A mysterious malfunction has sabotaged my off-road adventures and left a mysterious puddle in its wake. Imagine my surprise when I discovered a pool of liquid beneath my trusted Kove 800X Rally, with no apparent source. It wasn't the usual suspects—engine oil or coolant. But what could it be?
The answer revealed itself as I took the bike for a spin, or rather, a bounce. The rear shock had completely failed, transforming my ride into a pogo stick! The fluid on the floor was the shock's oil, leaving the suspension with no damping and a spring that would make Zebedee envious.
But here's the twist: the shock is a replica of a reliable KYB part, and it had been performing flawlessly until this unexpected breakdown. The culprit? A failed main seal. And the cause remains a mystery, as it occurred while the bike was stationary in my garage, not during any thrilling off-road escapades.
Kove UK promptly replaced the shock, a relatively simple task, and my bike was back in action. Yet, the question lingers—why did this happen? Kove UK is equally perplexed, with no similar failures reported. Could it be linked to the anti-corrosion spray I used? Perhaps it hardened and damaged the seal when the bike was moved. A theory, but one we may never prove.
In the meantime, I've upgraded to Oxford HotGrip Pro 2.0 heated grips, a £90 investment over the standard model. They passed their first test with flying colors, keeping me warm during a 100-mile ride in freezing rain. Now, I await the next off-road journey to see if the recent modifications have improved the Kove's performance, leaving me with a sense of anticipation and a few unanswered questions.
