81 RM 250 Full Floater rebuild

[bultaco4ever]

If restoring a Full Floater shock and it needs rebuilding...what are the issues to be concerned with? Cost? Parts availability? Alternative shock ideas?

 

[whenfoxforks-ruled]

My 83 CR480 shock has all the parts to rebuild it still available. It was, is an awful shock. With the modification of adding the Gold Valve from Race Tech, and properly sprung, it MAY be as good as buying a 1500 dollar Ohlin shock. There are some other brands, the price is about the same. Did you try Vintage Suzuki?

 

[bultaco4ever]

Wasn't the Full Floater a Suzuki only option? How did it work?

 

[pesky nz]

I would have an old timer or vintage specialist rebuild that shock and modify the valving up to current knowledge with multi-rate compression stack and enlarge the compression ports as much as possible and you will get a plush ride with good bottoming resistance. If the parts are not available a good shock guy will be able to line bore the body and make an oversize piston. It was a common repair here in the 80s
The only down-side is you will then have to make the front better to match

 

[SMarquez]

If restoring a Full Floater shock and it needs rebuilding...what are the issues to be concerned with? Cost? Parts availability? Alternative shock ideas?

Race Tech can do both ends and they will be awesome if you go with a Gold Valve and Emulators. They should be able to rebuild it without modification if you want that only. They did their research as on of their guys has an 84 RM250. Check their website to see what they did. The fork on that bike back then was kinda wimpy especially because the rear end was so good. I broke one of those shocks back in 1983 and had to buy a new shock. You could troll ebay for a shock but that may need a rebuild too. You should be able to replace all the needle bearing in the linkage, I don't remember if the arms had bushings or bearings. I wish I could find an X, I passed on one for $600 last year. If you are going to race it you need to not skimp on suspension. Get it rebuilt right so you don't get hurt.