Yes, I'm a firm believer in changing the fluids annually and the fork oil biannually. Just wondering if anyone's had their ES shock overhauled yet. as I know some people are racking up big miles on these bikes. Around 30,000 miles the stock shock on my last Gen I started to feel worn out and I would've replaced it with aftermarket if I had kept the bike. But with my ES shock that's not really an option so I'll overhaul it.
How long does stock suspension last?
- Thread starter Dirt_Dad
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Champagne InHand
Member
I’ve learned a lot in this thread. I’ve had my non ES S10 for just a few weeks. It doesn’t have over 3500 miles on it but it’s a MY 2013 purchased in 2014. The brake fluid looked like Coca-Cola. I hadn’t planned on changing the Turk oil this Fall, but I do know.
I eventually plan on trying to ride the PanAmerican Highway from the top of the USA in NY by Niagara Falls to at least Costa Rica and further if I am up for it physically and mentally.
I don’t plan to do this until late Fall of 2020 or 2021, but I need to know everything I can about maintaining this S10, especially before the trip and on the road. I had a year of classes in motorcycle maintenance, but every bike is very different. In training you do everything from lawn mowers and golf carts before you actually start on small displacement dirt bikes. More focused on power trains as well.
I will master changing my own tires and fluids on long trips. I know I can get basic fluids at Walmart in the Cancun or Yucatán areas as well as Mexico City. I probably can get tires there as well since Walmart actually sell full motorcycles in Mexico.
In Managua they have plenty of Yamaha service stuff as the national police use Yamaha.
This suspension stuff is great to know from people familiar with it.
I’ll have to look up the DIY on changing the fork oil. If you have any links it’s much appreciated.
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I eventually plan on trying to ride the PanAmerican Highway from the top of the USA in NY by Niagara Falls to at least Costa Rica and further if I am up for it physically and mentally.
I don’t plan to do this until late Fall of 2020 or 2021, but I need to know everything I can about maintaining this S10, especially before the trip and on the road. I had a year of classes in motorcycle maintenance, but every bike is very different. In training you do everything from lawn mowers and golf carts before you actually start on small displacement dirt bikes. More focused on power trains as well.
I will master changing my own tires and fluids on long trips. I know I can get basic fluids at Walmart in the Cancun or Yucatán areas as well as Mexico City. I probably can get tires there as well since Walmart actually sell full motorcycles in Mexico.
In Managua they have plenty of Yamaha service stuff as the national police use Yamaha.
This suspension stuff is great to know from people familiar with it.
I’ll have to look up the DIY on changing the fork oil. If you have any links it’s much appreciated.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I replaced the rear stock shock on my 2014 at 109,900 miles with Penske 8983 model. I had Traxxion Dynamics service the forks, new bushings, seals, oil and heavier springs at 101,800 miles. Bike has 146K now.
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Fortech
Active Member
Forgive me if this has been discussed before, but is the rear non-ES shock servicable. I don’t know why, but I was under the impression it wasn’t...
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ballisticexchris
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Both standard and ES shock and forks are fully rebuildable and serviceable with valving and shock with nitrogen charge. The standard shock just has to have a small hole drilled /tapped and schrader valve installed. Super simple.
Tenman
Well-Known Member
NORWEST SUSPENSION rebuilt my non es. Cheap and its fine.
Who can rebuild this, Race Tech? Any idea if they've done it before?
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ballisticexchris
Guest
Any competent suspension shop will be able to rebuild the shock/forks. Even if they have not worked on the Super Tenere, there is nothing strange or different than any other bike.
Fortech
Active Member
Anyone have a reputable shop in Canada where I can send my non-ES during the off season?
EricV
Riding, farkling, riding...
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I don't disagree with anything you've said above or in this thread. But it's hard to find a competent suspension shop in some form of 'local' unless you're fortunate to live near one of the well known ones. I used to live about a mile from GP Suspension in Portland, OR and they were beyond competent. They machined their own valves and were a full service shop for racers and the average rider too.
Now I'm in a dead zone of suspension shops. I was in UT as well. If it wasn't a dirt bike, I couldn't find anyone willing to work on or even sell me suspension stuff. I ended up buying from RideOnADV in TX via phone/mail order. Then having to ship my forks off for the work.
If I could find a shop near me that would work on the Super Ten, I'd love to get the rear shock re-built/checked out. It's not stock, it's a TouraTech Extreme but the shop in CA that will work on it is more like "ship it to us and we'll get to it in 2 weeks and ship it back." (Ted Porter)
The shops I have called in my general area won't touch it or simply are not interested in a big ADV bike. Sport bikes and dirt bikes only.
