Baja DR125 Rear Shock

[OKrider]

My sons rear shock is blown and I would like to replace it with a better one. I can get an original replacement from my local Canadian Tire but I was wondering what else will fit this bike..any suggestions :?

Thanks

[OKrider]

Sorry just realized this should have probably been posted in the Pit/Pocket Bikes Forum :oops:

[Weldangrind]

I moved it for you. :wink:

Have you checked eBay? What is the length of the stock shock?

[simonw]

i recently did the same. best to bring the shock with you to a local shop & try to match something up. for the most part I found most shocks got the same mounting hold (12mm) but they vary in length (not a big deal). but the biggest difference I found is the spring rate. 2 similar shocks can have very different springs.
simon

[OKrider]

Sorry for the delay...been out of town for a few days.

Finally, got the shock off. Had to remove the side plastic, seat, air box before I could get the shock out. Seems like every nut is different :x

Not sure how you "measure" a shock but the top hole appears to be 9mm in dia (13mm bolt with a 14mm nut) and the bottom hole is 7mm in dia (12mm bolt and nut). The shock length is 253mm, center to center on the mounting holes. Exposed chrome rod length was 30mm. Not sure if that would be described as the travel?

There were no identifying markings on the shock nor was there any adjustment. Not sure if blown is the right assessment (no sign of leaking) but seized might be a better way of explaining it. The suspension is very hard and I thought the shock was bottomed out but I later noticed it does not compress nor expand so I don't know if the 253mm is the correct length.

Like I said I can get a like for like replacement from my local Canadian Tire (where I bought the bike), I don't want it to wear out in just one season. Just wondering if there is an equivalent for it so I can upgrade. However, I am not interested in putting a $500 shock on a $1200 bike.

Thanks

[Weldangrind]

Sounds like a 10" shock. I'm guessing that the mounting holes are actually 10mm and 8mm, although I'm surprised that they're dissimilar.

Don't worry about travel as much as eye to eye length and hole diameter, which you've already measured. This one looks good: Dirt Bike Shock (http://cgi.ebay.ca/CNC-REAR-SHOCK-XR70-CRF70-XR-CRF-70-DIRT-BIKE-/370515084200?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item56446b83a8) , and you can drill out one of your mounting holes to accept a 10mm bolt.

[OKrider]

Thanks Weldangrind,

I agree the shock looks good. A Baja shock is $112. 8O

I forgot to mention the top shock mount is similar to the picture (we'll call it the male end) but the bottom is the opposite configuration (female end?). I will try to get a picture of it tomorrow.

The two ends definitely have different bolt hole sizes. I could be out a millimeter. The batter on my calipers is dead so I am eyeballing the scale.

As suggested by Simon....I'll also take it to town and see what the local shops have. If nothing comes up I will order the Baja so we can get riding again :D I will let you know if I find a name brand that works.

Cheers

[Weldangrind]

These look right, but the shipping will kill you: Dirt Bike Shock (http://cgi.ebay.ca/10-3-8-Shock-Absorber-Dirt-Bike-Gokart-ATV-Honda-CB-CL-/170570395692?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27b6c9b02c)

[katoranger]

Maybe an xr80 shock will work.

I just happen to have a few.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260797214139&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT

Will try to measure one out today.

[katoranger]

xr80 is 10.5 inches long. Looks like a 10mm on the male end and an 8mm on the female end. Approximately 1 1/8 on wide on each end.

[Weldangrind]

That looks like a winner. Kato, it looks like those shocks are somewhat adjustable; is that right?

BTW, I think it would be easy to dismantle that shock for cleaning and painting.

[katoranger]

I don't know about adjustable. xr80 shocks are easy to come by and much cheaper than $115.

OKrider. I can ship to Canada. Pretty sure I have more of these too.

[OKrider]

Coming up empty on this end :(

Tried a couple of bike shops but they won't help. Wouldn't even look at it when they found out it was for a chinese bike. :x

Katoranger your shock looks like it would work. From what year XR80 is the shock from?

I have a pic but I don't know how to upload it to the forum. I verified the top bolt hole is 10mm and bottom is 8mm (got my calipers working). The width of the top male end is 30mm (approx 1-3/16in) and the width of the bottom female end is 28mm (approx 1-1/8in). I will contact you on via ebay.

Thanks to everyone for their help. :)

[katoranger]

I have more than one. We don't have to go through ebay. I will use your measurements and compare to what I have and get back to you with a chinarider price. :wink: Also want to send you the best looking one.

