[joseph]

Rear Shock on my bike is done, holds air but oil is gone so its a terrible ride to say the least. I've got 44,000 miles on the bike.

Are there any alternatives out there or do I head for a used one E bay? I thought of Traxxion but they don't show any listing for Victory on their webs site. I've heard they carry something for our bikes but if they cant take the time to list it they obviously don't want the business.

Suggestions?

 

[Speedblue]

Also interested in any other aftermarket shock for XR.

Also interested in other shock for CrossRoads. On my Triumph I had installed Hagon rear shocks and really liked them. The Hagon was a much nicer ride than the stock shock from Triumph. May send Hagon an email when time comes due to change it. I do not feel my shock is in the best shape, it holds air good, but does not give that great of a ride. My bike has a little over 24K on it now. Next big thing besides the rear tire is to get the seat reworked, just need $$$$.

 

[dtmmil]

i have my stock shock from my xc for sale if needed, worked good, got a great deal on a penske coilover is why i replaced it.

 

[joseph]

sent you a private. Regarding Penske. I cant find anything on their web site indicating anything for our bikes. Exactly what shock did you install? Any cons?

 

[Joe_]

I was researching a better shock for the OL's XR and got a hold of racetech. They have a remote hydraulic adjuster that they can fit for adjusting the preload so that you don't have to access the shock to adjust it. When I talked to them they said it would be no problem to put one together for a vic. They just need to have the form filled out with some measurements taken from the bike and rider weights etc. That is probably the route I will go when one of our shocks bites the dust .

That might be another option to look at in your search.

http://racetech.com/page/id/98

Here is the adjuster: http://racetech.com/page/title/G3S HYDRAULIC PRELOAD ADJUSTER, it's an additional $250cheers

 

[joseph]

Rider weights? I wonder how they take into account the difference with trunk on or off as well as weights loaded etc. Did they give you any idea on cost.

Found it, looks like it would be a bit over a grand.

Kind of miffed that the shock failed with so few miles. I've never had one fail so early but then I've never had a bike blow a head gasket with only 30,000 miles like this one etc. Ah well chit happens I guess.

 

[Joe_]

Rider weights? I wonder how they take into account the difference with trunk on or off as well as weights loaded etc. Did they give you any idea on cost.

Found it, looks like it would be a bit over a grand.

Kind of miffed that the shock failed with so few miles. I've never had one fail so early but then I've never had a bike blow a head gasket with only 30,000 miles like this one etc. Ah well chit happens I guess.

It has been a couple of months and I have CRS (can't remember stuff) but I think the shock came in just shy of a grand and the adjuster added about $250 to it. Somewhere in there. So far as trunk weight etc I think that is why you want the adjuster. A non air shock will work much better because air tends to be very progressive and there is no provision on the stock air shock to change the volume of the air in the shock. You can change the pressure but not the volume. With a factory shock you end up with a shock that is built to be safe in the most extreme situations but is not necessarily set up for your situation.
That is why when mine or the OL's goes we are going to probably go with one of these.

You want to always give them as much good info as possible so they can spring it right the first time. Then the hydraulic adjuster will take care of the rest. Call them up and talk to them after the holidays, I have found them great to deal with. They helped me get the forks right on our sidecar. Came out great the first time. No easy task there. I'm not connected with them in anyway but I have had great luck with their stuff and their customer support.

 

[Joe_]

About how much did having the head gasket changed set you back?
I agree the shock should have lasted longer. On some air shocks you can refill them right through the air hose fitting. Some folks change the oil in the HD shocks for heavier fluid that way. Don't have a clue how these are constructed though. Where did the oil go? Did it leak out of the body?

 

[joseph]

I don't have a break down handy on the cost. I had some other work done as long as they had in the shop. Damn labor adds up fast. And motor has never been right since. When I start it up after sitting it sounds like I have a minion inside going nuts with a ball peen hammer till its good and warmed up. Hammers so loud its embarrassing.

Shock oil leaked all over the place. Its a mess under there and the ride is like being in a car with coil springs and a broken shock.

 

[dtmmil]

Joseph replied to your pm, and check out traxxion.com for the penske shock, not sure they have it listed but i think it was around $650, i talked to Dan when i checked on the one i bought from here.

 

[Joe_]

I don't have a break down handy on the cost. I had some other work done as long as they had in the shop. Damn labor adds up fast. And motor has never been right since. When I start it up after sitting it sounds like I have a minion inside going nuts with a ball peen hammer till its good and warmed up. Hammers so loud its embarrassing.

Shock oil leaked all over the place. Its a mess under there and the ride is like being in a car with coil springs and a broken shock.

The wife's bike has a noise like a lash adjuster or something not up to snuff too. We took it in for waranty and vic acknowleged it as a problem and the dealer opened a case on it. However they have told the dealer to just watch it and if it gets worse they will deal with it.
Mostly it quiets down after it warms up however it never goes away.

I'm wondering if your skock holds air just fine?
There are a couple of ways to make an air preload adjustable shock.
If it holds air fine but the oil leaks out it sounds like it is a dead duck.
If it started leaking down air too about the same time it started leaking oil there is a slight chance that it is the type of shock that might be able to be refilled and has had the air hose damaged or started to leak where it is atached to the shock.

 

[saddlebag]

The wife's bike has a noise like a lash adjuster or something not up to snuff too. We took it in for waranty and vic acknowleged it as a problem and the dealer opened a case on it. However they have told the dealer to just watch it and if it gets worse they will deal with it.
Mostly it quiets down after it warms up however it never goes away.

