Suspension Upgrade (Again)... Pics.

[Danny500]

Back in August I installed an SV650 shock with minor modification. Bolted right in, adjusted the pre-load and away I went. After a few weeks I noticed that my hands were cramping and my front end was diving way more than usual in turns and during braking. So, I decided to get some lowering links.

I just installed them last week and took the bike for a ride, what a terrible idea. Sure, the bike was lowered back to stock height (maybe a tad lower) but the rear suspension geometry was wacked wayyyy out of proportion. Even on the highest pre-load setting the SV shock feels like my stock shock on pre-load setting 3.

Well, after much debate and common sense, I purchased a 99' Katana GSX750F rear shock with 4 way rebound dampening, fully adjustable pre-load and fully adjustable compression dampening.

To catch you up, I'm a 230lb guy... so I kinda need it on this bike. That, and before I installed the lowering links I had just installed .90 Sonic Springs in the front, so when the suspension turned to noodle soup I definitely noticed a squat due to the stiffened front end. So, in order to match-wits with the front, the Kat is a must.

First impressions:
The Kat shock is a great looking item. I got it used, so it's got some surface rust and a little wear here and there, but all-in-all it's a good unit. It's got a 4 way dial under the bottom mounting yolk for rebound dampening. What I also noticed is that the bottom yolk is aluminum with a tapped hole on the right side so there's no pain-in-the-ass nut to bust loose. I will, however, run a little drop of loc-tite here.

The external reservoir is Nitrogen filled with a "soft/hard" adjustment for compression and has about 1 foot of line between it and the shock body, so it shouldn't be too hard to find a decent place to mount it. Also, the pre-load is FULLY adjustable with 2 lock rings on the threaded shock body. Much MUCH MUUUCCCHHHH better than the silly 5-7 way clicker types.

Another great thing about the Kat shock is that for 99' it's almost identical in length (hole to hole) to that of the stock GS shock. Buddha says maybe a hair longer, but that's fine for me.

Another great thing about this whole thing is that the links I had installed previously are adjustable, so they have a stock setting on them. Which is GREAT because they're T6 aluminum and I didn't want to not run them if I could avoid it.

So now I'm out to the garage on a 25 degree day to install the new shock.

More thoughts later... and pics as well.

OH, and just so you know, the SV shock is for sale on the fourm... I'm asking only 25 bucks right now due to it'd probably only be good for a specific type of rider.

My recommendations... Only get the SV shock if:

A. Your inseam is 32 or greater.
B. You want the ass end of your bike a little higher.
C. You don't mind only having pre-load adjustability.
D. You weigh at or less than 250lbs.
E. You install at least a .70 Sonic Spring or Progressive in your forks to prevent dive.

Basically if you're a bigger guy who wants a stiffer rear end that won't squat as much as stock, this one's for you.

Dan

[Danny500]

Here we go.

Jacked the bike up, dropped the lower link bolt then the lower shock bolt. Funny story here, when I went to go loosen the upper shock bolt I was pissed because, like when I first installed the SV shock, there's no way to get my hand in there to get the damn bolt off with a ratchet. Well.. I looked at the frame and saw that stupid plastic cap that I always wondered what it went to... it's a freakin' access hole. I was pissed. Yet elated. Anyhoo, moving on. 




So the SV shock dropped out just fine. No big hoo-ha.



Next I did a quick comparison of the 3 shocks now in my possession. Obviously... there's a difference.



Next I test fit the Kat shock.



Tried to line up the lower knuckle and the shock slapped the swingarm.



I think what I'm going to do here is grind a little off the swingarm AND spin the spring so it doesn't face the swingarm as much.



Now I just need to find a place for the reservoir, probably under the battery box within reach of a short screwdriver. Maybe on the frame rail leading up under the left side plastics with just the adjuster popping out. We'll see.


Now, I'm off to find my grinder.

Dan

[coll0412]

Good Luck,

I prefer the Kat600 shock since there is no grinding involved. But as I was afraid of the lowering links that your suspension lever arm geometry would change, thanks to GSJack for correcting me on the fact that it would soften the suspension, but at least we know know.

Thanks for being the test guinea Danny500.

[Danny500]

Lol you got it! I thought it would stiffen it too, because that's what used to happen when we put lowering links in my old dirt bike, then i realized that the dirt bike had a different sort of suspension setup in the rear end. Basically the pivot points were different and it didn't have the same sort of knuckle as the GS on the bottom.

Yep, worst idea ever.. but the links were only 20 bucks off e-bay, so no biggie.

I don't mind if I have to grind anything, this shock is totally worth the lack of 1/8th inch of steel. That, and now I just have to find a place to mount the damn reservoir... harder than I thought... Lol.

Anyhoo, here's a few pics of it mocked up.

Fits snug as a bug.




Still getting some rubbing so the grinder will come out again.



I also noticed that the lowering links impair the center stand from coming all the way up, so they're out for sure.



She's sittin' pretty though. Perfect height back.



Right now I have barely any pre-load on the spring and this thing is STIFF... But right now it matches PERFECTLY with the .90 Sonic Springs so I couldn't be happier.

Couple zip ties a run-around with the torque wrench and some longer spacers in the forks and I'll be all set to dial the thing in!

Dan

[The Buddha]

Grind your linkage also. If it ever contacts that dial in the clevise that dial will lose. Its plastic backed by a tiny spring, with a couple of balls to click etc ... complicated crap and totally fragile.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Danny500]

You got it! Thanks for the tip before I just start riding on the thing, lol.