XT600 rear suspension
 

Hi,
My 2002 XT failed its MOT last week due to "Lower (shock) Rear suspension bush has excessive free play". So I took the back wheel and seat off and pulled up the rubber cover took out the pin and found no bushes! Just a pin with no sign of wear but there is some play. Is this how it's meant to be? I'm taking it back for a re-test on Friday and would really appreciate some back-up.
Thanks, Pete.

rear swingarm freeplay
 

Hi,

I have a '98 xt600e.

Mine does not have a bush there, only two rubber coated washers at the sides of the shock mounting. It should have a pin with two washers on each side held by a split pin, with the rubber coated washers on the insides. This is the first part you remove when taking the rear suspension apart.

I would take out the swing arm and check those bearings and bushes. If they are worn there might be free play on the swing arm, but the bike would not be handling that well. On the swingarm there should be little to no free play.

I had soooo much trouble with mine so if you have questions please ask.

Hope this helps

Also try the linkage arrangement
 

The mono-shock linkage arrangement has metal bushes at each point of rotation/linkage, these wear and even small displacements there give much larger travel at the wheel. They look like short sections of copper pipe (on my '89 Tenere) Watch out though 'cos they can be a pain to remove. I gave up on mine and my mechanic used a 5 ton press and a gas welder (for heat) to remove the bushes!

Every mot I took the ten to they gave the same fault even though the linkages were fine. It would appear as though the design does have some vertical play when the rear wheel is completely unloaded off the ground by nature of the link arcs at over extension rather than worn bushes. However only horizontal movement constitutes a fail. Check it with the inspector next time.

That's exactly what I thought so I took it back for a re-test and argued the toss with the inspector but he was having none of it! Luckily I have found a more enlightened tester and he has passed it (cost me another 30 quid though!). Thanks for your help.