Alright, dag-nab it. Shock woes

[QuaiChangKane]

I put a '99 GSXR monoshock in my 550ES. Had to put it in upside down backwards but no mods at all. The linkage does touch the airbox when the shock is fully extended, but that hasn't caused any problems. It raised the height an inch, which suits me better. There are posts in the archives about there not being enough clearance with the rear tire and thus having to remove the centerstand--but that may just be the case with some tire/chain/sprocket/shock combinations. I have plenty of clearance.

I have no idea if it'd work in a 750, but these gsxr shocks are cheap.

Same question as above - did your 550 stock shock have an eye/clevis or two eyes?

Could you provide photos?

-Q!

[p_s]

Same question as above - did your 550 stock shock have an eye/clevis or two eyes?

Could you provide photos?

One eye, one clevis. I asked here about doing it and LeeGS550E posted a photo of his:



I just turned it around as well so I could keep the centerstand. You can see how the gas reservoir would get in the way. It's actually much easier to adjust the shock this way then if it were right-side up.

EDIT: Click click click, aha, you need one with two eyes. Now I see the problem.

[QuaiChangKane]

Very clean install!



Yeah, that's my problem. I can't seem to find another bike with a similiar length shock that has eyes on both ends....

One eye, one clevis. I asked here about doing it and LeeGS550E posted a photo of his:



I just turned it around as well so I could keep the centerstand. You can see how the gas reservoir would get in the way. It's actually much easier to adjust the shock this way then if it were right-side up.

EDIT: Click click click, aha, you need one with two eyes. Now I see the problem.

[kingofvenus]

How did you mount it? The GSXR shock that I have has a clevis on one end and an eye on the other end.

I was aware of the upside-down mounting, but I'm confused about the actual method of attaching the shock to the existing mounts.


-Q!

Modified the bellcrank that the top of the shock bolts to. Filled the center and then narrowed it so it would fit into the clevis.

[kingofvenus]

how much did it raise it by?

About an inch and a half, and that was with the spring at the full soft preload setting. The Hagon that replaced it is much better in every way.

[rkubik]

Unfortunately, used aftermarket shocks are impossible to find, and new ones can cost more than KBB thinks this bike is worth. I've been scouring manufacturers' application charts for dimensions and spring rates, plus eBay for mounting eye type - and just can't seem to find a bolt-on that would work.

If there's that much demand, maybe you could buy a good quality one, then resell it separately if/when you sell the bike eventually. Even if you get half the price bak, that would be pretty good.

[Junkie]

About an inch and a half, and that was with the spring at the full soft preload setting. The Hagon that replaced it is much better in every way.

Did it bolt right up? My new rear tire will drop the rear half an inch, so I could use a bit of a raise... if so, how much do you want for it?

[LeeGS550E]

Hmm, I missed this thread. I wondered about the spring rate being a problem on the Gixxer shock due to the difference in linkage. My 550 feels pretty much strutted. But I was also concerned that the shock I picked up on ebay might be somehow tweaked to the point that it won't compress. When I sit on the bike, it does not seem to compress at all. I have considered bolting together some kind of lever arm out of 2x4's to try to compress the shock. I think its a much stiffer shock than the 550's. Can anyone else with this mod weigh-in?

[p_s]

My 550 feels pretty much strutted. But I was also concerned that the shock I picked up on ebay might be somehow tweaked to the point that it won't compress. When I sit on the bike, it does not seem to compress at all. I have considered bolting together some kind of lever arm out of 2x4's to try to compress the shock. I think its a much stiffer shock than the 550's. Can anyone else with this mod weigh-in?

It should definitely compress a bit. I haven't measured my sag, but it has to be over an inch. Something is wrong. My preload is set to probaby 80% of max, too.

[kingofvenus]

The one I had on mine was kinda stiff, only about an inch of sag with the pre-load at full soft. And it made the chain rub on the swingarm too much raised up as much as it was.

[kingofvenus]

Did it bolt right up? My new rear tire will drop the rear half an inch, so I could use a bit of a raise... if so, how much do you want for it?

NO. You would have to modify the bellcrank that bolts to the top of the shock. Raised up that much (this was with the GSX600 wheel already on it) the chain rubbed on the swingarm way too much. Trust me if this was an okay mod I would have kept it on and not spent the 400+ for the Hagon.

[Griffin]

I have been watching this thread with interest, for I'm in the same boat as QCK on my GS700ES. Even with the shock preload set on max, when I settle my 200 lb arse on it, it compresses at least two inches. If I add my 125 lb wife on the back, fuggedaboudit. The '83-'86 GS750/700 models were a little undersprung from the factory to begin with, and 20+ years has taken it's toll on all of them.

I've decided to bite the bullet and save up for this:

http://www.davequinnmotorcycles.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/HAGON_MONOSHOCKS.html

$441 without the remote preload adjuster, $620 with it.

I'll probably ride this season with the stock shock, and then spring for the new one this fall and install it over the winter.

[kingofvenus]

I've got the plain-jane model with the standard spring. I turned it two full turns up (stiffer) from the middle of the adjustment area, I ride mostly solo and weigh 225.

[Griffin]

I've got the plain-jane model with the standard spring. I turned it two full turns up (stiffer) from the middle of the adjustment area, I ride mostly solo and weigh 225.

That's useful to know. I weigh a bit less than you, but not much less, and ride solo 95% + of the time.

In fact, the reason I acquired and fixed up my '81 750E was so my wife could comfortably ride behind me. With both of us on my 700, the suspension was nearly bottomed before we hit any bumps.