Question about rear shock life on an F4i...

[ExtremeAcres]

hi guys ...I was wondering if any of you seasoned veterans or Heavier guys who ride lots of wheelies...have wore out rear shocks on f4i's ?

I'm not sure if that's what it is on my bike....(I'll tear it down this weekend...and inspect bearings , bushings, and linkages ) BUt right now my rear end is sagging about an inch lower than my Street f4i.... AND...it when I pull up on the rear bar (to extend the shock) it makes a creaking noise and sticks a little.

I estimate the Bike has about 200 sessions (or about 300 hours ) of wheelies on it (With a 200+ lb rider )

this (or anything like it ) ever happen to any of you guys ?

any opinions or advice (or shared experiences) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Towlieee]

Sounds ilke something might be loose or somthing if you have clanking sounds

typically when shocks go out, they just quit 'rebounding' and 'damping'

But they dont clank or anything


I have 28,000 on my f4i, been stunting it since about 14,000, and it seems fine to me

but then again, I've never compaired it to a minty f4i

[50slut]

my shock is all clapped out but i have never compared to another bike, but shit i wont be hard considering F4i's are EVERYWHERE

[T-Dubby]

maybe loose subframe?

[50slut]

the creaking noise is probably the subframe, mine creaks when its tight

[old man roger]

the spring could be warn out if you have it on the highest setting you shouldn't have any sag ..

if the shock it self goes bad then it would be bouncy but it wouldn't effect the ride hieght the spring sets the ride hieght the shock just slows the rate at which the suspension rises and falls

[ExtremeAcres]

Thanks guys....

I DO have it set on the firmest setting (the Spring ) and there IS sag....

and while it's not actually a clunking...it is more of a creaking and sticking...and if I pull up on the rear bar ...to extend the shock ....It Sticks all the way up ...like the creaking is a binding.... when I push it down and unstick it (and move it Out of the "creaking range" ) It seems to still have comp and reb. dampning (and there is no oil leakage on the shock shaft ) but the bike sits with alot of "sag" (Like it could Need a Nitrogen charge even!)
I dont know...But I'll dive in and touch base on all these points... and i'll post up my results for anyone else who may ever run into this

I've felt this on dirtbikes with a bent shock shaft..... and I've also felt stuff like this (on dirtbikes) when bushings or bearings start going bad....and yes 50slut ...I'm lucky cause #1 I have a spare shock I can throw on there to test...AND f4i shocks are like $20 or $25 all over ebay.

I was just askin in case It's something else that I might not be thinking about.
I have a feeling it's going to be a combination of ..a shock spring that's getting worn...PLUS....Some linkage bushings or bearings getting dry or going bad. I've been known to do those sideways broadslides with the rear tire locked up...and you know how that feels like it's putting "side loads" on the swingarm and dogbone linkages and stuff (like pushing the swingarm sideways instead of up and down) and doing alot of these might have wore out some those parts ...and I think a heavier rider (like myself ) increases these forces when doing this ...that's how the "physics" seems to me .

THANK you ALL...for your input and ideas

[old man roger]

all the bolts that go through the dog bones and shock are on bushing so make sure they are all free and not binding , don't be skuured to put some grease in there when you change your shock...

while you have the shock out it would be the perfect time to do the mike m mod ,it is a spacer between the shock mount and frame every 3/8 inch spacer raises the bike 1 inch and it helps for stoppies and wheelies ,with the stoppies it helps keep the front tire from skidding and whith wheelies it gives a little extra leverage when steering the bike

[Towlieee]

Originally Posted by old man roger

all the bolts that go through the dog bones and shock are on bushing so make sure they are all free and not binding , don't be skuured to put some grease in there when you change your shock...

while you have the shock out it would be the perfect time to do the mike m mod ,it is a spacer between the shock mount and frame every 3/8 inch spacer raises the bike 1 inch and it helps for stoppies and wheelies ,with the stoppies it helps keep the front tire from skidding and whith wheelies it gives a little extra leverage when steering the bike

Does that really help? Or is it something I shouldn't fuck with???


I have my bike apart all the time.. Wouldn't be no problem to make a spacer

Would I wanna go up the full 3/8"? I have some 3/8" steel stock laying around



I don't think my bike will wheelie stock, which is why I'm asking this. Will this do the same thing as gearing, make my bike ride super awesome wheelies?

[old man roger]

Originally Posted by Towlieee

Does that really help? Or is it something I shouldn't fuck with???


I have my bike apart all the time.. Wouldn't be no problem to make a spacer

Would I wanna go up the full 3/8"? I have some 3/8" steel stock laying around



I don't think my bike will wheelie stock, which is why I'm asking this. Will this do the same thing as gearing, make my bike ride super awesome wheelies?

3/8 or more i would say ..definetly helps

[anarchist35]

i love the spacer idea....esecially on stoppies, with those wimpy f4i forks i have....are you using a steel spacer, maybe a fender shim or seomthing or just some steel flat bar???

[old man roger]

aluminum or steal mike m's are aluminum

[kjtw73]

Originally Posted by T-Dubby

maybe loose subframe?

+1

Had a similar issue on mine. Found that one of the bolts had fallen out (resulting in a nicely tweeked sub).

[old man roger]

i think mike m is selling those spacers at least he was at one time