I don't know what year the shock is exactly. Probably late eighties to early nineties.

I have blue and red spring if you have a color preference.

One thing to note. These are designed to work with a linkage setup and not direct to the swingarm. Spring rate may be different.

[Weldangrind]

If the Baja and Honda springs are the same size, it might be wise to swap the Baja spring onto the Honda shock. It depends upon which spring is firmer.

[simonw]

The xr80 shock wont work for sure. i also have a 85 xr80.
if your shock looks exactly like the one from weldngride on post 5 which is the very same shock that I have on my son's 125. both mounting ends are "male" meaning a solid piece of metal with holes drilled. The xr80 one end is like that but the other end is a"female", it shapes like a fork (2 flanges).
If your shock is anything like my son's, it is probably not blown or seize just has really stiff spring (very difficult to compress the shock).
the only adjustment on both shocks is preload. (pre compressing the spring)
I am just like you, I refuse to spend more than $100 on a shock or anything on a $600 bike.
how much does you son's weighs? which part of Canada are you in? contact Jon at http://www.topfueltoyscanada.com/
if you can confirm that your shock is exactly like the one picture that Weldngrind attached on post 5, i can do some leg work for you.

[OKrider]

Thanks SimonW,

My sons shock is like katorangers (one male and one female end) and not like the one Weldangrind posted (two male ends).

The suspension used to work just fine. My son now weighs about 150lbs. I don't know how long it has been siezed. I just tried his bike a couple of weeks ago and it felt like a hard tail. I can't compress it at all. So its either blown and bottomed out or siezed. I am suggesting it has siezed (maybe rusted over the winter?) because the back of the bike does not look low and it has about 30mm of chrome shaft showing. I would be hard pressed to get a shock longer than 11in in there.

Anything used off ebay is going to be over $100 once its shipped to Canada anyway.

Thanks

[OKrider]

Thought I would post an update on the shock.

Katoranger came thru for me (many thanks) :D I finally got the shock after delays due to the Canada Post strike. The two shocks are practically identical. See photo (if I did this right). The original is on the bottom.

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb476/OKrider3/Baja%20DR125/Shockcomparison.jpg

The Honda XR80 (1990s vintage?) fit right in and now my sons Baja DR125 has suspension. Feels about the same to me but we won't know for sure until we get it out for a ride.

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb476/OKrider3/Baja%20DR125/shockinstalled.jpg

My son is very happy now :D . He's been bummed at not being able to ride for the past 6 weeks.

I wanted to share my experience with trying to source a Baja shock thru other avenues (maybe this part should be posted somewhere else by the moderator). Since there was no guarantee the XR80 shock would work I wanted a backup plan.

I tried purchase the Baja shock from Baja Canada but they don't sell directly to the public and only thru authorized dealers. OEM shock costs $112. I tried Canadian Tire (where I bought the dirt bike) but they don't stock or sell Baja parts and would not help me. They suggested I try China Parts Canada.

I contacted the China Parts Canada directly and spoke to the owners wife (they are based out of Vernon!). She suggested I send an email and her husband would get back to me. I sent an email as per their web-site instructions. I took pictures, dimensions and gave them the bike info. I never heard from the in 4 weeks. Twice I emailed them and even called and left a message. They never responded once. I am not impressed with this company and cannot recommend them. Maybe others at China Riders have had a more positive experience.

I tried to contact Baja Canada again to advise me who the closest authorized dealer was. They sent me to the local Polaris/Suzuki dealer who gave me a funny look and had nothing to do with Baja. They were polite since I have bought all my riding gear from them. I informed Baja Canada the contact info was incorrect and to suggest someone else....no response.

Several times I inquired on Ebay on shocks that looked similar (Yamaha TTR125 etc) to verify dimensions to see if they would work....no response from the sellers (usually business parting out bikes).

Finally, I did check with the local Honda dealer on the price of an XR80 shock (1992 model)...their price is $250...makes the $112 for a Baja OEM shock look pretty good. They look identical, granted there could be differences internally and the spring rates/quality could be different. However, if this one goes at least I know where to get a replacement.

Thanks to everyone for their help just wanted to share my experience so theirs is better.[/img]

[Weldangrind]

I fixed your pic for you.

The Langley for Baja is Phil at Adventure West Motorsports. He's a really good guy. http://www.adventurewest.net/

[katoranger]

Looks good. Hopefully its an improvement. I believe that parts for baja are available at tractor supply stores here in the US.

Weld, you box arrived in Sumas. :wink: