The old fella (97 dominator) is getting a make over and I'm trying to work out what to do with the suspension. The original rear shock and front forks are 10 years and 80 000 kms old most of it (90%) carrying luggage. Off to S America soon and just wonder if anyone has had really good results with rear shocks or changing the fork springs etc. I have heard it can transform the bike!!!!!! (wow what if it made me a real hero off road!!) Any help would be much appriciated

cheers

don't know about rear schocks (still using a rebuild showa)
i know some one that fitted an african twin shock but that didn't work out to well (switched back after one ride) so i would advise a WP replacment shock

the front can be replaced by an xr600 fork, or with th cr250/500 upside down fork with a change of bearings
but that leaves you with a contact key "problem"

Thats interesting have you tried the cr or xr forks on your own bike? Er and whats a contact key problem? Any one else tried any other rear shocks?

my english sucks on these things..
the top "brace" of the fork has a fitting for the contact key on a dommie. a xr/cr does not have a contact key at all
here is a pic of a friend who has a cr fork in his xr (xr and nx frame have many simalareties)
http://www.motor-forum.nl/forum/misc/200623

I fitted a rear shock from a honda xl 600, it's also a showa shock but it has adjustable dampning and they are a much heavier duty and longer shock, and much more adjustable than the original dominator shock. Bike sits alot higher as the xl shock has heaps more thread to play with height. Bike takes luggage and pillion passenger heaps better now.
i can send you some photos if you would like.
Matt

hello fellow nx650 owner....
ive got a 1994 nx650 in the Philippines, it worries me about the rear shock...
its too soft or no damping at all... am comparing it with my previous bikes its way to soft. i was just thinking of replacing it with shock from xl600 or xr200?
do you think the xr200 shock would fit and play it right?

mrmattyking, please post a photo of what you did for your dominator.

thank you for the help, guys....

why not refresh the front forks with new bushes and oil. i rode solo and a bit of 2 up with daft amounts of luggage at times and the forks coped well. i changed the rear shock for a hagon cos the original felt shagged. in hidsight i should have got the original rebuit. the hagon gave up in quito(along with another bout of valve seat dropping). it lost most of its oil. hagon were excellent sending a new shock as asap. after delays in customs etc it was however another 10 days delay. i tried a heavier spring in the hagon unit which was a little harsh offroad. if the original went wrong on your trip lots of mechanics can and do rebuild shocks so you shoudnt be delayed too long,
cheers
oz