DR650 - rear shock or say goodbye ??

[andy230]

 

Oh woe is me!  My brethren, advise me in my hour of need!

Recently on the DR: fork seals, brake pads, rear wheel bearings, chain and sprockets, re-pack the can, clean, polish and generally make acceptable, and slightly more legal.

I was a little irked to see the forks leaking on Friday, but resigned to getting them off and giving them to "the shop".

Imagine however, my dismay when I saw this morning that the rear shock was also leaking.  Ah fuck!    However, there was still damping this morning.

Not so on return this evening!  Like a bloody trampoline!!

So, what to do?

A hagon shock is 300 quid.  So thats clearly not going to happen, given recent outlay. 

Is a monoshock rebuildable??  Ebay trader reckons a hundred quid, plus carriage.  Resonable?  Boyd, didn't we get the racer shock rebuilt?  How much was that?

A rough 2nd hand one is 50 quid plus carriage, but that seems like a bit of a waste of cash for someone else old rubbish.

Alternatively, I could punt the whole shebang, and waste the cash I've just paid out.

I'd get a couple of hundred for it.  Or spend another couple of hundred to keep it.

I hate throwing stuff away, but its getting a wee bit too dear!!!

any advice appreciated

Dr. Despondant   





....................r

[squirrelciv]

Bad luck matey Think you've got to take a position on the bikes value to you. If all else is good, she's running sweet and you plan on putting miles on her, then £300 over a year ain't that bad.

If it's used once in a blue moon, all else looks dodgey and sounding rough, then cut your losses.

Might want to look on ebay for another one and put the two together to build 1 good bike.

If it was me i'd invest some time into seeing if it can be re-built or try the scrappy's. I've had a few bits from scrappy's and I've never been supplied with rubbish.

Hope my perfect example of fence sitting helped

[Furry John]

Hi andy,

Been in the same situation myself, I chose to buy the Hagon unit as I understand the original can not be rebuilt, Hagon were really helpful and built a unit to suit what I do with the bike and my weight (ok cue in 002 and Rod G). I have not had to adjust the unit now in 4 years and it proved to be the last big thing I needed to get the bike sorted out. If you intend to keep the bike and use it then go ahead, get it done, if you are selling it in 3 weeks time leave it to the next owner.

John

[guest868]

Firstly I'll echo what the others have said with regards to replacing it. I've a Hagon item in my DR600 and it's ok. Another option could be Nitron, they built a shock for my Tenere, and very nice it is too. Failing that, and without wishing to seem like too much of a vulture, I'd be interested in the bike if you decided to move it on, I'm after a DR to convert for Flat track racing next year.

[andy230]

Hmmmmm

thanks guys.  Devil you know I suppose....

I have a few irons in the fire, but 300 quid is a fair whack for a bike I only use for work (tho admittedly, it always starts, and usually stops after a fashion, doesn't get knicked even if I leave the keys in it, and can lie out in the rain, plastic guards are good for spills, tank is steel but nice, it has a big top box, good tyres,....)

Hmmmm   Looks like I'm keeping it.  And having to find 300 squid   

Tho I have always quite fancied an enfield....  Anyone got/ know of a 350 reasonably cheap??  Possibly consider a 500, but I will only really use it to get into central london for work....

I think I am too tight!  Just had a look, and even enfields are not that cheep! 

a

[andy230]

I'd be interested in the bike if you decided to move it on, I'm after a DR to convert for Flat track racing next year.

Hello mate,

Well, you'd be very welcome to 1st refusal if I get shot of it.  However:

There is a crack on the lower frame tube, next to the tack where I welded over the last crack     so maybe not the best basis for a racer!  I always paint over it just before MOT      but argue with him that the engine holds the frame together anyway....!  And it always passes!

the engine is a noisy old bastard, tho admittedly it has never gotten any worse in the 16,000 miles I've hammered it (always regular oil changes mind).  But I dont think it would last a season at full bore without a rebuild.

Plenty of good bits on it tho.  No lecky start (good for racing I s'pose?)

Will let you know what I end up doing...

(got anything you want rid of?!)

a

[guest868]

Cheers for the first refusal offer. As for the welding and rebuild, that's no problem at all.
Got a GPZ500 to potentially move on, but it needs some TLC. Oh and a Jawa/MZ beast.
Anyway, bear me in mind.

[trophydave]

I have had a supposedly unrebuildable rear Showa shock rebuilt by Revs Racing in Halesowen a couple of years ago.I think it cost about £100.Might be worth giving them a shout.

[andy230]

Cheers for the first refusal offer. As for the welding and rebuild, that's no problem at all.
Got a GPZ500 to potentially move on, but it needs some TLC. Oh and a Jawa/MZ beast.
Anyway, bear me in mind.

GPz500, no ta, (but no offence), whats the Jawa/MZ???  Thats got me interested (maybe!)

I have had a supposedly unrebuildable rear Showa shock rebuilt by Revs Racing in Halesowen a couple of years ago.I think it cost about £100.Might be worth giving them a shout.

Thanks Dave,  most guys are coming in around that mark.  Can't really complain that the cost is not reasonable, its skilled labour, and specialist parts...

a

[guest868]

Oh and a Jawa/MZ beast.

GPz500, no ta, (but no offence), whats the Jawa/MZ???  Thats got me interested (maybe!)

1974 Jawa frame, MZ250 engine, YPVS pipe, Dunstall bodykit, Suzuki GSX250 forks and wheels, BMW R90 bikini fairing. It's, erm, interesting. I have plans to strip it back and do something a little fresh with it. We shall see.

[Furry John]

I understand the original can not be rebuilt

Andy,
I just checked up on this, I actually bought the unit from Hagon 9 years ago and it cost £180, I am still using it unadjusted. It is highly likely that the rebuild situation has changed in this time so I should have said "at that time I understood that the original could not be rebuilt", but as the bike only retired from regular daily use some 3 years ago and became a winter bike I think it's not bad value for money. Sorry about the duff info.

John

[andy230]

1974 Jawa frame, MZ250 engine, YPVS pipe, Dunstall bodykit, Suzuki GSX250 forks and wheels, BMW R90 bikini fairing. It's, erm, interesting. I have plans to strip it back and do something a little fresh with it. We shall see.

Hmmmm!!  Maybe I like (even if it is a stroker....)

Any pics?

Is the frame definately built in 74??  ie. not, maybe, 1973, if you see where I'm going with this no-tax-to-the-tories type idea??   

a

[guest868]

This is the only picture I have of it, and I'm afraid it is very much a 1974 bike.

[andy230]

Thanks for the piccy!  Looks interesting!

But I think its going to be cheapest and easiest to just get a new shock.

Will check if the OEM is rebuildable once its off.

thanks for info & chat, gents

a

[guest868]

No worries, could you do me a favour though? If your 650 has the rear disc, could you measure the diameter and length of the lever pivot for me please? Or even a picture of how the lever locates on the frame would be appreciated. Cheers