new shocks - does this look ok to you?

[shwaz]

I just got some ikon 12" shocks in the mail yesterday (yes I know stock is 13") and the rubber on one of the eyes looks chewed up.

I wrote to z1 and sent these photos and I'm waiting to hear what they say. They may come back and apologize and get another one sent out to me right away, but figured I'd lean on some of the expertise here since I don't know if that rubber is even important. Will this matter? Should I push for a replacement if they balk?

 

[Steve]

Doesn't quite look "new", but Z1 is NOT known for selling junk.

Could be a simple error in the injection of the rubber bushing.

.

 

[shwaz]

Doesn't quite look "new", but Z1 is NOT known for selling junk.

Could be a simple error in the injection of the rubber bushing.

.

Yeah, thanks - I know they're a highly regarded reseller here and I don't think they're trying to pull a fast one one me.

I guess my question really is, "if you got this in the mail, would you expect a replacement?" I just don't know whether that missing piece of bushing will impact anything about the life / quality of the shock, or if it's really a non-issue.

 

[Agemax]

if you bought it as "new" shocks then i would certainly be asking for a replacement or a refund, the look very second hand to me

 

[salty_monk]

What does the other one look like? Maybe it should be flush that side and this is "flash". If thats the case you can just trim it.

My works shocks are flush on one side and stock are flush both sides...

 

[Billy Ricks]

Might have been a returned item that someone had mounted, pure speculation on my part. With the rubber gone water will get into the bushing and corrosion will start. You could probably repair it if you wanted to use them. Jeff will probably offer a replacement.

 

[lurch12_2000]

I don't know...not sure that water will really get in there and cause any issues, at least in the usable lifetime of that shock. Certainly find out what they might do for you. You can alway trim the rough edges of rubber off. The washer you use behind the mounting nut is going to flush up to the bushing anyway. Just curious....why did you go an inch shorter other than maybe a great price on these shocks leftover in stock? I think you'll find it harder to get on the center stand and maybe drag stuff quicker in the corners, which would be annoying to me.

 

[Billy Ricks]

You're most likely right Steve. I've gotten so use to every mounting point needing to pivot a little with mono-shocks I worry about things like that. There isn't much need to worry about it with dual shocks.

 

[shwaz]

I don't know...not sure that water will really get in there and cause any issues, at least in the usable lifetime of that shock. Certainly find out what they might do for you. You can alway trim the rough edges of rubber off. The washer you use behind the mounting nut is going to flush up to the bushing anyway. Just curious....why did you go an inch shorter other than maybe a great price on these shocks leftover in stock? I think you'll find it harder to get on the center stand and maybe drag stuff quicker in the corners, which would be annoying to me.

Thanks for all the info everyone. Z1 has been closed since thursday so I'll hope for an email response from them on or after Tuesday. If they'll replace them I'll take them up on it; the shocks certainly were not sold as used. Otherwise maybe I'll ask for some credit or something.

the great price on those shocks was the only reason for buying them - i'd prefer to keep it stock at 13", but for the foreseeable future my option was to go with these or not at all. I'm replacing the fork springs also this winter and don't want to have just half the suspension replaced.

I'll try them out and hope for the best - I am pretty sure other folks here have run 12" shocks without much issue. Not overly worried about dragging (anyway my stocks are currently measuring about 12.75 unloaded, so these aren't even a full inch shorter). More concerned about the center stand but it should be manageable. Figure if it feels weird I can always buy 13s later on and try to resell these as lightly used.

 

[jwhelan65]

I would send these pics to them, they do not look new.

 

[Guest]

I had a chance to look closer at my Ikons yesterday and those ones you received are definitely not right, there should be exposed rubber either side of the eye, so definitely get something done about them.

 

[cowboyup3371]

By the way, Jeff Saunders from Z1 is a member here so shoot him a PM to this thread and he'll work with you.

 

[shwaz]

kind thanks! i reached out to Jeff just now.

the more i look at these the more i think they might have been mounted. the photos i posted are all of one eye at different angles - that's the worst one. The others all look passable, but not flawless either. anyway, i guess this project will keep a few weeks seeing as the current shocks have been in place for 32 years

thanks again,

aaron

 

[jeff.saunders]

It's tough to know why the rubber is like this - it has to be a factory assembly issue. The shocks are not used, and they are not returns. The 12" eye-to-eye shock was the one length we never sold until we had our clearance sale.