And while what you say about the OEM shocks is true, a surprising number of suspension shops will not service an OEM shock that doesn't just screw apart. CA is rich with good suspension shops. Not so much in other parts of the country.
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ballisticexchris
Guest
There are some very good suspension shops across the country. Not just CA. You can also buy a cheap gun case and send it out to the shop of your choice. It's too bad Ted Porters shop is 2 weeks out on service. I know this is a stab in the dark, but have you reached out to Touratech? They do service their own suspension. I would have no issues sending it out if it were me. The wait time sucks for sure.
jrusell
Well-Known Member
Accelerated Technologies in Buchhorn Ontario would be my first choice.
I shipped my shocks to them for many years when I was Club racing, and that was when there was a local suspension shop 20km from my house. Worth every penny. My only advice would be to send your shock as soon as you put the bike up for the winter.
They are extremely busy with snowmobile work in the winter and then in the spring the road race guys and street bikes take up most of their time. Get it there early.
As far as forks go there is nothing special about a set of forks. You can easily do regular oil changes at home with no special tools. If you don't want to do it yourself do as mentioned buy a padded gun case and ship the forks in it.
https://acceleratedtechnologies.ca
I have also used B2 Suspension experts in Moncton NB. Lorne Banks is the owner. Works on everything from ford raptor truck shocks to MX and local road race suspension and everything in between. He did my Yacugar shock 2 winters ago and will probably get it again this winter.
B2Suspension
Fortech
Active Member
Is there a post describing the work required or a “How to” available?
EricV
Riding, farkling, riding...
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I've done the gun case route before. I have one for the forks as well. I've been to TT in Seattle personally and my wife is friends with one of the owners. They do fine work, at a price. And I wouldn't worry about the quality of their work, but would prefer not to ship the bits if I can find a shop closer to me. I'm fine with fork oil changes, (need to do that), but don't want to deal with bushings and seals if they are needed.
@Fortech - It's not a DIY job. It takes a machine shop to modify the shocks. A good suspension shop will be set up for this kind of work, but not every shop will be willing to re-build OEM stuff. They are not re-buildable in the same sense as a custom shock is, they are re-buildable in the sense that a competent shop with the knowledge and equipment can modify them into a rebuildable shock and rebuild them while doing so. The internals are essentially the same as any other shock. OEMs just don't spec them as a serviceable item.
jrusell
Well-Known Member
Personally I wouldn't spend a dime on the stock rear non es shock.
The extra cost to modify the stock shock to be rebuildable and the lack of standard springs so you can get proper sag numbers seems a waste to me.
I would rather spend more money to have a quality rebuildable unit that will last me as long as I own the bike. I put my stock shock with 4000km on the shelf.
I service my Tenere shock every 2 seasons but might stretch to 3 seasons if I didn't put many miles on it. If I decide to get a newer Tenere I will transfer the aftermarket shock to the new one and put the stock unit back on when I sell it. If I don't get another Tenere I know I can sell my Yacugar shock and recover a fair bit of the money I spent.
I bought my shock 2nd hand for around half the cost of new, so the previous owner recovered around half his investment. I will certainly not lose anywhere near that, might even break even?
Other benefits of an aftermarket shock is I have a spare on the shelf if I ever need it. Sending a shock out in the winter causes issues moving the bike around. 2nd shock on the shelf means this is never an issue. If I ever have a seal leak I have a backup just in case.
There are many quality aftermarket shocks in many different price ranges. For 99% of the riders there is no need for a triple adjustable shock. A good quality base model Mojave shock from Cogent Dynamics is not a terrible amount of money and it will do everything you need at a fair price. Most of the brands have different spec levels shocks to fit your budget. The step up to compression damping or a remote preload adjuster mean a step in price, but shop around and see what options are out there.
With winter coming I would keep an eye out for a good used aftermarket shock. You might get lucky like me and find someone selling one at a fair price. If you see a tenere for sale with an aftermarket shock installed, contact the seller. Maybe he would consider selling the shock separately . He like me probably has the stock one on the shelf somewhere.
If you buy new do your research and determine what spring rate you need before you buy. Stock spring rates are nowhere near where they should be. If you are going to spend the money do it wisely.
The extra cost to modify the stock shock to be rebuildable and the lack of standard springs so you can get proper sag numbers seems a waste to me.
