new shocks - does this look ok to you?

[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

[Normk]

dowsy's post was much more concise then mine..

More detail would be interesting as I am likely not the only one who wonders about the cause of the rubber bushing damage. Thanks also for re-posting the reasoning as I simply wondered about the motivation and was not questioning the validity of such. I'd also be going with a bit shorter rear shocks if the price were attractive, especially given my short inseam.

Lowering the rear, of course, will tend to increase the straight line/high speed stability so will be interested as to whether you can discern any difference in steering/stability effect other than that which would be attributed to the improved shock absorber effect. We often combine the rear suspension spring effect with that of the shock absorber although the two are separate and mutually affective.

I don't recall any contact with this brand of shocks but wonder if they are "rebuilt/remanufactured" and that the mounting eye end was overlooked for bushing replacement during the process?

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. Since they were on closeout, I was able to pick them up with chrome springs for about 160 iirc.
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").

[lurch12_2000]

.... I'd also be going with a bit shorter rear shocks if the price were attractive, especially given my short inseam.

Lowering the rear, of course, will tend to increase the straight line/high speed stability so will be interested as to whether you can discern any difference in steering/stability effect other than that which would be attributed to the improved shock absorber effect. We often combine the rear suspension spring effect with that of the shock absorber although the two are separate and mutually affective.

A bit of a hijack on the original thread, but that looks to being handled by the buyer at this point....
but why would you say a shorter rear shock would increase straightline/high speed stability?
Dropping the rear an inch without any other changes up front may in fact affect it negatively. Agreed a new shock and spring will improve things over the old tired stockers but I'm curious of your rationale. If it's sprung correctly the longer spring will be just as stable in my mind.
Other things that I mentioned earlier would concern me....shorter shocks means a more difficult time to leverage on the centerstand if you still have one, and cornering clearance would be less if you've made no other mods.
I went the other way with a longer 13.25" shock and for the initial test ride (short for now during the winter) see it as an improvement. Not just because of comparing a good set of shocks with old tired originals.
Now I don't have an issue with seat/inseam height so a longer shock doesn't bother me....so I would understand that as a reason for shorter.

[Agemax]

IMO its faulty goods, i would demand a refund. you have rights to do so

[lurch12_2000]

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

I couldn't find what you're referring to on Ebay....do you have a link?

Is that with springs? Were they actually new? List any reviews? I know I've used those cheap $70-80 set of shocks from Mexico on my old GS1100G and wouldn't buy them again, cheap or not.

[GateKeeper]

I found this

http://myworld.ebay.com.au/tecshox/

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/tecshox/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

hope it helps

[downsy]

Thanks , yes that is the Link,I purchased a set of full chrome with springs and rubber bushes , they also come in black, fit perfectly and have had them on the bike for approx 6 months and have definitely improved the ride quality. Plenty of good reviews with nothing negative as yet and for the money they are extremely good value if like me you are not made of money !

[downsy]

Oh and yes they are definitely new !

[lurch12_2000]

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/tecshox/m...&_trksid=p3686

Doesn't look like they ship outside of Australia, and if they did the shipping might be pretty steep. Which one listed did you match up for your 850G at 13" eyelet to eyelet?

[salty_monk]

I recommended these shocks... It's not 100% ideal but the price was staggering.

I have run Koni's on a 1000G that were 12.5". Stock shocks on the G's actually measure about 12.7" if you take one off & measure it.

12" is a little shorter but you can drop the forks in the triples a little if you feel any effect on the steering. (shorter rear shocks will slow steering, how much is hard to tell without trying, dropping the triples a little will compensate).

Corner clearance will be less but unless you are regularly dragging pegs the improved valving & bump control of the Ikons plus the nice new non sagging springs will most likely more than make up for the difference.

Agemax - read the whole thread, Jeff has already offered a refund!

You can buy stock Suzuki bushings new from the dealer - Basscliff posted about it I believe as he wanted to replace the bushings in his MDI shocks. Not very expensive either & will likely fit. Also a small part such as 1 bushing should be relatively cheap to get direct from source in OZ or you could contact works performance/racetech to see if they have a bushing that will fit.

[downsy]

Tecshox had them listed on eBay as shocks for GS 850G
Suggest you do a search on eBay Australia for shocks for whatever model you need them for or contact Keith via email Tec-Au@hotmail.com
Hope this helps