Just in process of upgrading suspension on my new to me Z 2012. My local supension specialist has stripped and rebuilt the rear shock and improved the shim stack for better damping, added a heavier duty spring and replenished oil and gas. Also forks now have Hagon Progressive springs, in the smallish progressive end of thre new sping is in itself stiffer than the standard spring and off course the rest is stiffer. Heavier Fork oil has been added. We did look to source a linear spring but were very happy with the springs from Hagon and the spec sheet supplied. Even with these springs fitted my mate tells me it has left some adjustment capability. Interestingly, even with the low miles on my bike the Fork oil looked well passed its best and the internals and seals needed cleaning/replacing.

Is it because the XT is knocking on a bit that there seems to be little interest in this post on an effective and cost conscious way to improve the bikes suspension ? That being said if many of you have the earlier bikes and the later ones with 15000 miles or more on the clock this work will be way overdue as the bike suspenders will be way passed their best.

Being disinterested in "Likes" and all the Kak from social media and the like it always amuses me when bikers seem prepared to pay loads of wedge for an end can or full system and yet still ride round on crap suspension.

Ah well C'est la vie

Hi,I read your post and tbh wasnt sure how to reply. I ride an R.I have no complaints about the ride quality BUT I am interested in who you used to do the work.
Was it expensive?

the OP was good, many XT riders have replaced the original suspension units, Hagon and others are all way better than the stock, but that is not difficult with the original kit having no damping adjustment and generally under sprung. Most Jap bikes are still being made was crap suspension, its one of the first things on most people list of stuff to sort as soon as they leave the dealership

Made me chuckle OP puts a posts up that floats his boat and then come back 6 days later for a rant,I see there have been 50 odd views so it�s food for thought for those that have looked.

The XT is a strange bike for some it�s their first serious entry into biking for others like me my XT is very much at the bottom of the food chain I work on it when i�m not working on others,me personally i�ve never Been a fan of messing with stock sus it�s either Wilbers or Ohlins and when it suits I go into tight mode and i�ve Been waiting 8 years for a secondhand shock to turn up for my X.

Suspension does matter to me but not on my XT I can live with it but that�s me and i�d Suggest the original OP�s post has been food for thought but just getting over Christmas i�d Say a lot of folks hobbies are centered around paying the mortgage and bills and everything else put on the back burner for another day,never mind that the average punter doesn�t know his/her compression from their rebound never mind the preload.

Suspension choice /replacement is such a varied and personal thing...I know people who have happily ridden around the world on their original 5/8 year old suspension and as long as it didn't actually collapse they didn't give it a thought. I don't think I could improve on the original suspension on my 16 year old XR650R so it will remain unchanged. I noticed a massive improvement on the Tenere's front end when I fettled it with Ohlins springs and I'm sure I'll notice it when I get round to changing the rear shock ....I've only put it off as the standard one has served me well so far. Mind you I was in bike shop recently talking to the mechanic who was removing the original shock from a brand new unridden bike and replacing it with an Ohlins at the new owners request! , ....each to their own! Steve. ...sent from a warm and sunny Costa Rica!