Checking suspension

Below-par suspension can be dangerous

If your suspension isn’t operating to 100%, it can:

• hinder braking performance
• interfere with the steering
• reduce ground clearance in corners
• make holding a course through a bend worryingly imprecise.

What you need to check

Every couple of weeks, check:

• Damping front and rear by pushing the front down with the front brake on and bouncing your weight on the seat. There should be firm resistance and smooth, controlled rebound.
• Rear suspension linkage and swingarm. Clean and re-grease as necessary.
• The front forks for any sign of oil weeping past the fork seals. If there is any, the seals will need replacing.
• The surface of the fork’s internal legs for pitting or corrosion. It is possible to remove small imperfections with some chrome cleaner or fine wet-and-dry paper. Larger pits or rust will ruin fork seals and will need specialist attention.
• The shock unit(s) for any weeping oil. Keep them clean.

Any clonking, undamped movement or sticking in the suspension is potentially dangerous and will require immediate repair. Do not ride the machine unless you are sure it is safe: get it transported to a mechanic if necessary.