My damn rear shock is leaking! Is this common?

[Anonymous]

First off, is this a common problem?  I ride two-up a lot (<350lbs total) and just noticed it starting last week.  There is a small "wet" area under the bike and around the bottom of the shock is all wet.  I assume I can keep riding it until I replace my rear tire in about 1000 miles.  The bike has 11,000 miles on it.

If this is common, should I get a "heavier" shock next time?  What would you recommend and what am I looking at (cost) to replace it?

Thanks!

[mjm]

First off, is this a common problem?  I ride two-up a lot (<350lbs total) and just noticed it starting last week.  There is a small "wet" area under the bike and around the bottom of the shock is all wet.  I assume I can keep riding it until I replace my rear tire in about 1000 miles.  The bike has 11,000 miles on it.

If this is common, should I get a "heavier" shock next time?  What would you recommend and what am I looking at (cost) to replace it?

Thanks!

A leak is a frequenst failure mode for shock absorbers -  car, bike, anything.  The stock shock is pretty winpy on the damping.  If you ride two up a lot you might want to go with a katana or early GSXR 750 shock. Eother will give you better pre-load adjustability -  I believe that the katana one even has a remote preload adjustment knob that means you can adjust pre-load without tools -  If you have not changed to pod filters you cannot use the later GSXR shock with an integral resivour - the earlier ones have a separeate one connected by a hose that you can hose clamp to the frame.  Katana shocks are pretty cheap on e-bay.  GSXR shocks go for a bit more.  Either one will improve the ride and handling once you have the preload and damping dialed in.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info...