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    GS750ES shock alternative

    I promised in another thread to post pics and give an update on my search for a low cost alternative to the stock rear mono-shock on the GS750ES, so here it is.

    I'm not fluent with psoting pics so this might take a few tries.

    Some background. I'm rebuilding an '83 GS750ES for my son and found that the rear shock was shot. There was no damping at the upper end of travel and little near the bottom. This is quite easy to determine by simply removing the spring and giving it a shove. The shock is not rebuildable and the alternative was buy a new, aftermarket unit or try to find one from another bike that would work. This thread is about the latter.

    I did some research and came up with only one real candidate. The shock from a 93-99 Ducati 900 Monster has the correct length and uses eyes on both ends. I found a 98 unit on Ebay and won it using my incredible skills. (Basically bid higher than the other guys).

    So, on to the pics. The first is showing the Suzuki shock on the left to the Ducati on the right.



    The Suzuki spring on the top (not sure how this got rotated). I decided to use the stock spring as may be closer to the correct spring rate for this bike. I'll also use the dust cover, as the Ducati shock will only fit if mounted upside down. This isn't a problem as long as a dust cover is used.


    The Ducati shock needs a little modification on the top eye for clearance. I used a file and took a bit off. I'll shave a bit more off for the final install - maybe another 1/32.



    This shows the bottom of the shock mounted without the spring insatlled.



    Here's the top.



    I'll let you all know how it rides in another month.
    Last edited by Guest; 05-12-2009, 10:08 PM.

    #2
    I've tried posting the pics without any luck. Follow the links if interested.

    Comment


      #3
      Pic one





      Comment


        #4
        more pics





        There ya go....let me know how it rides, Ive been curious about this mod for awhile for my 700.

        Comment


          #5
          Smart a$$. I tried using the insert image icon with no luck. Anyway, you da' man.

          Anyway, notice the stock spring is now yellow. Ohlins impersonation.

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by reddirtrider View Post
            Smart a$$. I tried using the insert image icon with no luck. Anyway, you da' man.

            just keepin it real man... Great work on the shock BTW! your bike looks really clean!!

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by jwhelan65 View Post
              just keepin it real man... Great work on the shock BTW! your bike looks really clean!!
              yeah your bike is really clean....down there.....

              Comment


                #8
                If it's not a rude question... how much did you pay for that shock? How does the monster spring feel with the weight of the 750?

                Shame - my friend just sold a ducati with Ohlins on it, I prob could have got it off him...

                Mine might end up going the same way
                1980 GS1000G - Sold
                1978 GS1000E - Finished!
                1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
                1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
                2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
                1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
                2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar..... - FOR SALE!

                www.parasiticsanalytics.com

                TWINPOT BRAKE UPGRADE LINKY: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...e-on-78-Skunk/

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by salty_monk View Post
                  If it's not a rude question... how much did you pay for that shock? How does the monster spring feel with the weight of the 750?

                  Shame - my friend just sold a ducati with Ohlins on it, I prob could have got it off him...

                  Mine might end up going the same way
                  I paid $50 for the shock. Not any Monster shock will work, just the '93 -'99 900's. The others are too short. Also, shocks with reservoirs will not fit.

                  The bike still doesn't have the motor installed so I can't test the Monster spring. I'm going with the stock spring for now.

                  There's another shock on Ebay right now, the same as this one (make sure it's 13" long by questioning the seller) that is starting at $10. They don't come up that often, but I would suggest that if more than one of you wnat it to communicate so you don't bid against each other. I'm pretty sure I didn't have a GSResourcer bidding against me.

                  An Ohlins would be sweet, but would surely cost more.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    I should mention that the shock adjustments are all accessible. To set the sag is going to be a bit of a pain. The ZRX1200 shock tool fits, so it will make it a bit easier but there isn't a lot of room to work. It's a good thing the preload doesn't need to be adjusted often.

                    This will make it a bit soft 2-up. I'll fill my son in on all the details. It's not a big deal, and he shouldn't be flying around with his soon to be wife on the back anyway.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      This guy?



                      Think I'll put in a small bid....

                      Dan
                      1980 GS1000G - Sold
                      1978 GS1000E - Finished!
                      1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
                      1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
                      2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
                      1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
                      2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar..... - FOR SALE!

                      www.parasiticsanalytics.com

                      TWINPOT BRAKE UPGRADE LINKY: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...e-on-78-Skunk/

                      Comment


                        #12
                        That's the one. In all honesty that's only the second I've seen on Ebay since I started looking - about 3 months.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Ok, I've added the spring and mounted on the bike. The Ducati shock won't accept the Suzuki dust cover, so be warned. IMHO, you need a dust cover if the shock is inverted.

                          Since the Suzuki spring is longer than the Ducati unit, you first need to compress it. I did this in the press and then used 8 zip ties to hold it compressed. Those little buggers are apparently pretty strong!

                          Next up us getting a starting point for the sag. Instead of using the shock tool to turn the rings, I simply mounted the shock in a vise, inserted a metal bar into the other end and turned it down. It went so fast and easy it even surprised me. As a side note, check out the lamp that my brother hung on the little plastic cabinet. Not a real good shot of it, but it melted into it and fused them together. That's what happenens when you let relatives in your garage!





                          Here it is in the bike. The zip ties messed the spring paint up a bit, but that's life.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            redirtrider, I sent you a pm.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              So you're using the Suzuki spring in the Ducati Shock??

                              By the way - someone else on here has used a Hyabusa spring if you need a beefier one.

                              (on an 1150 shock but the same as a 750/700 shock so should also fit your Ducati shock)

                              Dan
                              1980 GS1000G - Sold
                              1978 GS1000E - Finished!
                              1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
                              1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
                              2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
                              1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
                              2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar..... - FOR SALE!

                              www.parasiticsanalytics.com

                              TWINPOT BRAKE UPGRADE LINKY: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...e-on-78-Skunk/

                              Comment

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