time for new front end shocks @55,000 (s)miles

[Burnerboy]

Rode my bike to Rhode Island, yesterday (O' it's a 2010 1800 tiked @Roadsmith)... and front end was not smooth at all, no shock at all, when I returned home, I felt around the front shock, sure enough it was wet ... So in the shop it goes for a new front bushing and fork springs...... This bike has 55,000 miles on her... My bike has always been babied, speed limit riding only, and always garaged, and wash and wax on a weekly basic..

Question: At what mileage does front fork bushing(s) usually have a failure rate?????????

Thank you,

Ronnie

[rhino 2]

Rode my bike to Rhode Island, yesterday (O' it's a 2010 1800 tiked @Roadsmith)... and front end was not smooth at all, no shock at all, when I returned home, I felt around the front shock, sure enough it was wet ... So in the shop it goes for a new front bushing and fork springs...... This bike has 55,000 miles on her... My bike has always been babied, speed limit riding only, and always garaged, and wash and wax on a weekly basic..

Question: At what mileage does front fork bushing(s) usually have a failure rate?????????

Thank you,

Ronnie

Sometimes after the first good hit with a Jimmy Hoffa size pothole/cater...........

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Sometimes after the first good hit with a Jimmy Hoffa size pothole/cater...........

+1 ... When I traded the Honda Trike, I put it on the trailer and drove it to Fort Collins ... 300 miles ... when I got there ... both front fork seals had failed. There was no evidence of leakage before I left home. The Rockies' (I70) roads are horrible in the winter ... between all the snow and ice ... freezing and thawing ... it's common to have very huge holes, cracks and ditches in the road. One good bump can cause the seals to fail.

Having said that, as the forks bounce up and down, there is wear on them and as little "scratches" form on them from dust and other contaminates, this will cause the seals to fail over time as well. Think of it like in the old days when shocks on cars only lasted like 50k or so ... forks on bikes need to be serviced regularly. Unless I am mistaken, Honda recommends service at 36k or at the same time the air cleaner is. With Harley, I believe they check/service them at the 20k service. I have a program that reminds me when to do these items ... cause my memory ain't what it used to be. LOL

Usually forks will start to leak a tad and you might see some oil with dust in it on the upper part at the highest spot the seal "sees" ... looks like a dirty line on the fork ... once that starts happening, they could totally fail anytime, that day or years later. I have seen instances where new seals were installed and checked a 1k and no leaks. The owner hit a nasty section of road and both seals failed. When you hit a big hole or such, the fork compresses rapidly and the fork oil is tried to be compressed. Oil doesn't like to be compressed and the increased pressure will cause seal failure. Like everything with a bike ... good service practices and "babying" the bike only goes so far. At some point, wear items are gonna wear out. The other thing to remember, trikes put more weight on the front forks and more stress than bikes. The constant turning of the bars to steer is way more stress than a bike normally sees. Gotta affect the life of the seals.

I do recommend replacing the springs, oil and seals when it's done. Also, check the seal surface for wear and if necessary, replace that part too. Whatever is done to one, do to the other. One side fails, the other is probably close to failing too. Might as well do both while you have them apart. Also, one side with a new spring and the other with a worn spring will have adverse effects. JMHO.

[Burnerboy]

Thank you,

Yep my bike is in the shop now, as we speak... (*glad it's raining outside today*)..both sides are getting replaced,along with the bushings, and anything else... I just ordered a new front tire cause the wear bars are beginning to rear their ugly heads, so might as well replace the tire as well as front brakes at the same time....Then put her away for the long winter hibernation period................then pull out my snow skies and pray for snow!

Ronnie

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Then put her away for the long winter hibernation period................then pull out my snow skies and pray for snow!

Ronnie

Did my High Schooling in Cohasset and Abington Mass (Dad was stationed in the Quincy Shipyard) ... You sure do get winter in a big way there ... LOL ... didn't mind the snow so much ... but ... the dampness was brutal.

[Burnerboy]

Did my High Schooling in Cohasset and Abington Mass (Dad was stationed in the Quincy Shipyard) ... You sure do get winter in a big way there ... LOL ... didn't mind the snow so much ... but ... the dampness was brutal.

I live approx 100 miles away from Abington................nice area!