Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[SoundMusic]

My 2014 S is having a suspension issue.
It just started to ride as if I was on a pogo stick even if I hit a small bump.
Its a terrible up and down oscillating effect.
It is in the dealer but they have no idea what it might be.
They suspect it is the rear shock.
They have even sent a video to Zero service showing the bouncing effect.
But as usual we wait and wait for Zero to respond and advice they dealer what to do.
Does anyone have experience with a shock absorber exhibiting such behavior and have any recommendations please?

[DPsSRnSD]

Did they check the obvious, like the rebound setting and oil leaks?

[SoundMusic]

Yes, all the obvious issues of a leak and such has been investigated.
Thanks for suggesting.

[DPsSRnSD]

Does anyone have experience with a shock absorber exhibiting such behavior and have any recommendations please?

When this happens to my car, I have the shocks replaced. How did they determine it's likely the rear shock - by bouncing it like you would a car?

[SoundMusic]

Yes, as you sit on the bike and bounce it hard, its keep bouncing on its own just as if you were on a pogo stick.
Very dangerous while riding even after going over a small bump or dip in the road.

[Doug S]

You've lost the damping in your rear shock absorber. It's happened to me twice, both times under warranty. That shock is pretty badly under-designed. They tell me there's no solution except replacement, and I haven't found anything that fits other than the stock piece of scheiss. Let me know if you do find something that fits!

I've wondered if it would be possible to rebuild that unit, with maybe better seals or whatever, but looking at the size of the shock and its reservoir, compared to the one they upgraded to in 2015, it just looks very undersized for the application.

[SoundMusic]

Thanks so much for answering to a solution.
I just spoke to the dealer and they agree. They are going to order a replacement right away.

[SoundMusic]

Zero acknowledged the issue and has approved the order for a replacement as still covered under warrenty.

[Killroy]

Sounds like a damping problem.

My experience with San Jose ZERO/ BMW is that they have no clue about suspension.

You have to go to a real shop that specializes in suspension.  If you have any race tracks near by, you probably got one.

You need to have them open up the forks and check to see if the oil *evaporated* and if the oil valving is to spec and not in little pieces.

[Richard230]

I had a similar problem with a brand new Ohlins rear shock. It turned out to that someone at the factory forgot to charge the shock with 300 psi (or whatever the pressure is) of nitrogen.   

[armicb]

That happened to me in my S 2012 and it was caused by the rear shock which was clearly under designed. The 2014 models mount the same absorber and are having the same durability issues. It seems that Wilbers has developed an absorber which is compatible with the 2014 but... Has somebody tried one?

[SoundMusic]

Got bike back in a couple of hours today with the new rear shock.
It's like a new bike.
So if anyone starts to experience the pogo effect, get the rear shock replaced.
This happened at 14,375 miles on my 2014 S.