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A small victory
Posted by Nigel B on September 5, 2024, 3:30 pm
Around 2 1/4 years after I took delivery of my Interceptor, the rear shock aborbers lost their damping - no visible leaks & the units cycled smoothly, they just didn't feel any different under compression & rebound and the rear of the bike felt lower than usual. The units were replaced under warranty and normal service was resumed.
This summer we had a couple of days away and, for a change, I took the Interceptor - it hadn't had much use so far this year. The rear felt lower than usual, the ride harsh and, on my return home, there didn't seem to be any difference betweeen compression & rebound. So after another 2 1/2 years or so the same situation as previously.
Looking around for more information, all that comes up WRT RE Interceptor rear shocks is how to replace them with something else - cost between £100-ish for budget NJBs via £3-400-ish Hagons / budget YSS to £600+ for posh YSS/ Wilbers etc.
But I did come across a YT vdeo from someone who had hacked apart a standard RE rear shock & I concluded that the problem maybe just a loss of pressure in the remote reservoir. More hunting around & I found how to recharge them - not obvious to a suspension novice, as there is no valve fitted like the remote Marzocchis I fitted to various bikes in the '80s. Seems other manufactures (Ohlins & Fox for 2) also don't use a valve but instead use a hypodermic needle on an adapter pushed through a rubber plug that seals off the bottom of the remote reservoir cylinder.
A quick look around Ebay found the tool required :
Basically a tee fitting with a gauge one side, a Schraeder valve at the bottom & a Luer hyperdemic needle adapter at the other + 2 needles. At £18 delivered it seemd worth a punt. The "correct" gas to use seems to be 100% nitrogen, but I don't have access to that so elected to use 78% nitrogen instead (ambient air !). Pressure was a "best guess" - seen various values varying from 120 to 350 psi, but initially used a bicycle track pump to put in around 120-150 psi to see what difference (if any) this made.
Hooked up the tool to the pump hose, pushed the needle though a hole in the steel closing plate at the bottom of the shock reservoir and continued through the resistance of the rubber plug behind it, a couple of pumps on the pump hande to build up pressure & pulled out the needle. Repeat for the other side and - lo and behold - the rear of the bike has come up and normal compression and reboud function has been restored. A subsequent 220 mile run out showed that the ride quality and handling has returned to pre-problem condition.
So while I don't know if the pressure I have put in is "factory correct" and the gas filling is probably "contaminated", the shocks appear to be working as before so I will take this as a win.
Nigel B.
Re: A small victory
Posted by jimmy on September 5, 2024, 3:38 pm, in reply to "A small victory"
Well in mate
Re: A small victory
Posted by JERRY on September 5, 2024, 4:59 pm, in reply to "A small victory"
Well done Nige, hope that's helped other out with the same problem. If ever you do change shocks go for the Hagons. I have used them for years on my race bikes as well as road bikes.The oldest rocker in town!
Re: A small victory
Posted by 6TDen on September 5, 2024, 5:26 pm, in reply to "A small victory"
Very interesting and very well done. Just for my interest though, as a complete amateur, how did you re-seal the rubber bung when you withdrew the needle? Den
Re: A small victory
Posted by Nigel B on September 5, 2024, 5:47 pm, in reply to "Re: A small victory"
Just for my interest though, as a complete amateur, how did you re-seal the rubber bung when you withdrew the needle?
It self-seals, Den - the rubber plug "heals" as the needle is withdrawn. I have not measured the needle diameter, but it is very narrow - and sharp !
On the video I found of re-pressurising an Ohlins rear monoshock, the rubber plug that the needle was pushed through sat under a screwed-in, O-ring sealed steel plug. If RE's supplier (Gabriel IIRC) had provided something similar I suspect that their shocks may hold pressure longer than 2 1/2 years. It may well be that after multiple re-pressurisings the rubber will not seal itself - probably time for a change of units then.
Nigel B.
Re: A small victory
Posted by 6TDen on September 5, 2024, 8:31 pm, in reply to "Re: A small victory"
Thanks for that Nigel, very informative. Den
Re: A small victory
Posted by MadMike on September 5, 2024, 8:14 pm, in reply to "A small victory"
So they have failed at 2 to 2.5 year intervals, that means they are frankly very poor quality indeed. Frankly I would treat the RE to a nice new shiny Hagons. You know it makes sense. Other opinions may be available but this one is always correct.
