Z250SL monoshock linkage de-seize

I have been complaining about how harsh the Z's suspension is for a while now, but after looking at it more closely when fitting the rear wheel with a new tyre it became apparent that the rear suspension did not move at all. As in, not even a bit! I didn't want to believe it at first but when Dad climbed on the back and it still didn't move I had to admit there was something up. I guess this helps explain why my eyeballs were being shook about so much at speed..

First thing to do was to undo all the bolts at every step in the linkage:

Upon releasing the final bolt at the top of the dog bone the bike settled down. How did it get seized stood right up like that? I don't know.

Taking the bolts out showed that they were totally devoid of any grease or lubrication, which was annoying but expected after finding the axle completely dry as well as the pivot for the gear lever. However the bolts merely clamp bits of linkage to the sleeves, it is the sleeves that do the rotating. Guess what? Seized solid. After removing the bolts the linkage came out, and a vice and sockets (and then the neighbour's bigger vice!) were employed to press the sleeves out crunk by painful crunk. Eventually the sleeves were freed from their prison of seizure:

Again, zero grease, but perhaps Kawasaki don't think grease is needed because instead of tried and tested needle rollers they have fitted strange dark coloured bush things that, presumably, are supposed to be slippery but in my experience they really are not!

After judicious filing the sleeves were kind of smooth again, and the whole lot filled with grease - hopefully the bushes won't break up in it or swell or anything silly like that. Put back together the bike now actually has some rear end sag and wobbles a whole lot less when going around corners, result! But can we remember that this is a 66 plate bike, with about 7400 miles under its wheels, still with another 14 months before its first MOT is due? Quite what state this bike will be in by then I find difficult to imagine.. Only fit for the scrap heap, surely!