How often should you replace rear shock absorbers?

Mine is over 5 years old, should I get a new one?

 

shocks seem to go due to the mileage on bad road surfaces, and if the bike is kept un-garaged, as in corrosion affecting the seals. I know of 15 year old bikes on original shocks, and still good. The acid test is, is it still damping okay.

 

sorry whats damping?

 

Hold the scooter upright and off the stand and then push down hard on the back of the seat and then let go. If it is really easy to push down and it bottoms out to the end of its travel then the shock is fooked. When you push the back end down and let go the seat should pop back up quite quickly bit it should not bounce up and down .
One other way to test it is to hit a pothole with your tongue out ...if you bite off your tongue you need a new shock.