Rear Shock Removal and Spring Upgrade

[kgfire]

I'm thinking of upgrading my '14 Tenere to a heavier rate Race Tech rear shock spring. Anyone have any experience with the rear shock removal and spring upgrade? It doesn't look too difficult to remove but from pryor experience with dirt bikes I know that it can sometimes be pretty labor intensive.
I know there's lots of aftermarket shock manufacturers that would like to lighten my wallet but for the time being a spring upgrade will have to do.

 

[klunsford]

I haven't done my 14 ES as yet. I have been thinking about the same thing, but with the electronic adjustment, not sure what it might take with all of that electronic stuff...

 

[snakebitten]

Someone will likely come behind me and correct me, but I think the OEM spring length is an oddball length (longer) compared to the aftermarket guys.
So you WILL be able to change the spring rate, but you will need a spacer to take up the slack. I know Rideonadv had those available at one time.
Tabasco is a member here, so you can ask him if he still carries them.

Also note, that the valve-ing for the OEM shock is not considered proper for any substantial change in spring rate. And, in fact, isn't even considered respectable for the OEM spring rate by the fellas that really thrash these things. (eemsreno, another inmate, being the exception. I can't believe what that guy is capable of on a Tenere with no suspension upgrades. I suppose years of previous V-strom off-roading has him spoilt by the Tenere kit)

Good luck though. I have to admit that the worst handling Tenere is light years ahead of what I used to think was a great handing bike.

 

[kgfire]

On Race Tech's website they have a spring rate search for the Tenere and the suggested spring rate is substantially heavier than stock. I'm guessing the stock shock's rebound adjustment would be overwhelmed.

 

[Boondocker]

You didn't mention if yours is the ES model. If so, I have no comment. If not then I can share my 2012 model experience.

I change springs about once a month on average, which in reality is before and after a 2-up + luggage trip. I have the drill down to about 45-minutes on my Penske shock, including resetting the 3 damper adjusters for the load/conditions.

Not handy at the moment, but if you want, I can come back and list the tools, fasteners, and torque values. Again, this is for my 2012, so adjust accordingly if your 2014 specs are different. Considering that I do this with some frequency, having this list at hand makes the process smoother and less error-prone.

I assume you know what spring rate you want and why ~ payload, riding style, etc? I don't know enough about suspension to offer any advice, just hoping you've exhausted all the adjustment possibilities and spring rate is the next factor. I think the stock suspension is pretty decent if you fall within the fairly broad "average" payload/riding style definition. I go from light commuting to touring to 2-up off-road fully loaded with camping gear. So any single solution is less than ideal, hence the 3-way shock with 2 springs. You can't escape compromise with such widely varying demands, so my compromise is to swap shock springs as necessary. Twiddling the damper adjusters is easy now that I have a decent set of baselines.

Good luck!

 

[escapefjrtist]

I'm with Boondocker ^^^^ regarding set-up and spring swaps.

Have two springs for the Penske and regularly swap them for single and two up riding. Takes less than 45 minutes start to finish, no biggie.

Dropping out the OEM shock is a snap!

--G

 

[Bushyar15]

Everyone has pretty much covered removal of the shock and ease. The one thing you'll need is a tool to compress the spring.

I bought the Progressive Spring Compression tool which didn't work as the diameter of the opening was too small.

I went with this tool which made it easy. A little slow but easy to use; https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/989/47186/Tusk-Shock-Spring-Compressor?term=spring%20removal

 

[Rasher]

I just bought a better shock, as mentioned removal is fairly easy.

 

[cory1848]

Which penske are you guys using? Considering upgrading before summer gets here.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Which penske are you guys using? Considering upgrading before summer gets here.

8983 double adjustable with remote reservoir.

http://shop.penskeshocks.com/PENSKE-RACING-SHOCKS-8983-REMOTE-PIGGY-BACK-DOUBLE-ADJUSTABLE/

--G

 

[WJBertrand]

I just bought a better shock, as mentioned removal is fairly easy.

Sorry to wake up an old thread. Does the shock come out the bottom of the swing arm or out the side. I have an ES which might be more complex / complicated?

 

[Defekticon]

Remove all the lower suspension linkages and then lift the rear wheel once the shock is disconnected and you'll be able to drop it out of the bottom.

 

[WJBertrand]

Remove all the lower suspension linkages and then lift the rear wheel once the shock is disconnected and you'll be able to drop it out of the bottom.

Thanks!

 

[gaps]

I found it helps if you place a board under the centerstand to get a bit more height, also needed to loosen the brake torque rod and move it aside... I put a 900lb spring on the stock damper of my 2014 and I would recommend not going stiffer than that as it takes almost all of the rebound damping to control the spring.

 

[WJBertrand]

Well I could not remove the ES shock from the bottom. First the suspension rocker (for lack of a better description) cannot be removed unless the exhaust system is also removed to allow the bolt to be withdrawn. Second, unless you want to disconnect and open up the pre-load hydraulics the pump and motor assembly are too large to follow the shock out the bottom of the swing are, at least to my eye. I was able to remove the shock and attached pump and hydraulics from the right side. Took some wiggling and raising/lowering the swing arm, but it eventually came out.