I’ve just found out my rear shock is partially seized or the damper is so well dampened it takes a minute to ‘rebound’.
I’ve had all the other linkages off and done what I could to free it up without taking it off, but it doesn’t seem to have improved at all.
So, has anyone had this happen and found an easy solution for this fault or rebuilt one and know what the issue is- or should I just replace it with a newer / better one ?
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I have replaced the shock on both my F2 and my FF. I have a Wilbers 640 on the F2 and a Yss on my FF. I recommend either. Both are fully rebuildable both work well. The YSS was a bit cheaper . As their reputation has become established the prices have started to creep up.
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thanks for that- it does look like replacement would be a better option, even if it wasn’t playing up.. and I don’t want to be off the road for too long fixing it anyway… I’ll look out for those 2 - thanks for the recommendations..
I fitted a YSS rear shock to mine…both the Wilbers and YSS will transform the bike. The original shock was junk even when the bikes were new. I also fitted the YSS fork valve kit & springs, the bike actually handles a bit now. 
This is the rear shock I bought for mine..
Smithy.
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must admit the ride is a bit exciting! I’m not sure if it’s the leaky forks - shot headrace bearings or hardtail rear end? But I’m actually more concerned about all the ball bearing stones the council are throwing on all the corners though.. I think ice’d be easier to navigate!
Anyway YSS won’t let me access their oz website from here? Odd sales technique I reckon. since they don’t show a rep here in NZ..
You can get them on fleabay…
Smithy.
Thanks Brett for the links and all the other help- unfort that shock is 1/3 the price of my *rat bike and I won’t be realising this bikes full potential on the road anyway.. I might lengthen an old GSX750 shock I have in the yard for now, just to get that back end moving again.. might even put the forks and both wheels on from that wreck too, if feasible. 3 spoke 17" front - 170 wide rear etc..
More Q’s coming as I want this VF bike to be the 1 cheers
Depends on what you want to do with the bike…just get it to a “rideable condition”…or a proper restoration…Either way, you’ll never get the money or time back that you put into it…they’re a labour of love. We do it because we like the bikes and want to keep them alive.
I knew I’d be spending a lot of time and money on mine even before I had it in my shed. But the final result is worth it for some people. I often sit in the shed looking at mine after the restoration thinking…“what a pain in the ar$e that was”…and loving evey minute of it.
Smithy.
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I hear you and I’ll be putting money into nice to haves as soon as I’m confident it isn’t going to crap out on me.. it’s new to me and unproven. It sat for 10 years and it seems like the seller may have omitted to be honest about things I was bound to find out..
It won’t be a restoration though and I like that I can do what I want with it- I do want it to perform as it should or better if poss!
And I love it! Did dispatch on one to London and back some time ago- don’t think I made much money, but had a ball doing it!
Ok I put a newish (lengthened) SV650 shock on it.. it’s a bit soft but hasn’t bottomed out yet and so much better than a hardtail. I’ll swap it out for the heavier gsx shock after I’ve got the forks sorted
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I like how you’ve lengthened it. When yo do the Gxxr shock think about forming a flange on the top channel, or weld on a couple of tabs- to prevent it starting to work like a hinge?
Yes well spotted, was thinking of cutting another box section a bit longer and bending 4 flaps for that.. either that or drill another hole. I thought the spring looked a little thin on this shock but had to try as it’s only 2 years old, but it sags badly since it’s off a 200kg bike- the 25y old gsx is 245, so much closer.. also might incorporate a thread in mk2 bracket to maximise height- I’ll do an update when I get there again.. cheers
Weight of the donor bike is only comparable if the rear suspension uses the same linkage motion ratio as the VF. Small changes in the ratio makes a big difference in required spring rate. Wheel rate = spring rate x motion ratio^2
What DonR said…..spring size & rate is irrelevant on a particular shock if the rising rate linkage is different from one bike to another….some bikes have no linkage at all and are connected straight to the swingarm, a shock that works for them will be useless on one with a high ratio rising rate linkage.
Smithy.
I know it’s not the right shock infact I haven’t seen a similar long shock like this old VFs. I’m not sure of the SV setup- nr free and new drew me in, but the gsx is similar, except the hole through the swinging arm is wide enough to accept the whole shock. The links are slightly different and from what I’ve seen, the spring looks thinner
I don’t mind experimenting, especially now I can ride it without worrying about the next little bump.. and it doesn’t take long to swap out
if this gsx shocks still no good, there’s a vtr1000 going cheap I could strip 4 bits- wheels forks shock- whole bike! All for half as much as a new shock- which I have to say are an absolute rip.
Happy riding..
Great idea a threaded section. If you’ve got room and do it right you’ll have a simple ride height adjuster. To make one that you could adjust in situ you’d need right and left hand threaded nuts to weld on.
Let us know with how you get on with Mk2!
Well as it happened I had a spare few hrs and despite it being just 5 degs in my ‘open air’ workshop , I managed to swap them out! Unfortunately I felt a little pushed for time inbetween rain and hail showers so I did the (usual) minimum- which was just 2 new holes in Mk1 bracket to fit the gsx shock. (no pics sorry)
I tightened the spring to the max along with the dampner and there’s virtually no sag now- if anything I might have to back the spring off a bit- as jumping up and down tops it out. I won’t know until tomorrow, when I take it out for a spin. There’s also a small gas can on a hose with an adjustment screw I’ll have a play with. (and try’n find a spot for)
I’m still keen to do Mk2 as Mk1’s an absolute bodge! but if it works…? also I don’t think it’ll hinge as the bottom piece is solid and the top is too–- if it does though, I’ll be back for Mk2! -as it is the back tyre is about 1/2” off the ground on the centre stand. so probably as high as I’ll go
and look out for my next- after ride post, about fork seals/oil that I goofed around with today
have a good 1-
Some one else on this site recomended a blckbird shock I think plus was making a adapter plate
I ran a modified VFR800 shock in my first VF1000F many moons ago…seemed to work ok…the YSS shock I have in my RE now is just brilliant.
Smithy.