Bleeding shock absorber hassles

OK, so the pattern shocks for the GN250 supplied by Wemoto don't fit.
They measure 335mm long, pin centre to pin centre, which is fully 20mm
longer than the stock ones. And that's with the pre-load on the
softest setting.

You have to unbolt the shocks and let the swinging arm drop as far as
it can before you can bolt them on, and then the lower shock mount
clouts the silencer.

I can understand used shocks having sagged a bit - maybe 5mm - but a
20mm difference in length is silly.

Hunting around eBay and elsewhere on the interweb for pattern shocks
for the GN reveals lots of sets with the same 335mm length. They also
tout these shocks as being suitable for a variety of things from
ShiteOld750s downwards, so God knows what they'd be like on a very
small light 250.

Wemoto have some shocks which are recommended for a 175/200cc machine,
with a 320mm measurement. They ought to do. At their request, before I
send them back, I'm going to photograph the too-long shocks next to
the OEM ones and also on the bike, so they can see the problem. Seems
that like other suppliers, they're just told by the manufacturer that
yeah, sure, these fit a GN250 and then somebody like me pops up and
finds out they bloody don't.

 

I did suggest Hagon, they have a a nice man on the end of the phone who
knows such little gotchas.

 

The thing with Hagon is that they ask the length, the type/size of
mounting then the weight and just send you a damper with a spring to
suit the weight of the bike & rider. This isn't the same as supplying
the correct shock absorbers.

It might have worked in the mid '70s but things have moved onward at a
decent pace and we should be able to expect better these days.

 

I suspect that the cost from Hagon and Wemoto would be significantly
different...

A quick google suggests Hagon want about 120quid whereas Wemoto wanted
70 quid...

 

Hagon's good, but their twin shocks are between two and three times
the price of a Chinese (or Korean, or Taiwanese, or wherever) set. On
a 20 year-old GN250, I'm not after the ultimate in damping and
comfort: just something that will stop the seat pan from rubbing on
the tyre.

 

Well, Wemoto seem to have acknowledged they've boobed and are taking
the shocks back for a refund on the CC. They're flummoxed, because
their supplier swears blind the shocks are for a GN250 but that's
presumably because that is what the manufacturer told *him*, and down
the line, nobody seems to have actually tried bolting the things on.
Until me. :-/

That's why they've asked for some digital pix so they can re-do their
website catalogue.

These are exactly the same units as I bought from Wemoto

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/220669416827

And these, while different, quote the same length

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/370407448886

As do these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/140451633875

And these, incredibly, cite the same shocks as also being suitable for
a Suzuki GS1000G shafty!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/350172089976

 

And all of the hassle with the Wemoto parts is worth ??????

 

Followed by a full retraction when he realises he's got the wrong
exhaust fitted.

 

Surely you don't think he's got a cheap replacement exhaust and that's
what's causing the problem? It could even be that the shocks on the
bike are a pair that have been lifted off another bike and because
they kind of fitted they were left there....

 

It did cross my mind that a previous owner may have fitted a different
exhaust (or attached the hanger to the wrong side of the bracket), &
stuck shorter shocks on to suit. But I'm sure TOG will have checked
that. Won't he...?

 

So if a girl had owned the bike and it had been a bit too tall for her
a logical solution would be to deliberately fit shorter shocks but
that'd cause a problem if a future owner wanted to change them.

Nah, couldn't happen.

 

I seem to recall a "Bugger. GN250 exhaust doesn't fit" thread, but I
don't remember what the eventual outcome was. I *think* he was going to
get a system from Wemoto, so that thickens the plot somewhat.


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Also supplied by Wemoto.....

 

The exhaust is an identical pattern to OE, supplied by Wemoto.
XChinese copy, and absolutely identical in appearance (crappier
chrome, though). Bolts straight on.

Shocks are OE.

Like I said, you have to put the bike on the centrestand and unbolt
the shocks to let the swinging arm drop right down as far as it will
go, unsupported, to get the new shocks on. That just isn't right.

 

Yes

 

I hope you're currently googling for GN photos to check the exhaust,
cos this could be the best laugh I've had in ages.

 

Bum. Guess I'll have to find something else to laugh at then.

<pokes sleeping cat>

Hahahahaha!

 

I've had a quick google to see what was thrown up regarding shock
absorber length on a GN250 and it's not looking good for Mr Murray.

 

Oh dear. Well, everything I've seen says 335mm as well..... But then
one site also says that exactly the same shock is also suitable for a
600lb Suzuki GS1000G, so don't trust it entirely.