Forks leaking. Sell the TLR or fix the forks?

[keeena]

I have some nice Busa forks from SK and have the Traxxion "Works" package (their high-end tune up). I just bought 'em, 0mi on the rebuild. I haven't listed them yet, but if you're interested shoot me a PM. SK's a great guy to deal w/; no worries if you buy forks thru him.

I agree the TL has got perfectly good forks and work great once sprung and valved properly. I swapped to have something a bit different & to check out Traxxion's work; Busas are gold/black. But I haven't used them because I picked up some GSXR forks for the radial brake setup (if customizing, might as well go all the way...).

[SVonhof]

Originally Posted by dragonbro

Hey Scott...........DON'T SELL IT get the forks to a good shop and have them inspected Seals, springs, revalve job will probably run near $350.

The sensible me won't sell the bike, especially if I can get it fixed for under $500. If it's gonna cost over $1000 to have it done, then maybe, but if I can get it done for under $500, I will be happy again.

BTW, riding home Monday afternoon, I was thinking, I don't want to sell this thing! I love the look, sound and torque! I was behind a ZX-10 with nice high-mount dual exhaust that looked really good, but didn't have the sound!

I am gonna call Unlimited Motorsports when they open this morning, or just stop by on my way home (it's on the way to the highway).

[Jappiemike]

What really annoys me about "bike shops" is that they manage to stuff up repairs that the average joe is doing at home with basic tools and info off the internet. I've spent 8 years building up a relationship with my bike shop and the mechanics are all real bikers who take pride in their work and stand by their repairs not like the weasle mouths in the local Suzuki shop that bent my new front discs and then denied it. Rant over, I feel better.

[danny never]

I have seen forks really screwed up by dealers. alot of times they don't even bother to polish the forks so they leak again in a few thousand miles. Just pull the forks and send them to a suspension shop. We charge $150 plus seals to rebuild a set of forks (correctly )

[D'Ecosse]

Originally Posted by danny never

I have seen forks really screwed up by dealers. alot of times they don't even bother to polish the forks so they leak again in a few thousand miles. ...

Don't let the following story dissaude you - get them rebuilt.

I just went over a couple of weeks ago to help a friend install a set of 636 forks (& radial calipers) on his Z1000. He had told me the forks had been rebuilt with new seals when he bought them & then took them to a suspension shop no less (!!!) to have higher-rated springs installed.
I took a look at them & they had very visible vertical scores (literally a hundred of them) all around the circumference along the length of the extension. I showed him my concern & he said the suspension shop didn't say anything about it.
I pumped the fork on the floor a couple of time and showed him the oil I could wipe directly off the stanchions.
Want to hear something ironic? What was incredible is that I had just come directly from that same shop with my Ohlins shock - I had dropped it off a week previously to get the seals replaced. It was not leaking but had a few miles on it (bought it used) & decided to invest in the precaution before I installed it.
I went to pick it up and it wasn't ready so I waited in front. Then she comes out with shock in hand & says "It's done but we didn't replace the seals - we found once we had it open that we didn't have the right ones in stock. But they looked good so he just recharged it with fresh oil"
WTF? I leave to have new seals installed & they just put it back together in a 'manner of fact' while I am right there in their office without even bothering to ask me what I want to do or let me see the condition while it's open and want to charge me $167 !!!!!!!
I told them they were nuts. Against my better judgement we agreed on $100 and a guarantee that if it leaked they would rebuild with new seals with no labour charge.
I'll never be back.
(it's NOT the place identified above incidentally)

Moral - get references, even for a specialist shop, from someone who has personally actually had quality work done there.
My original plan was to use Phil at AfterShocks but he has disappeared off the planet until the new place opens in Livermore.

[danny never]

wow, to both instances.

who the hell would rebuild a shock and not replace the seal?

[Loki-TLR]

Reminds me of the story of that the guy who wanted the swingarm inserts taken out by a stealer

[SVonhof]

I stopped by Unlimited Motorsports on the way home yesterday and talked to Jody Patterson, the owner. He said that he can do it same-day, assuming nothing else is wrong with the forks.
The price difference between me removing the forks and bringing them in or him doing it is $65. That seems well worth it for me!

He has bushings and seals on order already and I will have it taken care of next week sometime.

I did ask about having them re-sprung and based on a weight of 210lbs, the stock springs are perfect. He said if I drop more weight (10-15 lbs) that I may want to come in and have it changed.

[wsmc831]

oem springs are perfect for 210?

first time I've ever heard that.

[D'Ecosse]

Sounds like you're all set - I just heard Tri-Valley Moto is now open (in Livermore) and that is where Phil Douglas (formerly AfterShocks) is now resident. That would be another good source for future reference.