The Basics of Motorcycle Shocks

The inner workings of a motorcycle shock is often unknown. The spring action of moving up and down motion is quite obvious but most riders do not understand what happens within the shock itself. This in itself is what defines the difference between an excellent and not so great shock. In order to ensure that you have the best shock for your use and capabilities, you need to have an understanding of the most important components of the suspension system of your motorcycle. Having this basic understanding of these parts is an important part of becoming a comfortable and better rider.

Motorcycle shocks and the suspension part in the forks can be grouped into two elements. The spring which has the simplified job of carrying the rider and absorb all of the impact of the bumps, rocks and jumps that you encounter while driving on a road, trail or track. The other component is the damper. This damper’s function is to consume the energy that has been created by the spring's compression and resulting rebound.

A motorcycle's shock system works toward a dual purpose

Motorcycle shocks provide the motorcycle’s braking and handling as well as providing safety and comfort to the rider by keeping the bumps and vibrations caused by road and trail riding to a minimum.

A typical motorcycle has two fork tubes for the front suspension, and a swinging arm with usually one to two shock absorbers that are for the rear suspension of the motorcycle.