Hi All,
I have a KLR650 C version in Central Asia at the moment and I plan traversing a lot of offroad terrain in Mongolia and the Kolyma highway next summer. I have read of many instances of motorcycles having rear shock failure in the middle of nowhere causing lots of delay and cost to have parts flown in etc.
Maybe I'm being paranoid but as I cannot vouch for the state of my 2003 KLR rear shock I am therefore thinking of acquiring a spare to bring with me.

Are rear shocks for the KLR A model and the KLR C model interchangeable?

Where can I buy one at reasonable cost?

Thanks so much for your help

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Your Life is Now!

carry rebuild kit, and tools?
two whole rebuild kits + tools are far less weight and space then one whole shock.

Had a KLR shock blow out around 70 or 80 thousand miles down in Suriname. It did cost me in time, energy and money. Doing it all over again, I'd replace the OEM shock with something rebuildable and better-performing....before leaving on a major trip.

Carrying one with you seems excessive, however. AFAIK, they're not rebuildable. It'll cost $500 or so to purchase an OEM shock new, and a used one seems like asking for trouble. Either change it out pre-emptively, or trust your luck.

I don't know the answer to your A vs C question, but there are fiches and parts diagrams on line at Ron Ayers, Parts Bandit. Kawasaki OEM sites.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

I'm pretty sure that low spec KYB shock on your KLR IS rebuildable ... if you know how and have new parts.

Look on line to find tutorials from guys who have done it. I've been told numerous times that shocks were not rebuildable ... but most times they are ...if you know how.

But doing it right will require correct parts ... and you'll have to do a Nitrogen re-fill as well. Mostly only basic tools required, but doing it at a shop would be best.

I agree that carrying a whole spare shock on board would be a PITA, but if it's all you come with ... DO IT! It's certainly better than trying to ride a loaded bike with a blown shock.

There are several stories out there about KLR's (and other bikes) with blown shocks)

Ebay will be FULL of KLR parts, including used shocks. You never know for sure what you might get. Most times a new-ish, un-abused shock should last at least 25K miles. (maybe 60K km)

You could also buy a nice shock there in UK/Ire that could work. USA has several for KLR: Progressive, Wilbur's, Hagon and a couple more.

A really GREAT CHOICE would be to BUY a Cogent Dynamics shock. They are in North Carolina, not cheap but a great shock.

Thousand of KLR and DR650 guys use Cogent and RAVE about the products and service.

http://www.motocd.com/product/the-moab-shock-klr650/

Carrying an entire rear shock 'just in case'? That's absurd. Limp the bike to the capital city and deal with it there. If you're really paranoid, pre-purchase a shock and have it boxed up and ready to ship at a day's notice.

I spent two months in Mongolia on an '85 DR600 with a blown rear shock. Just take it easy on the jumps.