Rear Shocks

[Anonymous]

Bike ='s 1980 GS1000GL

My rear end bottoms out especially when I have a passenger. Oddly enough I snooped around my rear shocks and noticed there are little black cable (maybe hoses) connected to the top part of the shock. Does anyone know what that is? Can I use it to stiffen up the rear?

[kalessin]

Can you describe the shocks a little more? Any visible brand name? Where do the hoses lead? What's at the end of the hoses?

All the rear shocks I've seen have some kind of preload adjustment, which means that they can be "beefed up" to take additional weight (for a passenger, perhaps). The simplest preload adjust is a collar at the top of the spring that makes the top end of the shock longer, thus adding up to an inch or so of extra height. Air shocks do this by adding air to an internal chamber.

[Anonymous]

In The Shop

Thanks for the speedy reply. I am waiting for my bike to come back from the shop. Having the carbs rebuilt. When it comes back Ill be sure to let you know. I want to get to the bottom of these shocks...or maybe I just want them to feel better. Thanks again!!!

[saaz]

You probbaly have air rear shocks which someone has put an link tube on so that you only need to pump up through one valve to do both shocks. They may be after market shocks, as I don't know whether US models came with air shocks. Do the shocks have rubber boots at the bottom? Without air the shocks really will bottom out!

[kalessin]

The 1100GL was factory-equipped with the Suzuki air shocks, and I think the GK's had them too.

Mine are okay, but one of them is weeping just a little bit of oil at the air inlet valve where a pump attaches. Progressive Suspension makes an air shock replacement that fits, for around $300.