Right i've made it to Salta.

This is the shock. It should have around 8.3" of travel and is adjustable for preload and rebound.



The shock is not leaking or anything. The bike just sits too low and there's only around 2.5-3" of travel once the bike is loaded up.

So either it's undersprung, the preload doesn't work, or I'm carrying too much weight (don't we always).

It's the OEM Sachs unit with hydraulic preload, new spring (put on before leaving the UK), and YS Rod.

I would have thought that a faulty preload would be picked up when it was serviced, hence me thinking that it's undersprung.

I did ask Dakar Motors if they might know someone, but they don't think I'll get a heavier spring in South America at all. Unfortunately no-one seems to know of anyone that can work on suspension outside of BA.

I'm now wondering which country is the easiest to import a shock? I did read a post about someone blowing a F650 shock and buying one from Touratech Peru. That had to wait a month in Bolivia, but I think most of that time was customs in Bolivia, as oppose to Touratech waiting for it to arrive from Europe.

If it's easy to import into Peru I could just have one delivered to Cusco.

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Any other adjustments on that shock?

I assume you've cranked the big black knob IN all the way? That's your preload adjustment. Sometimes they fail to act upon shock spring.

Back it all the way out, see if you can see what happens to spring. Now turn back in ... all the way in. Something should move. Any change you can see?

At the other end of the shock under spring is another black adjuster. I'm guessing it's either a ride height adjuster or your shock rebound adjuster. Have you played with this adjustment? Should be a 22 click adjuster (mas o menus)

Could be the UK guys broke or screwed up the preload adjuster when they worked on it. A shock specialist may be of help.

Look round on the HUBB forum, just saw posts about shops in Salta the other day. Did you miss that? Has name/addresses and positive reviews. No idea if they are still in business ... some posts on that thread are 7 years old. But worth a try. Must be something in Salta.

Shipping into Bolivia will be HELL. Peru' maybe just as bad? Ask your embassy for help on this. They may have a work around. I would FORGET Bolivia in this regard. Argentina is also tough unless you have connections!

Did you say your bike is a BMW F650 Dakar? Is that really the standard shock?
It looks quite small! Very short travel for a dual sport. Perhaps its the WRONG length spring? Looks too short to me. Fool around, you may find a random spring that will fit ... and be a bit longer and stronger.

I thought your bike had at least 7 or 8 inches of travel? My DR650 has 10 inches.

Sachs is GOOD! (usually) Much better than old days.
Good luck, hope you find some help!

My bike is an xCountry, so that's 8.3" travel, same as the Sertao.

I will take the shock out tomorrow and have a good look.

The pre-load is wound all the way in. I will back it out and try again. It I raise the rear wheel by putting the bike on it's centre stand I can spin the preload knob very easily.

The knob at the bottom is the rebound. Previously this had around 20 something clicks. It came back with the ability to go to about 70 clicks. It does work, change is very gradual. All the way in and the bike doesn't rebound at all (as expected) all the way out and it rebounds although slower than before the service.

I've sent a few emails out, and try and make some contacts tomorrow.

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My bad, I should have seen you're on an X-Country ... it's in your title!
Anyway, you're on the right track. You may be able to adjust the preload manually somehow if the preload knob is not working.

Also, you may also have a ride height adjustment on there too ... below your rebound adjuster. I see something that looks like the ride height adjustment on my Ohlins. This won't help spring stiffness but may raise up rear which could help balance the bike out a bit.

Fiddle around with it ... see what you can figure out.

Good luck in Salta!

A bit of running around and I've found a KTM mechanic that might have a spring that will go on, only might though, and he might not have time to do.

The alternative if he doesn't have a spring, is to add a spacer to give it more preload. The current preload circuit works fine (I checked this morning), but it only applies about an inch if that. Hopefully upping that would help a fair bit.

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I don't know much about shocks, but I came to understand parts inventory in South America. Its hit or miss. Big adventure bikes are considered luxury items. When a special part is needed and its not in inventory, you order it and wait. Calling ahead could shave time of waiting for a replacement part to be ordered. Try contacting the dealers in Santa Cruz or La Paz. I visited the later. Nice people. Their garage was backed up with three travelers ahead of me, so I pressed on to Lima for non-urgent service.

Let me ask a question. Is you bike overloaded with stuff you really aren't using? Did you pac camping gear never somes out of your luggage? Most travelers taking way too much with them. I am guilty. If you can lighten your load you might not need a new shock. =)

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Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

The bike/luggage is the weight I specified to the suspension specialists in the UK. Most of the gear is camping stuff (which is important in the places I'm visiting) and spares (2 tubes, fork seals, etc.. stuff that would be hard to get here and important when going to isolated places) very little is clothes.

Calling is difficult without speaking the language. I thought maybe somewhere ever a car place could perhaps cut down a spring and put one on my shock.

I'm having a spacer made and went to pick it up today but you know how things are 'manana manana' so perhaps I'll find out tomorrow.

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