

I don't think I have a problem, but if I start to I want to know it. The Yamaha dealer told me that "if it holds air, it's fine". Is that completly true? I am gonna crawl undernear and look for oil before the riding season and keep a close eye on it. I would honestly rather pay to have a new one than have a problem on a trip....which brings me to....

 

If the rear shock went out, other than riding like crap, can you still ride it? (I would have it replaced, but would rather have it done local than having to go back and get it.

 

Thanks (hope this isn't too much of a repeat question)

 

Ben

 

If it holds AIR then that's a good thing.. but a useless thing if the shock lost all it's oil...

 

In that case you have a nice air shock which is useless.

 

When I was visiting Sky Doc last summer, it was discovered by one of the shops who fixed my bike that my shock was dead.. all the oil leaked out. And luckily for me, my bike is a US bike so it was covered under warranty..

 

How to test if it's dead or not? Well a lot of oil leaking out of it is one clue.. however, a lot of soft bouncing is not a good thing.. and I kept the air pressure very high.. Now that the new shock is on, what a difference..

 

I'm sure the experts here will be able to provide you with more info that I can..

 

Best of luck!

[Gamecock]

If it holds AIR then that's a good thing.. but a useless thing if the shock lost all it's oil...

 

In that case you have a nice air shock which is useless.

 

When I was visiting Sky Doc last summer, it was discovered by one of the shops who fixed my bike that my shock was dead.. all the oil leaked out. And luckily for me, my bike is a US bike so it was covered under warranty..

 

How to test if it's dead or not? Well a lot of oil leaking out of it is one clue.. however, a lot of soft bouncing is not a good thing.. and I kept the air pressure very high.. Now that the new shock is on, what a difference..

 

I'm sure the experts here will be able to provide you with more info that I can..

 

Best of luck!

 

 

Thanks! I bought mine in September and have not noticed any oil leak since then. Now, could all of the oil have leaked out before I bought it? Sure. I guess I need to have it checked to calm my nerves. I am a worry wart when it comes to things like this, I HAVE to know everything is all right. I don't like to second guess anything. Gonna double check the air pressure this weekend as I bumped it to 20 the last time I rode. I want to make sure it's still at 20 after 2 weeks of sitting. Thanks again.

 

 

Ben

 

 

(I'm sure Stud_Muffin will respond and help out his YOUNG neighbor to the North)

[Eck]

Ben

The quickest way I know of to check the rear shock for leaking fluid is like this:

 

With the bike sitting on side stand leaning to the left, it is best if you lay on the flooor of the right side of your bike (when looking forward).

 

Carefully pry up the "bottom edge" of the black rubber boot that is around the rear shock and check to see if any oil is visible. If the inside of the rubber boot is wet, or if there are ANY signs of oil, then your rear shock leaks.

As already mentioned, if it has no oil but yet it does hold air, then you have one heck of an air shock that is worthless.

 

Be ready to spend some big bucks to replace it..

[Gamecock]

I don't like spending money, but if I am gonna have a toy, it's gonna work the way it's supposed to. IF I ever have to replace it, then I am going to go aftermarket and forget about the Yamaha shock.

 

Read a few post and got some suggestions from there. Anymore out there?

 

 

Are there ANY success stories out there where the stock shock actually didn't fail?

 

Ben

[LilBeaver]

...

Read a few post and got some suggestions from there. Anymore out there?

 

 

Are there ANY success stories out there where the stock shock actually didn't fail?

 

 

Ben:

 

I've done a lot of reading about this lately for the exact same reasons that you are thinking about here.

 

From what I found, the Works Progressive shock is pretty much the only replacement. From what I was seeing it was somewhere between 600-800 ish. Through some online sources like partshark.com I was able to find a rear shock (OEM) for ~450 or so.

 

Just do a search for "rear shock" or similar strings, and you can find all sorts of good info on it.

 

Summary of what I found is that a bad shock can:

1) Hold air but no oil

2) Hold oil but not air (seems to be more rare)

3) not hold either

 

It also seems that the bike will be driveable (some have driven for a few months and it is ride-able).

 

Also, with the construction of this rear shock, it is my understanding that it is not serviceable. Meaning that one cannot change the oil in it, if they wanted to and also that fails it cannot be rebuilt. I know there are some folks around here that have much more knowledge of these things than I do. Rick Butler wrote a little piece in the tech section (I think ) regarding the construction and whatnot that I found very informative. It included a basic diagram showing a cross-section of the shock and whatnot.

 

I know others will probably chime in with much more useful information, but this is what I have found with some searching...

[LilBeaver]

This is Rick Butler's tech article on the rear shock

 

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2220

[Gamecock]

From some browsing on here, it seems these guys in New Jersey can hook you up, and if you give them the old one a replacement will only be $350. http://www.epmperf.com/

 

 

 

 

Ben

[Riderduke]

Ben:

 

 

Summary of what I found is that a bad shock can:

1) Hold air but no oil

2) Hold oil but not air (seems to be more rare)

3) not hold either

 

It also seems that the bike will be driveable (some have driven for a few months and it is ride-able).

