The Unexpected Impact of Neglecting Regular Fork - Shock Maintenance: A Professional suspension Tech's Insight.

Regular maintenance is crucial for keeping your suspension predictable and in top shape. It

goes beyond just a routine chore; it is a commitment that prevents severe problems and unwanted financial strains in the future. Ignoring Basic service intervals or waiting till seals leaks to can lead to costly repairs, decreased performance, and other unfortunate consequences.

In this post, we will discuss the serious impacts of neglecting maintenance. We will provide you with clear insights backed by statistics and real-world examples.

Understanding the Frequency of Maintenance

Regular maintenance for suspension is typically required every 25-30 hours " Average OEM Recommended time interval " to ensure that your suspension functions optimally. If you purchased the machine new you would first have a "Basic" service performed after 30 ours of use and at 60 hours a " Rebuild " would be done, then at 90 hours a " Basic " service and then at 120 hours a " Rebuild " and so on. Doing services in a timely manner keeps the performance of the internal components working best.

If you purchase a machine used unless they can show proof that the suspension has been professionally serviced with in the last 30 engine hours it is a good idea to plan to have a service done before any riding takes place. Doing this will ensure that no hidden issues or broken parts will be a factor in operating the machine safely, instilling confidence, and in turn an enjoyable ride.

Short-term vs. Long-term Costs

Many people focus only on immediate costs when it comes to maintenance. However, a small investment now can yield significant savings later. For example, a Basic Service costs around $200, whereas letting it go till the components leak can lead to damaged shock bodies, fork tubes or ruined internal parts that normally do not wear. Just one of these unnecessarily damaged parts could quickly exceed the cost of having done proper maintenance from the beginning.

Once the oil breaks down and mixes with the debris it is like sand paper to every thing it flows threw accelerating wear, blocking ports, propping open shims. Old worn fluids quickly over heat causing the components to fade and react to obstacles unpredictably, making the bike unsafe and often lead to accidents.

Preventive Maintenance vs. Reactive Maintenance

Preventive maintenance is about taking proactive steps to minimize serious problems before they occur. Think of it as an insurance policy for your assets. Studies show that for every dollar spent on preventive maintenance, you will most likely save an average of $5 in reactive maintenance costs.

On the other hand, reactive maintenance often leads to unexpected downtime and higher repair expenses. By adopting a preventive maintenance mindset, you're ensuring that your investments remain efficient and protected.

Impacts on Property Value

 No matter what you ride regular maintenance of your Forks - Shock will not only cost less to operate threw out the time you own the machine but a wise investment in resale value, a buyer is often willing to pay more for a machine they know was maintained by a professional.

Enhancing Performance

Performance is based on comfort, confidence. Regular maintenance can drastically improve how your vehicle operates. For instance, if you are comfortable on a machine and confident that it will perform to a level you expect you are more willing to ride harder therefore shaving seconds off your lap times.

Moreover, it is impossible to tune worn components. The machine will handle different from lap to lap as the fluid starts to heat up and the components fade, with trash propping open shims and plugging bleed ports the dampening is not working properly.

Safety First

Safety is a paramount concern underlining the need for regular maintenance. A vehicle that has not undergone routine checks could present serious hazards—not just to the operator but also to others.

Poorly maintained suspension can lead to accidents on the track that result in injuries or fatalities. Regular maintenance can mitigate these risks and provide peace of mind for you.

How many times have you gotten to a start and looked at the the other bikes to notice the person with the fluid leaking from the forks, to reach out and let them know for them to say "ya I know" and then think to your self I'm going to stay clear of this dude.

Becoming Familiar with Maintenance Checklists

Having a maintenance checklist can help you stay organized and ensure everything is well-kept. Here’s a simple breakdown of what to include in your checklists for various areas:

30 Hour Maintenance Checklist

• Have basic service or rebuild service performed depending on prior maintenance.

Before Each Ride Maintenance Checklist

• Look for seals wet with oil.

• If a fork seal is weeping oil remove the dust seal and inspect the area between the oil and dust seal, use a clean cloth to wipe dirt and debris from the area, rinse the seals lip with suspension clean or break clean. Pump the suspension to try and work out the trash that is propping the seal lip open, repeat the operation till the seal stops leaking oil.

• Try to avoid putting anything under the lip as all your doing is dragging the dirt around the seal causing more damage to an already compromised seal.

• Remove dirt - mud from the forks and shock, keeping the components clean will prolong the life of the seals and plated tubes / shafts.

Weekly Maintenance Checklist

• Remove the fork dust seals and clean them with a soft clean cloth, apply a light grease to the inner side of the dust seal.

• Check linkage bearings for play, if found replace the worn bearing and race. If it has been a while since cleaning them and re-greasing, take the time to wipe the old grease away from the bearings and pack with fresh hi pressure grease.

Investing in Professional Services vs. DIY Maintenance

While do-it-yourself maintenance is often cost-effective, certain tasks require professional expertise. It is away recommended to have a professional do any fork or shock internal maintenance.

Hiring professionals ensures the work is done safely and correctly, preventing small problems from spiraling out of control. Although DIY may seem appealing, sometimes the risk isn’t worth the potential headache.

Mental and Emotional Well-being

Regular maintenance not only protects your financial investments but also supports your mental health. A well-maintained environment brings a sense of comfort and reduces anxiety associated with unexpected breakdowns.

Final Thoughts

Neglecting regular maintenance can lead to serious consequences, impacting your finances and your overall sense of security. By prioritizing maintenance, and hiring a professional, you are safeguarding your assets, maximizing their value, and creating a safer environment for everyone.

Having a Professional Suspension Tech. at your disposal is more than having some one to pay to do service work, its having someone to ask advise from when having set up issues, its having some one you trust looking out for your well being.

At Racers Choice we take your suspension needs seriously, we are not parts changers or up sellers . Our business dose not run on selling you the latest thing WP has dreamed up to make money, We don't feel the need to sell you A-kits just to have you be comfortable. If you would like bling or top of the line components we can certainly provide them but we have confidence that we can often perform the necessary work on your OEM components with some Works parts to acheave a level of comfort you will enjoy as well as provide value.

We hope this has helped answer any questions on suspension maintenance and hope to hear from you at your next service interval; Nathan.