Shock woes on S2R, anyone gone through this?

[superkain]

So, I am forced to conclude that my shock is either not working or it is useless. the suspension squat in the rear has ripped off my fender eliminator 3 times now, and it simply can't be repaired anymore.

I'm looking at it, and it looks like a huge pitb to take it all off.  Anyone have a good walkthrough on removing the shock?

I figure i'll pull it out and send it off to performance cyclewerks in GA to have them fix it up and respring it for someone my weight.

Ugh.

[uclabiker06]

The two toothed rings at the top are for adjusting the spring.  Nothing should be hitting your rear fender unless its set to one extreme. 

[stopintime]

The swingarm/tire will go through it's intended travel with any shock.

Maybe a better shock, new or serviced, will keep the tire off the license plate/fender eliminator more of the time, but not all of the time.

See where this is going? Plate/eliminator is wrong or mounted wrong.

On the other hand - use this opportunity to get a better shock  

[Howie]

The swingarm/tire will go through it's intended travel with any shock.

Maybe a better shock, new or serviced, will keep the tire off the license plate/fender eliminator more of the time, but not all of the time.

See where this is going? Plate/eliminator is wrong or mounted wrong.

On the other hand - use this opportunity to get a better shock  

Ding ding!

[Greg]

What do you weigh with riding gear? The only reason I could think of a shock doing what you describe is if the preload is set to softest and you're a big guy and the shock is bottoming out.

Maybe post some pics of the fender eliminator and shock.

[superkain]

I'll toss some pics up here.  I weigh 190 lbs. the bike was fine for a while, then about 6 months ago, i got to the gym and noticed the whole license plate bracket was broken off and hanging. it's happened a couple more times. I don't think it was an improper mounting job, as the vizitech light and plate holder were installed at a ducati dealer by the P.O.

My understanding of the shocks/forks, is that if the oil inside is dirty of full of particulate for some reason, the valves will fail "open" meaning the fluid does none of it's intended job leaving the spring to be the suspension.  does the shock have rebound and compression? maybe i should crank the compression up?  I had the suspension tuned and sag set by the suspension guy at the track last year. I brought it up to him, and he said it was just soft.

[Howie]

If the shock is too soft, has insufficient preload or in need of repair the plate will hit more often.  If the suspension is in good condition and adjusted properly it may rarely  or never hit.  Regardless, if the plate hits at full travel no mater how the suspension is set up if you hit a bump big enough to fully compress the shock it will hit.

[superkain]

You can see initially, how high up it was.  then you can see how it got ripped off. I used angle brackets from lowes to repair it a couple times. finally, it was just too mangled.

[Greg]

Looks like it is high enough, so it appears you need to tighten up the preload and jack up the dampening. Another thought is maybe vibration, my S2R literally shook a Clear Alternatives rear light to pieces, plus a couple of Rizoma rear indicators. Were there scuff marks on the light or plate where it was obvious the tire hit it?

Now that I think of it I think the stock rear shock can only be adjusted for rebound

[superkain]

Now that I think of it I think the stock rear shock can only be adjusted for rebound

So, that's what I've been thinking about.  S4R or S4Rs both have shocks with compression.  Anyone know if they are the same measurements, and I can pick up a used one and slap in on my S2R?

Also, I'm positive that it wasn't the vibration. the tire grabbed the plate and bend it under until the brackets broke. by the time i am hard enough on the throttle to lift the front, that plate is getting ripped under.

[Slide Panda]

At 190, plus gear the stock springs in the Monster are too soft for you. You can cram on preload and crank down the compression damping - but you're not really helping.

They springs need to be replaced with proper rate ones for your size.

And if you've never had it done before that shock and your forks are over due for new oil and a service.