I would rather spend more money to have a quality rebuildable unit that will last me as long as I own the bike. I put my stock shock with 4000km on the shelf.
I service my Tenere shock every 2 seasons but might stretch to 3 seasons if I didn't put many miles on it. If I decide to get a newer Tenere I will transfer the aftermarket shock to the new one and put the stock unit back on when I sell it. If I don't get another Tenere I know I can sell my Yacugar shock and recover a fair bit of the money I spent.
I bought my shock 2nd hand for around half the cost of new, so the previous owner recovered around half his investment. I will certainly not lose anywhere near that, might even break even?
Other benefits of an aftermarket shock is I have a spare on the shelf if I ever need it. Sending a shock out in the winter causes issues moving the bike around. 2nd shock on the shelf means this is never an issue. If I ever have a seal leak I have a backup just in case.
There are many quality aftermarket shocks in many different price ranges. For 99% of the riders there is no need for a triple adjustable shock. A good quality base model Mojave shock from Cogent Dynamics is not a terrible amount of money and it will do everything you need at a fair price. Most of the brands have different spec levels shocks to fit your budget. The step up to compression damping or a remote preload adjuster mean a step in price, but shop around and see what options are out there.
With winter coming I would keep an eye out for a good used aftermarket shock. You might get lucky like me and find someone selling one at a fair price. If you see a tenere for sale with an aftermarket shock installed, contact the seller. Maybe he would consider selling the shock separately . He like me probably has the stock one on the shelf somewhere.
If you buy new do your research and determine what spring rate you need before you buy. Stock spring rates are nowhere near where they should be. If you are going to spend the money do it wisely.
Tenman
Well-Known Member
Jrussell Have you ever road a non es with a stock shock revalved and resprung?
Cycledude
Well-Known Member
Have you tried Traxxion Dynamics in Woodstock Georgia ? They do lots of ride in ride out same day work.
jrusell
Well-Known Member
I have not. I am sure it can be done, and done very well no doubt. The issue for me is you are spending a lot of money and when finished you are still left with an emulsion type shock.
There was a good post on here or maybe adventure rider where the owner had his drilled and modified for a remote reservoir. It was a nice job and I believe he was happy with the result. At least then he had a remote res shock with better performance than an emulsion shock.
When I was club racing I have had other stock shocks rebuilt/resprung and the result has been good. One of my biggest gripe is Japanese manufacturing installing non standard springs which increase the cost of a restring because you need to get spring adapters and spacers to make standard springs work. Being in Canada also doesn't help as we don't have access to these parts easily and the extra costs to get them here just add to the bill.
I was recently browsing the Stadium suspension website where they advertise they will modify stock un-servicable shocks so they can be rebuilt normally. Good to know there is a place in Canada who will do this. I know there are other shops like Accelerated tech that offer this as well.
Overall when I look a the extra costs to modify the stock shock or have it just re-sprung, for me it is not worth it. Save the stock one for when you sell the bike. Invest in a quality aftermarket shock. Much or most of the cost can recovered at a later time. All the money you invest in that stock shock is gone when you sell the bike, so I really don't see a huge difference in overall costs. Also you get a nice ride out of the deal.
I am not a fan of the ES suspension, but that is another rant.
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Tenman
Well-Known Member
Norwest rebuilt mine. He worked for race Tech for years. Shock cost $373 to revalve and 1000lb spring. That cheap in my book. don't knock it till you try it. It aint like we are doing hair scramble and motocross. I've run mine down rough gravel washboard road for miles and it will eat it up. Hes got everything to do any shock with. Some of the bigger companies don't even service oem shocks to sell you a new $1200 shock. Mine is night and day better
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jrusell
Well-Known Member
That's good to hear. Not knocking the work you had done at all. Happy to see some people actually paying attention to their suspension instead of the masses that say their suspension works fine when they won't even take the time to check the sag.
As soon as you start measuring you will see how far off the stock stuff is. Something has to be done to not lose half your travel as soon as you sit on the bike. ES bikes are no different.
Hopefully others will go ahead and look at their suspension and get them setup properly. Hopefully Northwest gets a few tenere customers this winter.
As soon as you start measuring you will see how far off the stock stuff is. Something has to be done to not lose half your travel as soon as you sit on the bike. ES bikes are no different.
Hopefully others will go ahead and look at their suspension and get them setup properly. Hopefully Northwest gets a few tenere customers this winter.