Newer GSXR shock on a GS

[Sprinklerhead]

Hi, I've been lurking on here for awhile.  I started borrowing a friend's GS500E after I grenaded the engine in my 88 gixxer 750.  At first I figured it's just a 500, I'm going to be bored out of my mind riding this thing, of course I was wrong.  Now I'm faster on this little GS than I ever was on my other bikes.  I've also fallen in love with passing h*nd*'s on the outside in turns.  

The stock shock is pretty much shot at this point.  We've already stuck my old katana 600 front end on the GS to beef up the front and it's helped a lot, but the rear is really leaving something to be desired.  I have what I believe to be an 02 GSXR600 shock that I want to mount on the GS.  I almost have it in, but I can't get it to slide into place.  Is there any trick that needs to be done to get it in or do you have to modify it some how?  Currently I have it on the center stand with the front end fully compressed to get the wheel down as low as possible, next I'm thinking about pulling off the rear wheel so I can get the swing arm even lower and then hopefuly get it in.  It looks like the top of the shock should clear the battery once it's in.  At least on the top end, these newer gixxer shocks are a tighter fit on the old gixxers, usually requiring the battery be moved to clear the shock.

[se7enty7]

i think srinath, and others, have gsx-r rear shocks.  I believe it involves a bit of grinding on the pivot on the bottom (not the shock part.. the part attached to the bike)

[Sprinklerhead]

Ok, that's not too big of a deal.  Just need to find out how much I need to grind off.

[Dom]

Try this:http://pantablo500.tripod.com/pablosgs500page/id12.html

Other rear shock swap info on that site, too.

Sorry, this is the one I was looking for: look in mods section:http://www.bikepower.net/gs500e-power/gs500e-power.htm

[paternoster2012]

I belive he is refering to the newer shocks with a piggyback resevoir

let me know if you get yours in

[Sprinklerhead]

That's what I'm trying to get in there.  I pulled it out of my gixxer to stick in an 03 GSXR750 shock.

Here's the old one and what I'm trying to replace it with.

[Dom]

Oh.

I've never heard of anybody successfully mounting a piggyback shock.  Not worth the effort...just buy one with either an internal resevoir or remote resevoir.

[Sprinklerhead]

Where's the fun in that?   :lol:

[Dom]

If you aren't using the stock airbox(use the k&n ru2970 or pods) then you can mount the shock upsidedown.  Saw the rubber bushing off top and the saddle off the bottom and weld them back on reversed.

Just make sure when your cutting that you don't cut thru to the resevoir and when your welding make sure you pry out the rubber bushing first so it doesn't melt.   Try to minimize the amount of heat that you expose the shock to.  No guarantees but it's worth a try.

[Dom]

Afterthought:  the gsxr coil looks significantly larger in diameter than the gs shock.  You might have issues clearancing the swingarm.

After reading Joris' mod manual, he says that some gsxr shocks are too long...but he didn't mention too large in diameter.

[Sprinklerhead]

So far it's just been a problem of trying to get the shock onto the bottom mount.  I think if I pull the rear wheel and drop the swing arm all the way down I can probably get it on.  It'll be a tight fit, and yeah, it might be too long.  Only one way to find out.  If it doesn't work(ie I can't flat foot the bike anymore) then I'll stick on my old katana shock.

[se7enty7]

you're going to have to modify your kickstand too...

[Sprinklerhead]

I can use the center stand till I get a chance to modify the kick stand.

[Dom]

To work on it:  Put a 2x4 or two under the centerstand and remove the rear wheel.  

I believe you won't be able to use the centerstand anymore either, I think you will need to park it on the centerstand with a 2x4 under it..  may as well just duct tape on the 2x4 right now cause you'll need it later on. :lol:  

[Dom]

Well, Pantablo's mod page said that neither the kickstand or the centerstand reach the ground after the gsxr mod, but Joris' said they both work, sooooo, maybe they used different years of shock. :dunno:

[dgyver]

Here is an '04 GSXR600 shock mounted in one of my GS frames. I used a lower linkage from another GSXR since it is a little shorter than the GS, allowing for a little extra clearance at the swingarm since the spring is larger in diameter. The reservoir does clear the battery box but I doubt that it would clear the frame mounted petcock. I do not need the frame mounted petcock so that was not an issue. A bracket could be made to relocate it.





Here is the relocated upper mount. I made it this way so the rear ride height can be adjusted with the use of shims inserted under/above the silver clevis on the top of the shock.

[Sprinklerhead]

I have a feeling that the 02 600 shock is closer to the size of that 04 shock.  Even if I can get it in there it's going to jack the rear way too high.  Guess it's the Katana shock instead then.

[dgyver]

Nothing a grinder and a welder cant't fix.  

Most of the later year gixxer shocks are about the same lenght.
Here is the info I have handy:

2003-04 SV650 330.0mm 430lb/in
2001-02 GSXR1000 329.5mm 430lb/in
2003 GSXR1000 332.5mm 480lb/in
2004 GSXR600 332.5mm 425lb/in
2004 GSXR750 332.5mm 400lb/in
2003-04 ZX6RR 340.0mm 540lb/in
2004 ZX10R 338.0mm 540lb/in

[Jared]

Very Slick setup there,  Mac(D)gyver...