Before we start, lets just have a look in our extensive toolbox (shown left). The only special tool you'll see is the clutch holding tool (like a big pair of mole grips with L shaped jaws. We only bought these because our esteemed editor managed to break the clutch basket on a KX250 - these grips cost £20, the genuine kawasaki tool was priced at £80. Anyway, you won't find any fancy air tools here (our lump hammer is not shown). All you need is a good set of metric sockets and plenty of wire brushes (and a blow torch).

Hmmm, the shocks came apart very easily (a little worrying, does this mean the springs are shagged?). Basically you simply compress the spring, slip of the C shaped retainer at the base of the sock and then the spring can be slid off.

Unfortunately the Clymer manual claims that they can be rebuilt but the Suzuki manual warns that they contain nitrogen and can explode, I only read this after I got the Suzuki hand book about two weeks after trying to heat up the reservoirs to unscrew them.

The shock shaft is also pitted, but this doesn't look too bad and when you compress the shock no fluid leaks past the seals.

The final verdict is that we'll see how they perform and maybe get some new ones if they are cacked.