shadows ride low

[kiki]

2002 shadow 600 vlx......i know shadows ride low...but how do you know if your forks/springs are going bad.....do they just leak or do they start sagging over time......reason for asking...my shadows seems lower than normal to me......is this normal, with the bike leaning on kick stand. you in front of bike, with your hands on the forks!..... can you move forks up and down, about 2 or 3 inches....

[93gc40]

VLX is a very low bike. Tech nically yes, Motorcycle springs can sag over time. Were talking DECADES and 100K miles kind of time. Get a manual, compare the bike to the specification. how many inches from the bottom of the bike to the ground and from the ground to the surface of the seat, with the bike held verticle? Worn shocks, front and rear will NOT affect the height, but will affect the performace. The fork are a shock, the spring is just mounted INSIDE the cyclinder instead of outside as in the rear. The SPRING determine ride hight. Being able to move the fork is normal. You should be able to get about 5" of stroke if you bouce on the handlebars.

[oblivion_twister]

first sign of anything you should see is oil coming from the seals, probably long before springs are bad.

[kiki]

thanks....for some reason she looks lower....but no oil leaking thank god! and ride is good...just never really noticed how much the fork would go down!!!

[kiki]

thanks again!!!!

[gat803]

Check the sag of your front end, by doing the following...

Note where the inner tube of the fork is sitting in relation to the outer tube. A felt pen or a piece of tape will work to mark this location An easy to see spot is right where the dust boot at the top of the outer fork leg meets the inner).

Now lift the front of the bike until the fork "tops out" at its most extended position. You can do this by lifting on the bars or by just rocking the bike back and onto the side stand.

Have a helper measure the distance from the mark you made previously to where the top of the dust seal is now. This measurement should be 1" to 2". Much more than 2" and you can start thinking about replacing the springs.

[kiki]

bike should be leaning on stand or in the up right position???? to check travel.....

[kiki]

ok checked bike on kickstand leaning......push forks down and let it come back up where it rest normaly, put tape at boot area, then raised forks all the way she would go..and measured travel....did three times..... all where around 1 3/4 inch travel...so im assuming im good.....

[gat803]

Should be standing up, but I'm going to say at 1 3/4" on the stand you're probably within spec.