Rear Shock Removal

[rincewind921]

Hello all,

This is my first thread, and hope someone can help me.

I've got a 2000 XL1000 Varadero and need to remove the rear shock absorber for replacement.

I've checked the Haynes Manual and this says that you just need to undo the 2 retaining bolts and slide the original shock out from the side of the frame.

Well, I undidthe bolts and for 2 hours tried to slide the shock out, to no avail!!

Does anyone please know of an easy way to remove the rear shock from the Varadero without having to dismantle the whole rear of the bike in the process? Is there a special trick to it that I've missed somewhere?

Hope someone can help,as I have my new Hagon shock waiting, and I don't want to pay garage prices.

Cheers,

Rincewind

[allyw71]

Hi, remove the linkage plates from the bottom of the shock and the bar that they attach to and it should slide out the bottom easily. If your still having probs, undo the Phillips screw which holds the plastic adjuster knob on the shock and then remove the knob. All in all it took me about 20 - 25 mins.

[jasonbc]

Originally Posted by rincewind921

Hello all,

This is my first thread, and hope someone can help me.

I've got a 2000 XL1000 Varadero and need to remove the rear shock absorber for replacement.

I've checked the Haynes Manual and this says that you just need to undo the 2 retaining bolts and slide the original shock out from the side of the frame.

Well, I undidthe bolts and for 2 hours tried to slide the shock out, to no avail!!

Does anyone please know of an easy way to remove the rear shock from the Varadero without having to dismantle the whole rear of the bike in the process? Is there a special trick to it that I've missed somewhere?

Hope someone can help,as I have my new Hagon shock waiting, and I don't want to pay garage prices.

Cheers,

Rincewind

Mark up the linkage plates so you know which way they go back, i just dropped thr shock out the bottom of the bike again took 10-15 mins. New shock genuine honda from david silver o the 2 week wait cost me £246 insted of £400+ from my dealer

[marc lenssen]

Hi Guys,

I am planning to have the spring replaced and need to take out the shock as well. Do I need to take out the rear wheel or just put the bike on centre stand and undo top and bottom (including the triangles)? And then slide the shock out from the bottom side?

Thanks,

Marc

[jasonbc]

Originally Posted by marc lenssen

Hi Guys,

I am planning to have the spring replaced and need to take out the shock as well. Do I need to take out the rear wheel or just put the bike on centre stand and undo top and bottom (including the triangles)? And then slide the shock out from the bottom side?

Thanks,

Marc

Leave the wheel in place the shock drops out easily just put the bike on the centre stand and it will be fine. What are you having done to the shock and who's doing it?

[marc lenssen]

Hi jason,

I want to replace the too soft rear spring by a heavier progressive one from Hyperpro. I am in the Netherlands and there is a shop in Amsterdam that have and mount them for you if you bring in the shock unit. Spring itself is about 80 pounds and 15-30 minutes of labour is another 20 pounds... I have done the front springs myself and it is an improvement, much less brake diving..especially with a passenger on back....
I used progressive, harder ones from Wirth. They are about 70 pounds per set on the german ebay....
The standard rear spring is simply too soft for me and I am nit heavy....but at higher speed going over speedbumps it feels as if i bottom out, imagine with luggage and passenger....Plus the new front springs lifted up the front a bit so i need to get the rear up a bit as well to get the crispy steering back

regs,

Marc

[jasonbc]

Originally Posted by marc lenssen

Hi jason,

I want to replace the too soft rear spring by a heavier progressive one from Hyperpro. I am in the Netherlands and there is a shop in Amsterdam that have and mount them for you if you bring in the shock unit. Spring itself is about 80 pounds and 15-30 minutes of labour is another 20 pounds... I have done the front springs myself and it is an improvement, much less brake diving..especially with a passenger on back....
I used progressive, harder ones from Wirth. They are about 70 pounds per set on the german ebay....
The standard rear spring is simply too soft for me and I am nit heavy....but at higher speed going over speedbumps it feels as if i bottom out, imagine with luggage and passenger....Plus the new front springs lifted up the front a bit so i need to get the rear up a bit as well to get the crispy steering back

regs,

Marc

I was just curious, i have toured 2up with full luggage and tankbags etc on my varadero but have never found it that soft. On replacing your spring you need to know which one suits they do several different spring loads if you get one thats rated to high it will be ok when fully loaded but way too stiff when only 1up. I'm going through the same thing with my xr i've had my front forks set up by k-tech and thy are 100% better and they custom build for your weight and type of riding so i'm going to send them my rear shock and get it sorted properly for my weight and riding type. My varadero's rear shock packed up at 22,000 miles and i replaced it with another unit which was the same

[marc lenssen]

yep,

same thing here. The hyperpro needs to be ordered and you give them your weight. I'll give them mine and a little bit more....so i can grow into it..

I prefer the progressive type that will give me less sense of bottoming out. And I do find my original one a bit too soft. While the shock is out and being respringed they can have a look at he condition of the shock itself. I hope it is ok because i would not like to be needing a whole new unit....

[heytim]

Recently fitted a Penske shock to my '05 and it's a massive improvement over the original. Supplied & fitted by Reactive Suspension, Motorcycle Suspension Specialists in York.

[Freerangestormer]

Had to replace my shock at 50,000 klms, spring was still fine but damping was negligible. Fitted a Hagon which I am quite impressed with on a value for money basis, couple of other Vara owners here have ridden mine and preferred it to their Wibers & Hyperpro replacements.