cleaning the shock

How do you do it, I cannot really get to it and it's got oil on it (next bike no chain!). Any tips on cleaning the shock much appreciated. What clever clogs designed it to be white for a black bike anyway??

[fizzwheel]

Paddock stand, parafin a toothbrush, an old rag and a lot of patience. Helps if you have small hands...

Unless you have cleaning OCD like Kwak ZZR does and take the back wheel out to get at it...

wd40 and a rag, prepare to take the skin off your knuckles.

Originally Posted by kwak zzr

wd40 and a rag, prepare to take the skin off your knuckles.

The problem is I can't get to it properly (don't have paddock stand). I have used a toothbrush but that only gets to some of the shock.

So they design a bike without centre stand and now we can't clean the shock unless we have a paddock stand. Ridiculous. As ridiculous as designing a bike that needs a fender extender, put it on when you produce the bike for god sake it's not rocket science mr Suzuki (and all other makes who do it).

you get a crap flap for that lol, you wont get to it all but u can do most of it, a paddock stand is a good idea for basic maintenance anyhow so id get one.

[Bibio]

one of these....

http://www.legendcookshop.co.uk/erol.html?7848x8084

not this exact one mind you its an old bottle brush from mothercare that was lying around from when the kids were nippers

[Spikenipple]

Hose the area down, spray Muc-Off on the shock, leave it for a few minutes and it'll all just rinse off.

Originally Posted by wow

The problem is I can't get to it properly (don't have paddock stand). I have used a toothbrush but that only gets to some of the shock.

So they design a bike without centre stand and now we can't clean the shock unless we have a paddock stand. Ridiculous. As ridiculous as designing a bike that needs a fender extender, put it on when you produce the bike for god sake it's not rocket science mr Suzuki (and all other makes who do it).

Almost as stupid as designing a bike with acres of chrome and bare polished alloy and then selling it on the UK market where it's going to corrode to nothing if not polished every time you ride. Worse still, some of the bikes imported into this country are only made to be rideable in straight lines, when we have so many corners and bends on our roads... ludicrous. Who'd buy such a bike?

Who says you need a paddock stand to clean a shock, you can still get in there whether it's tilted over or upright. I never had any wet weather plug problems without a fender extender on my old K3 naked, and nor does the mate I sold it to.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Paddock stand, parafin a toothbrush, an old rag and a lot of patience. Helps if you have small hands...

Unless you have cleaning OCD like Kwak ZZR does and take the back wheel out to get at it...

Aerosol can of brake cleaner (I actually have a 5 litre can of it and top up a pump up spray bottle) and just watch the muck fall off the bottom link - works for me.

Originally Posted by wow

How do you do it, I cannot really get to it and it's got oil on it (next bike no chain!).

Fit a hugger and you'll reduce the amount of crap that gets onto the shock to about 10% of what it was.