 

.

Mine was #2 last year when I had it replaced 2 weeks before the warrenty was up.

[eusa1]

if the oil leaks out of your shock and it still holds air...... this is what has happened to most of the 2nd gen machines.

you can ride it that way, however it will ride like a pogo stick when you hit a bump unless you let most or all of the air out of the shock... and without air and oil, ya get the hard tail ride.

 

the "works performance" shock is a great product, however, does not have an adjustable air chamber that would allow for quick load or ride quality changes.

 

most times the shock will give you some warnings such as a squeeking or squaking when you first sit on it before the days ride.

mike.

[AKRefugee]

Believe me you will know when the shock goes out. The ride will not be as stable as what if is when you have a good shock. I noticed it most in the corners.

 

Can you ride with a shock that has lost its oil? Yes, I had to make it back to the west coast all the way from the east coast last year to find a dealer that would deal with it. Of course there was a lot of noise from the rear. Noises like "Ugggh", "you trying to hit every bump you can find" and "could you warn me next time". Believe me your navigator will let you know if the shock is blown.

[Sideoftheroad]

Also don't get it confused w/ excess oil when you do an oil change. That will also dump out in the same spot and look like a leaking shock. Look for a reddish color.

 

I had both issues after owning my bike. Previous shop (other than the one that I bought the bike from) overfilled the oil so I thought the shock was leaking. While waiting for the shop I bought the bike from to look at it, I went ahead and bought one from e-bay for $125 from an '08 (I think). Gamble I know, but it paid off. Dealer determined it was overfilled oil, they showed me the oil level, which the window was completely filled. Sometime down the road the shock started leaking, so swapped them out and have been riding happily ever sense.

 

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc121/lylejt/Bike%20Pics/Venture/Leak%20052009/P1010004.jpg

 

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc121/lylejt/Bike%20Pics/Venture/Leak%20052009/P1010005.jpg

[1BigDog]

Shock oil will have a "hydraulic oil" smell.

[Gamecock]

Thanks for all the replies guys!

 

One more question......What's the normal (roundabout, if there is one) milage for these things going out? I'm only at 9100 on my 04. Thanks again!

 

 

(guess I owe a few for asking so many questions)

 

Ben

[Riderduke]

Mine was about 55,000

WOO HOO the beer is on BEN.

[Gamecock]

Mine was about 55,000

WOO HOO the beer is on BEN.

 

 

I'm good with that! Just let me know what you drink! I got ya at Maintenance Day!

 

 

Ben

[RedRider]

I've got 70,000 miles and still going strong. Must have been built on a Wednesday.

 

RR

[Sideoftheroad]

I don't think there is any real data on if/when it goes out. Might be riding style? 1 up, 1 up w/ trailer, 2 up, 2 up w/trailer, etc....

 

Other than that there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to when they go out. Mine went out around 60k.

 

I do remember seeing some as low as like 10k.

[eusa1]

i am on my 4th shock.

about 20k between each shock, however i agree with the last statement, there are alot of variables.

i ride 1 up most of the time, and 2 up with a trailer at times.

mike.

[eusa1]

$719.40 IS THE LATEST LIST PRICE FROM MOTHER YAMAHA!!

hellava program to keep jacking up the price on a product that has not improved. grrrrr:soapbox:

[Bummer]

$719.40 IS THE LATEST LIST PRICE FROM MOTHER YAMAHA!!

hellava program to keep jacking up the price on a product that has not improved. grrrrr:soapbox:

Interesting. It would seem that the Works Performance shock, which is $689 and rebuildable, is now less than the Yamaha shock.

[eusa1]

Interesting. It would seem that the Works Performance shock, which is $689 and rebuildable, is now less than the Yamaha shock.

 

 

now if "works performance" would only make it air adjustable!!

[Bummer]

I agree. For the money I'd like to have one that's actually adjustable. On the other hand, I usually keep the shock set for two up touring even when it's just me.

 

Because of circumstance I plan to try to squeeze a replacement out of Yamaha under warranty next winter. I have nearly 40k on it now and can't really imagine it lasting a whole lot longer. After that I plan to get a Works shock set for full up riding.

[LilBeaver]

$719.40 IS THE LATEST LIST PRICE FROM MOTHER YAMAHA!!

 

hellava program to keep jacking up the price on a product that has not improved. grrrrr:soapbox:

 

List price is meaningless. Some sell for above, some sell for below. My local dealer told me they could have one to me for ~440 (before tax).

 

BUT, I agree that if the price gets much closer, or if one has to replace this dumb thing more than once the works shock basically paid for itself.

[eusa1]

the next time you go to the stealership, hold on to your wallet.... yama mamma just put a 20% increase across the board on all parts and accessories.