GS550 rear shock

[braol]

I am going to get the proggressive fork springs off of bikebandit.com. What is a good shock to put on it? It's an 85 550E. I can't afford to spend alot of money on a shock so would a gsxr shock work? What year? Should I get the shock from a bike that is close to the same weight as mine? I know how to weld so if I need to do any modifying or fab work so that won't be a problem.

[luc8421]

what year? if you're talking about using a gsxr shock I'm going to presume its a later model mono-shock. I've been trying to answer this question myself, there are a lot 'used' rear shocks on ebay for about $50-120 off of 2000+ bikes. they have screw type adjustable dampning, and would be perfect if you got them to fit.

which is where the problem is, on our bikes the mono shock has an eyelet both top and bottom, while most modern suzuki's have an eye at the bottom, and the top has two brackets to surround the eyelet on the top pivot piece. if you could get that piece as well and get it to work it'd be great.

I believe there is also a late model katana that has a usable shock, I wanna say 2001? someone else will chime in here.

[Billy Ricks]

The first generation GSXR shocks have the right type of mounts on each end but length may be a problem for both the 550 and 700. Later model shocks have the wrong type mount on the bottom of the shock although a transition piece could be fabbed. The trouble is a stock shock would likely be worn out since the first generation Gixxers were built in '86 and '87. With patience you might find an NOS or aftermarket rebuildable shock from those years.

[braol]

Are the late model GSXR shocks rebuildable?

[Nerobro]

Skreemer and I are trying to fit a GSXR shock to a 1983 (same frame as your 85) GS550E this winter. We will post pictures and results. The shock is NOT directly compatable, anda new shock mount is needed.

[mark m]

Many Yamahas (the R series sport bikes for sure) use eyelets both ends and I believe most Honda sport bikes are arranged the same. Look at:

http://www.ohlins.com/

Go to the motorcycle shock section and look at the fitment instructions for some bikes. Most of the instructions include the overall length, stroke and eyelet size.

Just be aware that a newer OEM shock will not be much better than your old OEM shock. They are cheap and poorly manufactured regardless of year and the new ones wear out and lose damping in very few miles just like the old ones did. If you want one rebuilt, either Race Tech or Lindeman Engineering will rebuild most OEM shocks. I checked into getting an 86 GSXR shock rebuilt a few years ago with Lindeman and it was something like $200USD for a rebuild and revalve. There may be a local suspension shop that will do it as well. Check at your local track for leads into local shops.

Mark

[Billy Ricks]

Mark, I've check the lengths on Honda and Yamaha shocks thinking the same thing and they are all too short.

[braol]

My 550 has an eyelet on the bottom only. The gsxr shocks on ebay have an eyelet on the top, like these

http://i13.ebayimg.com/04/i/05/68/cc/54_1.JPG

http://i20.ebayimg.com/03/i/05/59/71/e0_1.JPG

It looks to me like there wouldn't be room for the top of the shock unless you could mount it upside down. Will a shock work correctly if mounted upside down?

[mark m]

Will a shock work correctly if mounted upside down?

Depends on the type of shock. I can't see the ebay listings you have due to our work filtering ebay pages, but if they are the typical integral reservoir GSXR shock, I think they will be fine. Careful about that top eye fitting into your linkage, they are pretty thick and may not make it between the ears on the linkage. Access to the adjusters might be pretty difficult with the shock inverted, too.


Mark