Can this shock be serviced?

[Guest]

It is on my new (to me) Suzuki 1981 GS850 with a sidecar.


These shocks are branded Kawasaki, can anyone identify them and can they be serviced?

http://imgur.com/a/IgmKJ

[steve murdoch]

They look like early '80s KZ1100 Spectre shocks.
Don't know if they can be serviced but they are 30 years old. Might make more sense to replace.

[Cyrano]

I think you're right Steve. Similar the the units used on the Voyager 1200. they can be serviced as far as an oil change and replacement air valves.

[Grimly]

They're Showa air shocks - marvellous devices, I liberated a pair from a Kwack GT 750 20+ years ago and they provided sterling service until the Killer Pothole put paid to them two years ago. In the meantime I've been looking up rebuilding procedures and there's quite a bit of info. It can be done, relatively easily, but it's far more cost-effective in terms of your time to simply blag a set from a late model Harley (the OEM Showas are taken off new and low-mileage bikes by upgrading owners) and you can find a set on ebay for typically $40. I recently got a pair from an FLTH or something (13" ones) and they're as good, if not better than the previous Showas.
They were also fitted to Gold Wings back when, and Honda still stock the replacement accordian boots for ~$15 iirc. The seals are a special triple-lipped version, and are hard to find, but a perfectly serviceable two-lipped one can be used much more cheaply anyway.

Google 'rebuild Showa air shocks' and you'll find information.