01 250f rear susp. very stiff after bike sits

[tmoney]

I have an 01 250f and I have had to adjust the rear spring preload after letting the bike sit for about 2 months. The rear was so stiff that I could not ride the bike as it was. Before letting the bike sit it was ridden every week and the rear was nice and plush. What would cause the rear to get so stiff all of a sudden. I have had to do this 2x now. Thanks.

 

[Marlon]

Hey Tmoney...well it sounds like you have binding going on in the linkage/swing arm area. First thing I'd do is pull the shock and swing arm off and drop down the linkages and butter them up (grease it up). Especially if you were up on washing / pressure washing the bike often, as a lot of us are. It sounds like what you are doing is adjusting the preload on the bike according to the binding that is taking place in the linkages and swing arm, which can turn into a life long battle.

 

[dbrace]

I was wondering what your answer would be Marlin. It was a good answer as i have seen this a few times, mostly on kx's.

 

[tmoney]

Marlon, that was exactly the problem. Thanks. Had to replace all of the linkage bearings.

 

[Marlon]

cool glad to know it worked out well, yeah sometimes bearings get overlooked and with as much as I pressure wash my bikes those are usually the first things to go.