My rear shock collapsed!

[lloydie]

Looks like it may of been someone's winter hack at some point

[Jamoi]

That's scary sh1t mate

My thoughts exactly!

Wow Rust may have been a contributing factor there. I think I may have to pay a bit more attention to mine from now on. That is some scary sh1t a shock collapsing like that. Imagine if that was at high speed.

(:-})

My initial thoughts were rust being the important factor, but the rust you can see is what has rubbed off the spring, the actual ring isn't what I would call rusty

Looks like it may of been someone's winter hack at some point

Definitely mate, but slowly turning into a nicer bike

[Bleh]

Here's a few pics of the broken preload ring:



That's scary sh1t mate

Sh1t the bed ...Now I'm no undisputed expert by any means but that surely does look like a spot weld on the pre-load ring right there! At the least, it looks like high temperatures have been applied to it somehow... But as I said, I'm no expert (or top notch welder). How long you had the bike and do you know the previous abuser? Could be a bodge job to sell on scenario going on here!

I'll vouch for hyper-pro springs to. Run one on my '95 CBR 6 ratfighter and it's the best the bike ever handled and better with pillions too because of it's progressive nature (as apposed to linear).

[bazza696]

Here's a few pics of the broken preload ring:



That's scary sh1t mate

Sh1t the bed ...Now I'm no undisputed expert by any means but that surely does look like a spot weld on the pre-load ring right there! At the least, it looks like high temperatures have been applied to it somehow... But as I said, I'm no expert (or top notch welder). How long you had the bike and do you know the previous abuser? Could be a bodge job to sell on scenario going on here!

I'll vouch for hyper-pro springs to. Run one on my '95 CBR 6 ratfighter and it's the best the bike ever handled and better with pillions too because of it's progressive nature (as apposed to linear).

I agree with you there Bleh, that looks like a spot weld........ note to self `don't follow too close to Jamie on rides - bits might start to fall off including him'

[lloydie]

I had a good look at one yesterday and it looks more like a tack weld !!!
Not the best idea !!

[Jamoi]

Here's a few pics of the broken preload ring:



That's scary sh1t mate

Sh1t the bed ...Now I'm no undisputed expert by any means but that surely does look like a spot weld on the pre-load ring right there! At the least, it looks like high temperatures have been applied to it somehow... But as I said, I'm no expert (or top notch welder). How long you had the bike and do you know the previous abuser? Could be a bodge job to sell on scenario going on here!

I'll vouch for hyper-pro springs to. Run one on my '95 CBR 6 ratfighter and it's the best the bike ever handled and better with pillions too because of it's progressive nature (as apposed to linear).

Sh1t the bed ...Now I'm no undisputed expert by any means but that surely does look like a spot weld on the pre-load ring right there! At the least, it looks like high temperatures have been applied to it somehow... But as I said, I'm no expert (or top notch welder). How long you had the bike and do you know the previous abuser? Could be a bodge job to sell on scenario going on here!

I'll vouch for hyper-pro springs to. Run one on my '95 CBR 6 ratfighter and it's the best the bike ever handled and better with pillions too because of it's progressive nature (as apposed to linear).

I agree with you there Bleh, that looks like a spot weld........ note to self `don't follow too close to Jamie on rides - bits might start to fall off including him'

I had a good look at one yesterday and it looks more like a tack weld !!!
Not the best idea !!

I agree it looks like a spot weld which has given up, anyone know the construction methods for these preload rings?

It kinda looks factory welded to me.

[Bleh]

You would suspect that the actual ring to be a one piece component with the 'top-hat' probably tacked into position. But the spot weld on the damaged ring doesn't look as old as the others (I'm assuming here!).

Hopefully (and unfortunately) it's failed through fatigue and not through someone elses cover up - what a nightmare scenario that could be??!! Luckily, it failed when parked up and not whilst traveling 100mph+ down the road (not that you'd ever exceed 70mph as that's against the law... ).

If someone had spotted that part failing before, they may have made it worse by applying their own weld to it... Maybe I'm being to finicky but if there was a visible failing in it before around the collar, you can almost be sure that there was a weakness occurring in the ring itself although potentially not visible to eye. Applying a weld, in theory, could've made any possible weakness even weaker (applying heat via a weld will encourage the surrounding material to expand ever so slightly possibly making an unseen fracture in the structure to increase).

Basically, I am suggesting that maybe someone has added their own tack to the collar of the ring and any weakness that has occurred has eventually exceeded its tensile stresses and failed to result in what you have there! The japanese are so good at what they do (mostly) that should never have failed the way it did - maybe even consider sending it off to Honda for their input - that failing during use without external influences could result in worst case scenarios

Never put a bell on my bike before but I may do now after seeing this... just to ensure we keep them gremlins at bay!!!

[bazza696]

Had a look at an old rear shock hanging up in the shed, and I can tell you now that it is rolled plate with a spot weld fixing it together. I was just as amazed when I looked at it, I was expecting like others have said thai it would be one piece.

[VTRDark]

Cricky that is scary. Why would they design it like that. This makes me want to change my shock to aftermarket a little more urgently.

(:-})

[Bleh]

SHOCKING (excuse the pun!) ...

Something else added to the to-do list - maybe even to the the top of the list!

Anyone know if there are aftermarket pre-loaders available to buy? Would be the cheaper option without doubt!

I know a guy (who knows a guy), and the guy I know is a suspension specialist who is in the process of developing his own dampener between jobs. The guy he knows works for Ohlins (I think?!) and he has mentioned in the past that if I wanted any suspension bits, he may be able to put me in touch with Mr. Ohlins seller dude so the next time I bump into him, I shall inquire further to see if there's a possibility he could arrange some possible discounts or something.
Can't promise anything will come of it but I can at least ask and the worst he can say is no!

[Jamoi]

I'd say I was a pretty average rider and the shock gave up, I'm not sure I'd ride on a standard shock again

I know it's a very rare case and when you look at the whole bike, there's a hundred little things which if failed would be catastrophic, but it's one thing I'll be thinking about for a while

Hogthrob is going to receive a good spanking when back together again... got to let him know who's boss

[VTRDark]

I'd say I was a pretty average rider and the shock gave up, I'm not sure I'd ride on a standard shock again

It's certainly played on my mind a couple of times while out riding. Especially when doing laborious higher speeds on Motorways where ones mind can wander.

One things for sure I will never use a drift and hammer to try and move the adjuster position. C spanner always from now on no matter what. I know.....but you know what it's like, shortcuts are sometimes necessary a bit like a bodge really. No longer in this case though I still can't get over it being made this way

(:-})

[Jscobey]

looks like you need to buy my ohlins shock ehh?

[Jamoi]

looks like you need to buy my ohlins shock ehh?

Oh dude, if only I had the cash, yours is a good price too

I've aquired a WP replacement, should be ok for trackdays.