How old is too old?

[mostholycerebus]

I'm looking to replace the monoshock on my 85 gs550L with a newer one off a GSXR, assuming it fits. Dunno yet if I want one off the 600/750 or 1000, but since i'm heavier im looking at the 1000. I see alot of old ones for sale, but some of them are pretty old. At what age does a shock begin to lose its usability? Is a 10 year old shock worth switching to, or is it better to spend more for something newer?

 

[Big T]

It's impossible to make a generalization, but at 10 years, that's likely too old

Mileage and condition are also factors

Can the shocks you're looking at be rebuilt?

 

[bobthebiker88]

I think that is entirely wrong. modern day shocks on modern sportbikes are something that dont just "go bad" like gas does, they die/wear out/fail/stop functioning because they're stunted, abused, raced, or otherwise subjected to use outside the design parameters.

NO shock except MX shocks was made to be slammed down like sportbikes do if they're stunted doing endos or somethng. but the SRAD and newer shocks are lightyears ahead of the L frame gixxers in technology. newest suspension offers stuff that back then was only for the elite racing teams.

 

[Testarossa]

I rebuilt a 1995 GSXR 750 rear shock not too long ago. It wasn't too hard, and the results are worth the work. Here's a link to the rebuild thread: http://kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=116&func=view&id=398379&catid=5#398379

 

[mostholycerebus]

Awesome link. I picked up an '08 GSXR 1000 shock of Ebay at about twice the cost of the '01 I was looking at. Hopefully thats new enough to still have some life in it, and not have been abused tooo much. Def gonna look at rebuilding it eventually though, maybe with the kit you used if I decide to keep the bike long. Dunno if this bike is worth doing that much too though, its a 25 year old frame with cruiser geometry...