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Motorcycle suspension repair and rebuild is our business

oil
KTM 1

Oil Change

One of the often overlooked service intervals is changing your suspension oil. Most OEM manufactures do not use the highest grade oil in their suspensions. Therefore, it is up to you to decide when to change your oil. With the popularity of the hour meter, it is easier than ever before.  New motorcycles should have suspension oil changed between 10-12 hours of riding. After that, every 20 hours. This may sound a lot to some and not enough to others.  Read your owners manual.  It may say change oil after break in, then every fifth race. This would put you right around the 10 hour mark.

KTM Shock

If your shock rebound adjuster spins with out going in or out, your adjuster is broken. It happens when water enters your lower shock. The rebound needle corrodes and seizes up and does not move. Then, when you try to adjust your rebound, the adjuster breaks.  To prevent this, take the shock off and turn it upside down. You will see a small black rubber plug.  Carefully take the plug out. Do not let the plug go inside the shock. Spray good lubricant  inside clevis area. With a small, flat-blade screw driver, move rebound adjuster screw in and out. Consult the manual if you don’t know which is the rebound adjuster screw. If the adjuster screw stops moving, do not force the screw.  Count how many “clicks” you have in.  If you don’t have 30+ clicks from all the way in to all the way out, then your rebound needle is corroded.  You must have your shock serviced to fix this problem. Do not try to take the shock apart yourself.  Only qualified suspension technicians should perform this service.

To re-valve or not revalve?  That is the question.

Presently, we do not re-valve forks or shocks. If you think you need a re-valve, consider this first:   Both forks and shock must be sprung for your weight. Have you serviced your suspension every 20 hours?  Do you know what your compression and rebound adjusters do?  Can you tell the difference between too much compression or rebound?  Do you have different  settings for sand and hard packed dirt?

 Before you call a suspension shop, you need to know what your suspension is doing, and what you want. Be prepared to be really honest with the person that is going to re-valve your suspension. Know your riding weight. Do you ride with a fanny pak/water system?  Are you a front placing or middle/end of the pack rider?  Do you ride in mostly rocks? Sand? Hard packed dirt?  Do you ride a four stroke/two stroke?   These are some of the questions you must answer.

 If you ride in a variety of conditions ( hare scramble one weekend, motocross the next), your suspension may favor one or the other extreme.

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