Check your bush .... :) It's shocking!

[bikermeow]

The symptoms:

When after going over a hump or hitting the bottom of a pot-hole, the front dips and it feels like the front shock bottoming out. If the hump or hole is big, / deep, then there may be an accompanying "slap", fueling the idea that the front shock is in need of servicing; having bottomed out.

The problem:

The rubber bushes (there's 2 of them) at the top of the shock have worn out; and are in need of replacement. They also appeared dry and cracked.





The fix:

BMW Part number: 31-42-2-311-994. Part no. 2 here:



It happened to mine, a 2001 model with about 58,000 km on it now. Looks like it had never been changed. Relatively simple change, need to pull back the fuel tank (I did not completely remove) and dismantled the front shock and swapped the bushes. Good opportunity to inspect the shock and clean up the area as well.





Cheers

[boxermania]

Nice catch....this is something relatively new to this forum....although not unexpected as the bikes are getting up in years.

[CycleRob]

bikermeow,

Thanks for posting what will now become a quality check item for all to add when the fueltank is removed. It should also be a given replacement to every 5 or 6 year old bike.

The deterioration we see is worse than a 8--9 year old tire would get, but the high loading forces on the rubber parts matter more as it age hardens.

.

[Daryl.Stamp]

Thanks for the heads up; good info.
I put new Wilbers on last spring but don't remember if they came w/ new bushes or not (I don't think they did).
There's a few months of ice & salt ahead, so now is a good time to check.

Cool workshoes

DLS

[Beemeridian]

22

[bikermeow]

Thanks, fellas.

Just giving back to the community.

Have a Happy New Year.

[Airman]

bikermeow,

Thanks for posting what will now become a quality check item for all to add when the fueltank is removed. It should also be a given replacement to every 5 or 6 year old bike.

The deterioration we see is worse than a 8--9 year old tire would get, but the high loading forces on the rubber parts matter more as it age hardens.

.

You can actually see the bushings without removing the tank. (Yes, I ran right out and checked mine as soon as I read this.) Mine are look good, but my bike is 6 years old now, perhaps I should change them anyhow, eh ?

[sweatmark]

Yeah, thanks for posting this information. Will need to check and/or replace those front shock bushings during Spring 2010 bike prep.