Hi ref linkage break

Vtwin lover · Jan 19, 2011

Hi there
Having just got my old RSVr serviced for a hopeful good year of knee down action and what i saw was two 07plate rsvs on the lifts whaere both of there rear shock linkages had failed.
Does anyone have any ideas or comments about this.

The guy showed me and was in exactly the same place.
Possibly they should make em out of steel instead of alloy.

jason

BB1000 · Jan 19, 2011

Been a few stories of this, after market ones are available, some made of stainless steel others made of thicker ally.....A LOT of poeple neglect this area as it out of site out of mind.....the bearings NEED cleaning and regreasing once a year at least

Vtwin lover · Jan 19, 2011

I know, and they say that the joint is self cleaning but there is simply not enough movement in the joint to clean anything hehehe

like you say tis a part of the bike people dont think about.

Sensei · Jan 19, 2011

2 guy's here in NZ have had their's break while rideing one was lucky enough to just write his bike off my other friend not only trashed hs bike but is still phyisically ****** 5ys later & want ever be right again .... Aprilia still havent replaced or offered any help towards either of these guys or the 30+ bikes in the USA that have broken these link plates ...

badger1 · Jan 20, 2011

Has been a recognised problem area for a number of years now, i replaced mine about three years ago, a kind man called Spoonz got some made for those that wanted them, here is mine

Spoonz · Jan 20, 2011

Sensei said:
2 guy's here in NZ have had their's break while rideing one was lucky enough to just write his bike off my other friend not only trashed hs bike but is still phyisically ****** 5ys later & want ever be right again .... Aprilia still havent replaced or offered any help towards either of these guys or the 30+ bikes in the USA that have broken these link plates ...

How is Scott doing Sensei ?

He may not have had help from Aprilia but he championed the cause of making people aware which probably saved a few more from the same fate.
If you see him tell him he is still not forgiven for the gear indicator !!:angry. He will know what i mean.

By the way. A few V4 plates are doing the same thing. I know of 2 that went exactly the same way as the rsv.

Re the plates Badger showed

Those plates we got made via a Spoonz/MPL/smaltmoto collaboration. Took a lot of organising (cad drawings etc) but Af1 offer a great plate made by Acculign now which is readily avaialble.

garinrogers · Jan 20, 2011

Had mine replaced under warranty along with the link when it was a year old, then replaced the links with a nice set of Ti plates from a Mr spoonz.

Spoonz · Jan 20, 2011

garinrogers said:
Had mine replaced under warranty along with the link when it was a year old, then replaced the links with a nice set of Ti plates from a Mr spoonz.

Bloody hassle they were, made by the engineer at the F14 jet manufacturers out of the same Ti as the jet rotor. Only set in the uk Garin and 1 of only 25 in the world, your exclusive. They were a work of art though

Sensei · Jan 20, 2011

Spoonz - How is Scott doing Sensei ? Haven't heard much about him resently apart from he had crashed another mates 06 Factory awhile back .....

Spoonz · Jan 20, 2011

And they let him on it knowing his crash history ?

Was it bad or is he ok and does he still have any biking friends whose bike he hasn't crashed ?

Vtwin lover · Jan 20, 2011

Well i am so glad people are reading this to ensure this matter hasnt gone away and people are aware of it.
Ride safe all
Jason

Vtwin Lover

ianmoto · Jan 24, 2011

Hi Jason-just a quick point-every one seems to be assuming that you are talking about the 2 triangular link plates breaking, but the two RSV1000R's on my benches have both suffered from broken "dog bone" or "figure of 8" links, or to put it another way the aluminium connecting rod in the linkage. The failure seems almost certainly to have been caused by water ingress to the needle roller bearings causing them and the ground steel sleeves they run on to rust and subsequently seize, causing the link to fail and the suspension to collapse!!
The needle roller bearings and sleeves must be inspected/cleaned and lubricated regularly to ensure that they stay free from corrosion and avoid any risk of failure. I would suggest at least an annual inspection, (after winter lay up), or more often if you ride all year!!
Please note both of these experienced riders felt no noticeable problems with their suspension-right up to the point it broke.
Just to add to the fun, to get to the front bearing you have to get the shock out the way, slacken rear header pipe manifold connection and drop the exhaust centre section a little-which makes it a lovely quick and easy job to do..(not).
Will post some pics of the failed links if it'll help and anyone interested?

Ian

Sensei · Jan 25, 2011

Spoonz said:
And they let him on it knowing his crash history ?

Was it bad or is he ok and does he still have any biking friends whose bike he hasn't crashed ?

Bike was pretty bad but it was put back together I hear not as well it should have been tho.

Spoonz · Jan 25, 2011

ianmoto said:
Hi Jason-just a quick point-every one seems to be assuming that you are talking about the 2 triangular link plates breaking, but the two RSV1000R's on my benches have both suffered from broken "dog bone" or "figure of 8" links, or to put it another way the aluminium connecting rod in the linkage. The failure seems almost certainly to have been caused by water ingress to the needle roller bearings causing them and the ground steel sleeves they run on to rust and subsequently seize, causing the link to fail and the suspension to collapse!!
The needle roller bearings and sleeves must be inspected/cleaned and lubricated regularly to ensure that they stay free from corrosion and avoid any risk of failure. I would suggest at least an annual inspection, (after winter lay up), or more often if you ride all year!!
Please note both of these experienced riders felt no noticeable problems with their suspension-right up to the point it broke.
Just to add to the fun, to get to the front bearing you have to get the shock out the way, slacken rear header pipe manifold connection and drop the exhaust centre section a little-which makes it a lovely quick and easy job to do..(not).
Will post some pics of the failed links if it'll help and anyone interested?

Ian

Hi Ian

There is an element of failure on some bikes (all years) from bad bearing maintenance but the 30 odd mentioned were all link plates only and all post 04 bikes. 2 were even inspected by a metalurgist paid for by aprilia and no mechanical issues were noted. Simple link plate catastrophic failure (their words)

Hence why some people changed them. For £40 why play the odds game.
Those bearings are an often neglected thing on all rsv's though.

chrisvosberg · Jan 25, 2011

Yes, well.....time to look at mine again. still stock.

chrisvosberg · Jan 25, 2011

ianmoto said:
Hi Jason-just a quick point-every one seems to be assuming that you are talking about the 2 triangular link plates breaking, but the two RSV1000R's on my benches have both suffered from broken "dog bone" or "figure of 8" links, or to put it another way the aluminium connecting rod in the linkage. The failure seems almost certainly to have been caused by water ingress to the needle roller bearings causing them and the ground steel sleeves they run on to rust and subsequently seize, causing the link to fail and the suspension to collapse!!
The needle roller bearings and sleeves must be inspected/cleaned and lubricated regularly to ensure that they stay free from corrosion and avoid any risk of failure. I would suggest at least an annual inspection, (after winter lay up), or more often if you ride all year!!
Please note both of these experienced riders felt no noticeable problems with their suspension-right up to the point it broke.
Just to add to the fun, to get to the front bearing you have to get the shock out the way, slacken rear header pipe manifold connection and drop the exhaust centre section a little-which makes it a lovely quick and easy job to do..(not).
Will post some pics of the failed links if it'll help and anyone interested?

Ian

Yes please. I am interested.

TTM · Jan 25, 2011

I'd also like to see the pics. Does anyone have a quick guide on how to lube up these bearings, preferably without the use of an ABBA stand as I don't have one

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Hi ref linkage break

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