SuzukiSavage.com - Rear shock fluid?

cheapnewb24 Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1373 Virginia Gender:	Rear shock fluid? 01/06/16 at 20:04:35 I know the rear shocks on the Savage aren't much, but, I am curious... What kind of fluid do they use? Can it be replaced? Maybe heavier fluid and less preload would give a better ride/handling.
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Kris01 Serious Thumper Offline Eat, sleep, RIDE! Posts: 3767 Tennessee Gender:	Re: Rear shock fluid? Reply #1 - 01/06/16 at 21:06:11 http://www.progressivesuspension.com/products/metric
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cheapnewb24 Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1373 Virginia Gender:	Re: Rear shock fluid? Reply #2 - 01/06/16 at 21:18:14 That's cool and all, but I'm not sure I want to spend $300+ on rear shocks. Do the factory shocks use gas or oil?
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chzeckmate Serious Thumper Offline Be the person your dog thinks you are Posts: 514 Houston, Texas Gender:	Re: Rear shock fluid? Reply #3 - 01/07/16 at 01:52:28 A good set of tires will do wonders. I highly recommend these http://www.bikebandit.com/tires-tubes/motorcycle-tires/shinko-230-tour-master... They are as good a set as I've ever had and the price is unbeatable. I know that doesn't answer your question, but I think you'll get more out of it.
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Dave YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 18099 Camp Springs, Kentucky Gender:	Re: Rear shock fluid? Reply #4 - 01/07/16 at 03:57:53 The rear shocks cannot be taken apart, you cannot add or change any fluid. The best/cheapest upgrade is the Suzuki Intruder VS800 shocks. They are a bit longer and improve the ride - however they won't work with the stock muffler as the rear axle nut hits the stock muffler as a result of the extra shock length.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Rear shock fluid? Reply #5 - 01/07/16 at 06:47:04 How many miles have you put on it so far?
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cheapnewb24

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Re: Rear shock fluid?
Reply #6 - 01/07/16 at 06:48:10

chzeckmate wrote on 01/07/16 at 01:52:28:

A good set of tires will do wonders. I highly recommend these http://www.bikebandit.com/tires-tubes/motorcycle-tires/shinko-230-tour-master... They are as good a set as I've ever had and the price is unbeatable. I know that doesn't answer your question, but I think you'll get more out of it.

I was thinking of trying shinko 712's. Are they just as good?

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Rear shock fluid? Reply #7 - 01/07/16 at 06:50:01 justin_o_guy2 wrote on 01/07/16 at 06:47:04: How many miles have you put on it so far?
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cheapnewb24 Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1373 Virginia Gender:	Re: Rear shock fluid? Reply #8 - 01/07/16 at 06:57:13 fairly close to 1500
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cheapnewb24

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Re: Rear shock fluid?
Reply #9 - 01/07/16 at 07:03:26

Dave wrote on 01/07/16 at 03:57:53:

The rear shocks cannot be taken apart, you cannot add or change any fluid.

The best/cheapest upgrade is the Suzuki Intruder VS800 shocks. They are a bit longer and improve the ride - however they won't work with the stock muffler as the rear axle nut hits the stock muffler as a result of the extra shock length.

Disposable, throwaway shocks, Huh... That sucks!

Someone ought to modify them so that they can be disassembled and fluid changed-- unless they are strictly gas struts. Who knows what can be done with some tinkering. Wink

I bet there are a lot of used shocks out there that can be made to fit. I gather that someone has used Sportster shocks.

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Re: Rear shock fluid?
Reply #10 - 01/07/16 at 07:27:31

cheapnewb24 wrote on 01/07/16 at 07:03:26:

I bet there are a lot of used shocks out there that can be made to fit. I gather that someone has used Sportster shocks.

HD uses a larger mounting bolt.
You'll need to find a .030" wall tube that just fits over our mounting bolt for it to work.

Very few OEM shocks are rebuildable if any.

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Art Webb Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 3007 columbus, Texas Gender:	Re: Rear shock fluid? Reply #11 - 01/07/16 at 07:41:48 who would go to the trouble for a device that give barely adequate damping? (stock shocks on most any bike) I've had bike over 20 years old with still functioning rear shocks, so it's not like they wear out quickly, so the only reason to tinker is to upgrade. and it's a lot easier to do a shock swap
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Re: Rear shock fluid?
Reply #12 - 01/07/16 at 09:17:22

cheapnewb24 wrote on 01/07/16 at 07:03:26:

Disposable, throwaway shocks, Huh... That sucks!

No....they are not "throw away" shocks......the majority of the shocks on the Savage will last longer than the bike. Generally they only go bad if they are bent in an accident - or the bike is stored outside and it rots away. The stock shocks work fine for a Cruiser......the 1.5" of travel isn't all that great however.

Most cars and motorcycles don't have shocks that can be rebuilt......as rebuildable shocks are very expensive to make, and most folks don't have the equipment needed to work on modern shocks that have nitrogen gas involved.

A good (non-rebuildable) set of shocks for a motorcycle will cost $ 300 and up. You can get Chinese made generic stuff - but it will most likely not be any better than what the bike already has. Harley stuff tends to be too stiff for the Savage.

A good set of used VS800 shocks is the best bet.....and you can pick them up for less than $ 100 a pair for a really nice clean set.

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cheapnewb24 Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1373 Virginia Gender:	Re: Rear shock fluid? Reply #13 - 01/07/16 at 18:08:24 Quote: We can service so called – non rebuildable - OEM shocks and make them serviceable for the future. Well, now, somebody rebuilds them. He.. He... He... http://www.epmperf.com/motorcycle-shock-rebuild.htm
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Kris01 Serious Thumper Offline Eat, sleep, RIDE! Posts: 3767 Tennessee Gender:	Re: Rear shock fluid? Reply #14 - 01/07/16 at 18:19:58 Even if that shop could do it, their prices are comparable to the link I posted.
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