I'm wondering if your skock holds air just fine?
There are a couple of ways to make an air preload adjustable shock.
If it holds air fine but the oil leaks out it sounds like it is a dead duck.
If it started leaking down air too about the same time it started leaking oil there is a slight chance that it is the type of shock that might be able to be refilled and has had the air hose damaged or started to leak where it is atached to the shock.

Maybe I missed it, but I was kinda surprised that you of all people didn't mention that it's well past time for the rear shock bearing to be lubed. And if anyone knows how badly the rear suspension works when that is binding up, it's you.

 

[dtmmil]

mine has been greased several times, each time i changed my link or pulled it out for whatever reason, it gets cleaned and greased. so in 29,000 miles its been done at least 6 times

 

[Joe_]

Maybe I missed it, but I was kinda surprised that you of all people didn't mention that it's well past time for the rear shock bearing to be lubed. And if anyone knows how badly the rear suspension works when that is binding up, it's you.

Good point, and I over quoted the price they gave me on the phone for the shock plus the remote adjuster. I am pretty sure the whole thing came out to about $1000 shipped. I remember the quote was less than I was expecting. It seemed very reasonable for what you were getting.

If he has not had his rear suspension pin lubed yet he is probably really overdue. Yours was fine though when you had it checked wasn't it? You had quite a few extra miles on your didn't you? This would be a great opportunity to clean his and repack it.

I put a grease zerk into mine when I was modifying everything.
Not that it shouldn't probably come out every once and a while to be cleaned but this way if I don't want to disassemble it I can just reach up and shoot a couple of shots of grease into the rocker and not worry about it.

How are you getting on?
Everything healing up fine?

Hope you and the Missus are having a wonderful Christmas. cheers
Any thoughts on what bike you will be buying next?

 

[saddlebag]

If he has not had his rear suspension pin lubed yet he is probably really overdue. Yours was fine though when you had it checked wasn't it?

Yeah, but it only had 30k miles on it. Still double the interval if memory serves.

How are you getting on?
Everything healing up fine?

Slow but steady.

Hope you and the Missus are having a wonderful Christmas.

And vice versa.

Any thoughts on what bike you will be buying next?

Not because I have any issues with Vics per se (besides them cancelling my favorite model), but this little beauty has sucked me back into the Sport Touring genre (Kawasaki Versys 1000).

 

[joseph]

Joe, the shock holds air but its toast. Damn bike wallows when I go through the pass something terrible. I used to run through at 75 and 80. Now I stick to 55 with the semis. I sent a note to Traxxion. I'm interested to see what they offer.

Apparently they offers complete upgrades for the vision and cross country. I'm only interested in the rear shock however.

I just need to get my HOOPTIE to stop jumping all over the place

 

[Joe_]

Joe, the shock holds air but its toast. Damn bike wallows when I go through the pass something terrible. I used to run through at 75 and 80. Now I stick to 55 with the semis. I sent a note to Traxxion. I'm interested to see what they offer.

Apparently they offers complete upgrades for the vision and cross country. I'm only interested in the rear shock however.

I just need to get my HOOPTIE to stop jumping all over the place

I think you will be happy with any aftermarket shock you choose.
They all seem to be an improvement in performance over OEM.

A few years ago I asked some folks who were quite familiar with both high end shocks and OEM's about performance and durability of the OEM's vs the aftermarket. Here is what I was told.

Oem shocks have to put durability first before performance.
The valving normally is not as sensitive as it could be made in an attempt to make the shim stacks and other components more durable. Long functionality is a priority above almost everything else to limit the OEM's liability.

Aftermarket shocks don't have to worry about these sort of liability issues and the internals can be more sensitive and at the same time less durable. The shims ect can be thinner and able to track better because a long life isn't as important as performance is, which is generally their selling point.

At the same time all shocks degrade with use because the oil breaks down in them with use just as it does in any other hydraulic damper such as a fork. Once the oil begins to degrade the performance of any shock either OEM or aftermarket falls off and to restore the shock to the original performance the oil must be changed and the internals inspected or the shock replaced.

I was told that you can buy Oem's and treat them as disposable items, tossing them when they start to degrade in a couple of years, cheaper non rebuildable aftermarket shocks and toss them when they start to degrade in a few years, or buy rebuildable shocks and pay to have them refurbished when they start to degrade in a few years. It's all a matter of personal preference and there is no right answer.

Anyway that is what I was told and it made sense to me.
Good luck shock shopping and do let us know what you end up with and how it works. Were all going to be looking for replacement shocks sooner or later.

 

[Joe_]

Not because I have any issues with Vics per se (besides them cancelling my favorite model), but this little beauty has sucked me back into the Sport Touring genre (Kawasaki Versys 1000).

Glad you are going to make a complete recovery and things are progressing well. I was pretty worried when I first read that you had wrecked. Had a few of those in my life and none have been the least bit of fun. Good to hear you are doing well.

That looks like a nice bike. I'll bet you are looking forward to test driving some of these new bikes they are coming out with. I know I would be. Good to run into you on here.

 

[TNXR]

My shock started leaking oil the first year I had the bike (some where around 2,500 miles). Very dangerous because it was throwing oil on the back tire. Fixed under warranty but I think the replacement OEM shock was around $500.

 

[Joe_]

Sucks that the OEM shock failed on both your bikes so quickly.
Sure hoping the OL's and mine hangs in there long enough to wear out.
Try calling Vic Customer service and see if they feel generous. It is a safety issue with the shock located centered in front of the wheel and the bike is only 2 years old.


I wouldn't get my hopes up. If anything will get their attention it is something that has to do with safety. Having your rear wheel coated with oil falls in that category. A call costs almost nothing but your time and the worse they can say is no.