Shock & forks - time for a refresh

[fasterdammit]

So Old Blue is having her 20th birthday this year, and after a year of no attention, I finally bit the bullet this past weekend to see what needed to be seen. Besides usual maintenance stuff, her suspenders have had it. I sat on her and the rear compressed, but didn't bounce back much. So my question is ... is it a simple matter to refresh the shock (and is there a rebuild kit) or would I be much better served by having a professional open it up and make it right. I'm pretty sure I'd rather have a pro look at it, and IIRC, it's an Öhlins unit (1988 750) ... so does anyone have a favorite suspension guru in the States, preferably near NY?

Thanks in advance!
Jake

[jcslocum]

Jake,

Welcome back! There's quite a few places that can rebuild your shock. Try ECS in Middletown, NY http://www.europeancycleservices.com/ Steve is an excellent guy and does very good work. For a dealer I would use BCM in NH or CLiff's in Danbury, CT for this. Both are Ohlins service shops. Sig Petterson is in my memory for this kind of work too. Most GMD shops should be able to do this as well.

[fasterdammit]

Hey Jon! Nice to be back! I've missed this forum (and the Paso!) I've been absent for a while ... we had another kid last March, so between that and work (and the house) I didn't get a whole lot of ride time in, and the Paso wasn't on the road at all last year. Real bummer! So this year - to celebrate its 20th birthday - I want to get it back up to snuff and enjoy the hell out of it.

Thanks for recommending Steve @ ECS - I already got a reply back from him, and I believe that's the route I'll take if the nearest RaceTech shop can't help me out.

Next question ... does anyone know off-hand if I can squeeze the stock shock from a mid-90s Monster back under the tail section of the Paso while the Öhlins unit is off getting some attention on the bench?

[millgreen]

Try Hygear Suspension Lansing NY near Ithaca, Does all my track and street work http://www.hygearsuspension.com
and race tec dealer
Bill

[fasterdammit]

Try Hygear Suspension Lansing NY near Ithaca, Does all my track and street work http://www.hygearsuspension.com
and race tec dealer
Bill

That was my next call They certainly weren't as forthcoming as Steve @ ECS though. They gave me no detail as to whether or not they'd even work on the Öhlins shock & Marz forks, prefering to point me to their product page - were they don't address Pasos, naturally. Lots info for my Monster, but even then - no real direction.

Judging by what Steve told me & HyGear's site, it looks like it would be cheaper to go through ECS, even with shipping. Hard to tell though. Lansing's closer than Middletown, but still.

I was already considering going through HyGear for my Monster, anyway ... but I don't want to have them both off the road at the same time. Winter's bad enough!