We would take them back, but we cannot replace them as we don't have any of these left in stock. We have discontinued them due to massive cost increases - the exchange rates with Australia have pushed the prices up dramatically over the past year or two - new sets would jump in price from $300 to over $450.

As we cannot replace them, I see a couple of choices - you return them for a full refund, or you keep them and we pay for a tube of windshield sealer (or similar) which you can use to build up the missing rubber.

Let me know your preference. Jeff

 

[Billy Ricks]

If it were me knowing how hard it is to come by quality shocks for these old bikes I'd make my own seal and live with it. It's not a big issue.

 

[shwaz]

We would take them back, but we cannot replace them as we don't have any of these left in stock.
you keep them and we pay for a tube of windshield sealer (or similar) which you can use to build up the missing rubber.

Let me know your preference. Jeff

Thanks Jeff,

That sounds very fair. Unfortunate, but I totally understand - just a bummer that there are no more left

I'll opt for the tube and try to build it up, and thank you kindly. Let me know if you need me to PM mailing address etc or if you can find it from the order number in my earlier PM.

I appreciate the information and your assistance.

Aaron

 

[Normk]

Jeff, the rubber bushing acts as a cushion in order to provide some self-alignment ability for the shock mounting and also to damp the transmission of vibration through the shock.

In these roles the rubber is an integral part of the load transmitting structure of the shock. I cannot see well enough from the photos whether the rubber is breaking down due to age or other factors or whether it has been abraided for some purpose.

Sealing or adding material from a tube of sealer or other material is unlikely to have any effect other than cosmetic. Sealing is unimportant in terms of real effect since the rubber to metal junction is under high compression pressure and this will exclude entry of moisture just as would a 100% complete bushing. Anyone who has tried to replace a bushing of this type will understand the problems involved as these operations are beyond the "difficult" range without special tooling and techniques. We replaced similar bushings in automotivve applications in past decades with great difficulty despite that the bushings were of much larger cross-section and under much less compression.

It seems that you are faced with a "take it or leave it" choice (perhaps due to your wish for shocks of a non-standard length?) so, from my own perspective, I recommend sealing for cosmetic purposes and using these. The solution offered seems to be fair and I applaud all who responded for their fair appreciation of the transaction as stuff happens and this does not make anyone evil.

If you are able to take some clearer photos or to evaluate the rubber, it would be interesting to know whether the rubber has been cut/abraided, or whether it seems to be breaking down. I think someone observed that this rubber bushing endures very well despite having deteriorated rubber due, again, to the thinness of the bushing.

Please keep us posted as to your progress and I, for one, would be interested as to the reason for your shock length change. Oh, almost forgot, the rubber should be cleaned well in order for the weatherstrip adhesive to bond. Trichloroethylenewas always the material of choice when in the rubber repair industry so this may be a good choice. It is the clear "alcohol like" material often supplied in rubber inner tube patching kits.

 

[shwaz]

If you are able to take some clearer photos or to evaluate the rubber, it would be interesting to know whether the rubber has been cut/abraided, or whether it seems to be breaking down. I think someone observed that this rubber bushing endures very well despite having deteriorated rubber due, again, to the thinness of the bushing.

Please keep us posted as to your progress and I, for one, would be interested as to the reason for your shock length change.

Sure, I can snap a few more pictures. I'll use a camera instead of the phone and see how that comes out. Thanks for the advice.

Again, the reason I went with non-standard length is just price.
Though I'd prefer to keep everything stock at 13", I expect I'll still feel a better ride overall with these nice 12" shocks (rebuildable, tuneable) compared to the 30yr old stocks (currently at 12.75").

 

[Jethro]

I'd run 'em, no doubt.

 

[downsy]

I purchased a set of new shocks to suit my GS 850G from
An Australian EBay company called Techshox
Good quality for only $60 a pair
They are great , check them out , plenty of good reviews
Hope this helps anybody looking for new shocks to suit their GS