Rear shock problems - currently in Tajikistan - HELP!
 

Hi,

I'm an a F650 GS Dakar, currently on a RTW trip in Khorog/Tajikistan currently. When I wanted to service the chain today, I put the bike on the centre stand. When I did this, oil was dripping down - clearly coming from the rear shock. (When the bike is on the side stand, the dripping stopped).
So - Tajikistan being fairly remote with plenty of bad roads to come, I've got loads of questions about this problem:

- Is it possible to service this problem locally? What parts would I need?
- Is there an explosion diagram available somewhere for the original F650 rear shock?
- What kind of oil is in the rear shock?
- ANY suggestions on what to do?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Bjorn

Bjorn,

If its anything like the one on the bikes I've owned so far it will be a sealed unit with no possibility of replacing parts. I will have a hunt about here to see and also look for replacement. Could organise fedex or something from this end maybe?

Neil

Shockabsorber
 

The shockabsorber is probably a Showa one. Although BMW would call this shockabsorber "a closed system" it is possible to open and maintain it. However you need the knowledge and the skills. I would suggest you go to Almaty. In Almaty is a BMW dealer which sells motorbikes too. As BMW is expensive, another recommendable option in Almaty is "Second hand Bike Shop". This shop is located in the southern part of the town, near the Regent Hotel and marked by a motorbike on a collumn. I would try this shop first. I was there once and they helped me very well.

With the problem you have you can drive your bike carefully. Take the best roads.

I wish you succes,

Mart

Possibly. Depends on the skills and equipment avalible locally.
No. Not that I know of.
Same as fork oil.

As you have not noticed 'pogoing' yet the shock still has oil to work with. Take smooth roads so as to reduce oil loss .. untill you can get it repaired/replaced. Once you notice lack of damping (pogoing) you still have some oil in the shock .. it is not likely to sieze solid. The shock needs the seal replaced (and freesh oil) .. or replace the entire thing.

The road from Khorog is sealed, but kinda lumpy and with its fair share of potholes, you could make it to Mugrab in one day. To the border there are longer sections of corregations which you would have to be careful on. It is dirt for the last section to the border and for the 20 km of no-mans land until the Kyrg border.
At the border offices is tarmac again and its like this to Almaty (with exception of about 40 km construction before Osh).
I am not aware of the Showa unit being serviceable. BMW in Almaty will certainly NOT know how to do it - they didnt' recognize the HP2 when a friend brought it in there to say hello. And I don't think the showa unit has a valve for charging nitrogen back into the shock anyway. The other shop in Almaty would be a better bet and try to get some of the motocross guys advice on fixing it or swapping it out for something else.

I was through there a few months ago, and the biggest hassle with your shock is that you are going to miss some spectacular riding if you limp directly into Almaty. (esp the Wakan corridor).

If your visas have time on them, I would look at getting a new unit sent to you in Khorog from Europe. And if you are going this way, and getting a new unit (or used) make sure you get the right spring weight for you and your kit and all of your luggage.
Good luck.

Thanks for all your answers! Neil: if you could have a hunt around for a shock replacement for a 2005 F650 Dakar, that'd be great. Second hand is also an option.
I'll have a better look at the bike today to see if it could be anything else. Wishful thinking maybe, but worth a try.

As for Kasachstan: Unfortunately I won't be going to Almaty, because our organised transit into China starts on the 6th of September. So we won't have time for any side-tracking

If it is the shock, I'd need to have it shipped to Osh in Kyrgyzstan. There's a DHL office there. Does anyone know:

- is it possible to have it shipped to the DHL office there, or do they need an address
- has anyone got a reliable address in Osh to have something sent to
- any ideas about costs for shipping from the UK or Germany?

Thanks a lot for your help guys!

Bjorn

Looks like this ain't the first time this has happened -

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...w-f650gs-24307

I guess this could happen to any bike though in fairness. I'd suggest a look at the other suspension components as suggested in the above thread to check for bent links etc. The nice thing is you are riding with another f650 to compare :thumbup1:

Having a hunt about on ebay reveals nothing second hand at the moment. Having said that there is an f650 funduro (the older square headlight) one breaking on ebay if the shock would fit. There is a breaker in Northern Ireland who does bikes but they are generally crap so I have not looked there.

I'd say only option for a new genuine bmw one is to go to the BMW dealers. There is one not far from me if you'd like me to check with them from this end.

I see you are already looking on the f650 forums.

A new hagon shock is listed for £230 plus tenner post although it says that its for the f650gs - is the dakar one longer or is it just the links are different? Don't know much about hagon shocks if they are good or not - anyone else on here can pitch in?

Ohlins one looks to be about 650 - 700 quid. Not sure what year your bike is -

Ohlins Shock absorber

You might find this install doc useful -

http://www.elkasuspension.com/suppor...50GS-Dakar.pdf

I am in England tomorrow (picking up the new car woo hoo) so if there was somewhere there to buy a shock I could pick it up and have it off via DHL or whatever on the same day. Will continue to look.

Be good.

Neil

Normally it is not a problem to pick up the goods at the office (of DHL, FedEx....). Put "Hold For Pick Up" and give the office address and phone as contact.
If you have a carnet, bring it with you as you may be liable for import charges otherwise. Its not a bad idea either to have the shock dirtied a bit with greasy fingers and oil and have it listed as a 'used' part rather than new.

Bjorn,
Sorry to hear about your shock.

I had a shock shipped into Bishkek, Kyrg and mounted it there at a local truck repair shop. I shipped it FedEx and it arrived in 48hrs, cleared customs and delivered to the Japanese guest house I was staying!!!! I have now idea
how it arrived that quickly! I presume DHL would have similar success.

Anyways, you don't need a BMW mechanic to mount the shock as any good mechanic can figure out how. Contact the Bishkek community as there are quite a few locals there with F650's. I wish I could remember the shop that helped me here...
dscn7272.jpg

Also, riding without the dampening effect of the shock is not a big deal. I busted my stock shock in Turkmenistan and promptly busted the new shock within(1000km) around Lake Balquash. I ended up riding Russia and Mongolia on my spring.
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It can be done without hurting your bike much...just be careful about not letting the fluid get on your rear brake disc/pads.

HTH