Re: A small victory
Posted by geoff the bonnie on September 5, 2024, 9:01 pm, in reply to "Re: A small victory"
I used a pair of Hagons for over 23 years. Eventually, the bike was not quite handling as well as it should so bought another pair. 23 years use is excellent. They did cost near £200 a pair but the old ones had perfect chrome at that old age.
Re: A small victory
Posted by MadMike on September 5, 2024, 9:12 pm, in reply to "Re: A small victory"
Ditto here Geoff. On the face of it they appear expensive but their life expectancy makes them the best value for money. Other opinions may be available but this one is always correct.
Re: A small victory
Posted by Nigel B on September 5, 2024, 9:24 pm, in reply to "Re: A small victory"
You know it makes sense.
Now that I have the repressurising tool, it makes more sense to my bank account to spend 10 minutes every 2 years or so to put some more air into the reservoirs until the time comes when they won't hold air at all (Yorkshireman here ! ).
I have used Hagons in the past, though the last set I got (for an R100RT) I felt were too stiffly sprung - OK when loaded up, but a bit harsh unloaded.
Nigel B.
Re: A small victory
Posted by geoff the bonnie on September 5, 2024, 9:33 pm, in reply to "Re: A small victory"
There may be quite a few of these failures Nigel so its worth you highlighting a problem. My Hagons have always been quite stiff but i like that as i do carry pillions. They do have some adjustment . I did buy a cheaper pair for the Spitfire, NJC or something like that at around £80 a pair. They work but not the quality of the Hagons but the Spitfire is only ever solo and ridden less.
Re: A small victory
Posted by MadMike on September 6, 2024, 8:59 am, in reply to "Re: A small victory"
Hagons will supply their shockers tailored to both use and your weight. As for repeatedly re-pressuring some cheap old shocks, well they will let you down again and again. Unfortunately it may well occur on a bend, at speed and when carrying a passenger. Cheap? No, do the job properly.Other opinions may be available but this one is always correct.
Re: A small victory
Posted by Nigel B on September 6, 2024, 10:27 am, in reply to "Re: A small victory"
Unfortunately it may well occur on a bend, at speed and when carrying a passenger.
I don't carry a passenger now,as Mrs B has her own bikes & even when the pressure has dropped off in the shocks handling remains stable - just more uncomfortable.
I don't consider repressurising a small reswervoir every couple of years to be a major hassle, if that is all it takes to return to "normal" operation. Do you apply the same logic you seem to be applying here to your tyres ? If your tyre presure needs topping up you fit a new tyre rather than just topping the pressure up ?
If / when the OE shocks leak oil or fail to hold reservoir pressure over a reasonable period they will be changed & Hagons will be considered.
When pressurised they still function in a way that I find acceptable - the suspension on the Interceptor may be "budget" but it is still appreciable superior to the Honda NC750S that the Interceptor replaced.
Nigel B.
Re: A small victory
Posted by Andy C on September 6, 2024, 11:59 am, in reply to "Re: A small victory"
IKONS are pretty good shocsk as well, had them on the H2 and previous speedmaster, transformed the ride on both of them.Who needs a signature anyway......
Re: A small victory
Posted by geoff the bonnie on September 6, 2024, 12:11 pm, in reply to "Re: A small victory"
IKONS, you must be rich Andy. I have heard they are very good though. I fitted Triumph comfort shocks on my R111 many years ago to make the ride a little softer. They were new and half price at Taunton Triumph so i sold the old pair for 100 pounds as well.
Re: A small victory
Posted by Andy C on September 6, 2024, 4:46 pm, in reply to "Re: A small victory"
Rich - if only.
They are well worth the expense, especially on the Triumph as the OE setup is known for being harsh, the current Speedmaster is much better.
They made a dramatic improvement on the H2 hardly surprising as the 40+ year old shocks were past their best.Who needs a signature anyway......
on September 5, 2024, 3:30 pm
