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Help me out on this pls! I've bought a 2003 Triumph Speed Triple 955i, only 7k miles and clearly cared for. However, the rear suspension seems pretty dead, despite checking and setting sag and working with preload and rebound. With enthusiastic riding (just back from the Alps), it feels that the rear tyre (new Michelin Road 6) is either skipping or the rear end is pumping me out of the seat.
Appreciate the rear works in tandem with the front...I cleaned out the forks (albeit they were v clean anyways), changed the oil and set sag and adjusted rebound and preload. To my uneducated feel, they seem fine.
I've had a good number of bikes. My other bike is a Gpz900r which I've customized a fair bit and it handles better.
So is a sensible first step to replace the rear shock and is this likely to solve my issues. And possibly then, getting the forks tuned/re-valved (not really sure what that entails). I got the bike v cheaply, love the engine, and it should handle way better.
Any thoughts/advice appreciated.
Have you checked that the shock linkage isn't seized?
Good point...if my son sits on the bike and 'bounces' I can see the linkages all moving freely. No lateral play in them either.
Based on the description of what happens, it sounds like exactly what I would expect from a shock absorber that was no longer absorbing shocks.
sounds like either the suspension linkage or the shock is goosed. Could be pack down from too much rebound damping?
They are well known for the rear suspension linkage seizing if they havent been greased at least once a year. Mine was totally seized, I couldnt even get the swingarm through bolt out, I had to cut the swingerarm in half to get it out. Luckily spares are plentiful, around £50 for a new swingarm. It’s unlikely to be the shock, they wear out and go soft, rather than hard.
Chain sag at 'max stretch position' (pull the swingarm up whilst leaning over the seat - I'm sure you know this).
Swingarm chain slipper upper pad condition?
That's interesting on linkage seizing. I've maybe been too simplistic in observing the movement of the linkages when son bounces on the bike?
Rustynissan ... could you explain a bit more pls?
Came on here to say check shock linkage.
Ok, I need an idiot's guide to check shock linkage pls!
@Aus - its the point in the rear wheel suspension travel when the rear axle is at the furthest point from the gearbox sprocket and where the chain slack should be checked. Usually by leaning over the bike chest on the seat and pulling the swingarm up with bodyweight pushing the bike down. When the swingarm is at the longest point is where chain tension should be checked.
If the chain has been checked with no weight on the suspension then when compressed it could be getting tight at the longest point and causing the wheel to pull up as the chain is overly taught.
More than likely it's dead linkage bearings though as above.
Rustynissan, thanks and makes sense now. Pretty confident chain tightness not the issue, so linkage check next job