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TECHNICAL MOTOBRICK WRENCHING In Remembrance of Inge K. => The Motobrick Workshop => Topic started by: lmiklosy on May 17, 2022, 10:44:21 PM

Title: Stock Rear Shock Dissection
Post by: lmiklosy on May 17, 2022, 10:44:21 PM
Has anyone here disassembled a stock shock absorber from the K75/K100's to understand why their performance is so mediocre ?  I mean a dissection of the damper to examine parts and materials causing the sticktion and top-out behavior of this shock.   :idunno: There are posts here about Worx shock rebuilds but I'm interested in why the standard parts are so poor compared to Progressive, FOX, Worx and others.   

Danke Schoen!
Title: Re: Stock Rear Shock Dissection
Post by: Martin on May 18, 2022, 01:20:32 AM
RAD Shock Absorbers in Brisbane QLD does rebuild the OEM shocks and they are improved. However switching to a YSS was a bigger improvement.
Regards Martin.
Title: Re: Stock Rear Shock Dissection
Post by: The Mighty Gryphon on May 18, 2022, 09:48:11 AM
For what they need to do, the factory shocks are more than adequate.  A bike like a ours is sold to people of many sizes and requirements.  Large people who want to ride aggressively, smaller people who want to commute back and forth to work, passengers, luggage and camping gear.  Smooth roads, and terrible roads.  The interstate and canyons.  The factory has to find some kind of happy medium, and not spend a ton of money doing it.

Factory marketing types know that there is a large aftermarket for suspension upgrades with a range of performance and price points that will meet most riders requirements.  It makes no sense to the factory to add more cost to an already expensive machine to include a rear shock that many owners will replace as soon as possible.  A good middle of the road unit that will last 4-5 years is all the bike needs to get off the showroom floor.  Then the owner can replace it with something that makes his a$$ happier.
Title: Re: Stock Rear Shock Dissection
Post by: Chaos on May 18, 2022, 10:41:53 AM
The factory has to find some kind of happy medium, and not spend a ton of money doing it.



well said!
Title: Re: Stock Rear Shock Dissection
Post by: Scott_ on May 18, 2022, 05:33:47 PM
+1 what TMG said...
Title: Re: Stock Rear Shock Dissection
Post by: frankenduck on May 18, 2022, 08:53:53 PM
Meh, they're mediocre shocks that don't last very many miles. For the premium price of a BMW they should have been better.

JM02
Title: Re: Stock Rear Shock Dissection
Post by: Past-my-Prime on May 19, 2022, 08:55:52 PM
Well I will update once I've taken off my 33 year old unmolested shock and replace it with the Wilbers shock that was my Xmas present (my wife couldn't think of anything).
We will see whether my a$$ can tell the difference :laughing4-giggles:
Title: Re: Stock Rear Shock Dissection
Post by: triplek on May 20, 2022, 09:21:43 AM
They may be Mediocre shocks - but they are definitely not short lived. 

I've ridden many mediocre K bike factory shocks that are still perfectly mediocre and functional after several decades and tens of thousands of miles. 

They are extraordinarily well built, long lived and durable in their mediocrity.   ;)
Title: Re: Stock Rear Shock Dissection
Post by: The Mighty Gryphon on May 20, 2022, 10:17:23 AM
They may be Mediocre shocks - but they are definitely not short lived. 

I've ridden many mediocre K bike factory shocks that are still perfectly mediocre and functional after several decades and tens of thousands of miles. 

They are extraordinarily well built, long lived and durable in their mediocrity.   ;)

+1  I just sold a K100 with 44,000 miles and a "good" factory shock.  Still damped, no oil leaks, and usable performance.  But then, I am not a "pertend" Moto GP star.