This is a series of work that I would like to ask shops to do.
It's getting colder and colder, and in some areas it's becoming the off-season for motorcycles. During the off-season, when you're not riding as often, here are some "easy tasks to ask the shop to do for you". Get your motorcycle in good shape while you're not riding, and you'll be ready for the season!
Suspension Maintenance
By the way, there are many people who say "I change the engine oil by myself", aren't there? The oil change is the basic DIY work. It's a work like that. Many magazines and websites have information on how to do it, such as "Change the oil at 3000km to 5000km", "Change the oil filter once every two times", "Don't use gaskets and O-rings all the time! and so on. It can be said that it is the maintenance that is relatively easy to challenge even the maintenance beginner because there are many things that are explained for each motorcycle model.
However, engine oil is not the only part of your motorcycle that needs to be changed. For example, the oil used in the suspension also deteriorates and needs to be changed periodically. It is not uncommon to become accustomed to the deteriorating suspension and not notice that the ride quality has deteriorated. By performing maintenance regularly, stable performance can be maintained.
However, suspension maintenance requires disassembly and removal of the suspension itself, which is much more time-consuming and difficult than changing the engine oil. This is the kind of work that should be done by a shop during the off-season, so that you can enjoy a comfortable motorcycle life from the start of the season!
Can I maintain the suspension myself?
I mentioned earlier that suspension maintenance is time-consuming and challenging, but what exactly does it require? What kind of tools are needed? There are two main types of suspension, the front fork, and the rear shock, so let's take a look at each in brief.
Front fork
There are a lot of DIY front forks, but there are many special tools other than general hand tools. You need the following tools just to name a few.
- Front and rear maintenance stands (to lift the vehicle and remove the suspension)
- A long extension bar.
- Damper rod turning stopper (Exclusive tool)
- Slide hammer (for oil seal replacement)
- Spring compressor (e.g. for inverted front forks)
When removing the front forks, the front tires must also be removed, so the vehicle needs to be lifted. Some people suspend the vehicle in the air instead of using a maintenance stand, or use a jack to support the vehicle, but the vehicle will be unstable during the operation. This is very dangerous, so if you do not have a way to safely support the vehicle, it is best not to force the work.
In addition to oil and consumable parts, you will always need the above tools, and depending on the condition and type of fork, you may need more specialized tools. You can use a PVC pipe instead of a slide hammer. However, it is not recommended.
Rear shock
I don't think you'll find as much reading about DIY maintenance on rear shocks as you will on front forks. Due to the following reasons.
- Many suspensions have a non-disassembled structure, and it is difficult to disassemble them. In some cases, welding may be required to put it back together.
- The various consumable parts used inside the shocks are usually not available as individual parts. Therefore, it is not easy to replace the internal parts. (Even Webike doesn't sell them!)
- In addition to changing parts and oil, it also requires specialized equipment such as nitrogen gas injection, which is rarely found in homes.
- Electronically controlled suspensions have a more complicated structure and may need to be handled by a specialized suspension shop.
Basically, the only thing you can do for the rear shock is to clean the exterior, in addition to setting it up using the various adjustment mechanisms. If it is damaged or worn out, the only options are to have it overhauled by a specialist shop or to replace it with an external one.
Why ask for a shop?
If we've talked about it so far, you now know why it's a good idea to have a shop maintain your suspension. If it's an upright front fork with a relatively simple structure, you may be able to do overhaul and oil change without knowledge as long as you are motivated and have enough tools and places to work.
However, maintenance of rear shocks is in many cases first of all impossible for the average user. It is important that both front and rear shocks work at the same time, but even if you have all the tools you need, you can only realistically maintain the front shocks yourself. No matter how hard you try, you will end up doing only one part of the work. This is especially true if the maintenance is to improve the condition of the motorcycle when riding. (Although it doesn't look any different)
Also, suspension maintenance is not something that can be done in a day at the shop. That's why we recommend you to ask for it during the off-season when you ride less frequently. Next season, why don't you drive your motorcycle better and more comfortably?
