Spiffy new rear shock

[Alexj]

Well I got my new rear shock the other day and it is awesome. I was going to do the GSXR shock thing (Even bought one with a swing arm to do the swap). I decided to go with a Works shock with adjustable compression and rebound dampening. The shock is valved to my weight and riding needs and the spring rate is also specific to me.
I setup sag front and rear in the shop (Also have straight rate springs and the RaceTech emulator in the front end) Then took it out on some good twisties I ride all the time. I spent about an hour riding adjusting and riding the same section. It is pretty well dialed in at this point and this is a different bike AWESOME is all I can say.
I am off to NHIS for my second track day on Monday, and can't wait to see how much better the bike is on the track. Oh yeah mine is a 2006 GS500F.
Here is a pick of the shock.

Alex

[annguyen1981]

Looks brand new.  Where's you get that, and how much?

Can we see pics of the shock installed, specifically the adjuster..

[The Buddha]

I try not to ASSUME too much these days ...  ...
Nice shock though.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Chilly Willy]

Yes, it would be awesome to get a little more information about your shock.  Where did you get it?  Was it difficult to install?  Are you a high or low weight rider?

[Alexj]

Spelling corrected sorry.
The shock is brand new. I got it from works shocks, nice guys told them what I wanted and they came up with the solution. www.worksperformance.com
It was not cheap cost is $490. The upside it is rebuildable and can be revalved as my needs change. Rebound is adjusted at the bottom of the shock with an allen wrench, compression is adjusted at the canister. Preload is a pain to adjust with the shock in the bike, so dropping the shock to adjust is the easiest.
As for the install it took about 30 minutes. These are the steps I took.
1) measure sag so you know where you are starting.
2) get the rear wheel off the ground.
3) remove upper and lower sock bolts.
4) Remove the bolt holding the rocker to the links.
5) rotate rocker out of the way and drop shock out.
6) slide new shock into place, routing the canister out the right side of the bike under the battery. Let it hang there for now.
7) put the top shock bolt in.
Rotate rocker back into place and put in bottom shock bolt.
9) using a piece of wood, srew driver etc. lift up on the rear wheel to get the links in the correct position and slide bolt back in.
10) tighten all bolts properly.
11) take the seat and tail section off.
12) route the canister hose under the electronis on the right side of the bike, so the canister ends up just in back off the front screw mount for the tail section.
13) clamp the canister to the frame at this point, rotating so that the compression adjuster is facing up.
14) put the tail section and seat back on.
15) adjust sag accordingly.
16) if you need to adjust the preload just drop the shock as outlined in earlier steps. (you do not nned to remove just drop it enough to get the wrench on)
17) go riding and adjust accordingly.
I will post some pics of it in the bike later.
Alex

[annguyen1981]

It was not cheap cost is $490.

I guess I'm sticking with a kat shock.

[werase643]

my last works shock cost 600
and I have only ridden the bike 2 times
I have since taken the bike apart....fu@ker put me in the hospital for 5 days

yeah we learn....FYI....A RZ350 and a FZ600 use the same shock
and i could find RZ shocks.....but not FZ600 shocks...at the time......

[Chilly Willy]

What are your long-range plans for the cannister?  Have you identified somewhere on the frame where you can strap it more securely?
That looks like it should give your bike plenty of rear suspension.  Please keep us posted on how it affects the handling of the bike.

[Chuck]

I am off to NHIS for my second track day on Monday

Tony's, yeah!  I was at Tony's track day on Sept 20.  That is a tight organization.  Very clockwork, and I had a blast.  I was going to go on Monday too, but my tires are shredded up pretty good and I have a mysterious oil leak I want to get to the bottom of.  I'm glad they're gonna see another GS.  Next year I haven't decided if I want to ride the GS or the FZR at the track.

[Katia]

I pulled a shock off just like this one off an old frame that was given to me by the seller of my bike. I've been contemplating about rebuilding it and putting it on my GS. After reading this I think I'm gonna take it to a suspension expert. I didn't realize it cost 490$...

[Dom]

Plenty of room for the cannister above the shock if you get rid of your airbox and get some pods.

[rangerbrown]

damn those are small pods, mine are huge compared to that

[annguyen1981]

I am off to NHIS for my second track day on Monday

Tony's, yeah!  I was at Tony's track day on Sept 20.  That is a tight organization.  Very clockwork, and I had a blast.  I was going to go on Monday too, but my tires are shredded up pretty good and I have a mysterious oil leak I want to get to the bottom of.  I'm glad they're gonna see another GS.  Next year I haven't decided if I want to ride the GS or the FZR at the track.

Hey Chuck...  What route do you take to get to NHIS?  I'm located in Western MA.  If you go past me, I'd like to join you one day.  I just don't have anyone I can go with and split the cost of travel and getting my bike there.

[Mandres]

damn those are small pods, mine are huge compared to that

[Chuck]

Hey Chuck...  What route do you take to get to NHIS?  I'm located in Western MA.  If you go past me, I'd like to join you one day.  I just don't have anyone I can go with and split the cost of travel and getting my bike there.

Route 9 through VT/NH seems to be the only way.  Takes about 4 hours.  My only other option is I-90 to I-495 to I-93, which would also take 4 hours, but an extra 100 miles and tolls.  If you're close to I-90 and I don't bring my wife and kid (which pretty much uses up usable passenger space in the truck, and then some) we could probably work something out.

[l3uddha]

does anyone know how the Works shock changes the rear ride height? is it the same? raise it a few inches?

[Alexj]

It does not change the ridde height at all. You do have a small adjustment in the clevis at the bottom, probably + 1/2 "

Alex