raising the rear

[vorBH]

You raise up the rear, the bike will go faster, always, run better gas mileage and really accelerate better.
Cos you're going downhill all the time ... 

Lol, I'll look out for that after the mod!

Wait...the stock height of the wheel is 70....will 90 height of the tire raise the bike up in the back?? (ie 130/90)
Because I need to get tires soon and I don't know what to get...

[gsJack]

Yes, they all vary a bit but a 140/70 will raise it about 1/4", a 130/80 or 150/70 will raise it about 1/2", a 140/80 about 3/4", and a 130/90 about 1".  Could be a taller tire and only 1" lowering links would give you what you want.

[vorBH]

Ok got a problem....I'm getting word that the raising links found on eBay or any raising links don't work on the GS...since it will lift it up and cause the swingarm to hit something and what not....I don't know the details.

Can someone who has put the raising links on a stock shock GS500 confirm that it works? Couple people would be good.....I have the raising liinks ready to put on, but its better to find out this way if they are not going to workout.....but I imagine that they will....appreciate the help

[The Buddha]

Yes it will hit the swingarm ... shock hits swingarm. Grind up the swingarm if its not too bad.
Cool.
Buddha.

[vorBH]

Hmmm What is it exactly that hits the swingarm?

If you could explain what happens when the bike gets liffted 1.25inches...thanks man

[The Buddha]

The linkage actually points toward the rear wheel's contact patch. Shorter dog bone makes it point toward the sprocket. It moves it up. That since the linkage has to be the same length as stock will shove the bottom part of the shock toward the back, and that = clink with the swingarm. The spring of the shock hits the back side of that hole in the swingarm on the bottom.
I would however think that you could run that with stock shock, or run just a longer shock, and not do both. Personally I prefer shock ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[vorBH]

bottom part of the shock toward the back, and that = clink with the swingarm. The spring of the shock hits the back side of that hole in the swingarm on the bottom.

Hmm Ok, so which part would I have to shave? And how much to shave off...and is this safe to shave off frame metal?

[joshr08]

i personally would go kat shock and taller rear tire over grinding the swingarm and sticking with the stock junk gs shock

[The Buddha]

bottom part of the shock toward the back, and that = clink with the swingarm. The spring of the shock hits the back side of that hole in the swingarm on the bottom.

Hmm Ok, so which part would I have to shave? And how much to shave off...and is this safe to shave off frame metal?

Its prolly safe ... but hey, its your bike not mine, so let me go on a limp here and say its very safe, in fact it may be unsafe to not do it. Bwaaaaaa ...
Dude, that part is plenty thick, however its not easy to access without taking 1/2 the bike to bits. I'd infact take the swingarm and invert it and grind up the right spot if someone had a gun to my head.
Just swap shocks like joshr08 said.
Cool.
Buddha.

[vorBH]

Ok cool....last question tho.....if the Kat shock also raises the bike....why doesn't this problem exist when you install a Kat shock?

[joshr08]

because your not shortening your dog bone so its not pulling the shock in. it stays at the same distance out from the swingarm. 

side note.  i used to run my gs shock on 7 so it felt ok to me now with the kat750 buddha suppled shock im running it on 4 and as far as ride it feels pretty close to the stiffness of the gs set on 7 but with the adjustablity to fine tune it for riding style.

[vorBH]

Perfect, thats just the info I needed....so I'll keep the shock at 7 as I have it right now....dogbones an issue though

[joshr08]

are you missing the point where the kat shock is better and raises the bike 1 1/4 inches and then with a 1 taller tire you get your 2 inches or a bit more of lift without grinding anything and getting rid of the crap gs shock.  unless your 220+ you shouldnt have to run your shock on 7 for preload

[vorBH]

lol no I get it....but changing the shock is such a hassle...well in the GSXR and SV650 shock upgrade case.

But the Kat shock is just bolt on right?....so easier, hmmm I guess I would reconsider changing to the Kat750 shock

[joshr08]

lets just say when i did mine i was also doing the carbs so it too 3 mins that included taking old shock out and dropping kat shock right down through the air box opening.

[vorBH]

Awesome so just bolt in and go right?
I sent Budda an email for kat750 shock

[joshr08]

bolt in and go now my shock was super easy to line up because i didnt have the rear tire weight to deal with but it shouldnt be bad if someone can just move it or hold it while you bolt it up

[vorBH]

Ok thanks for your help man, you've helped me to make a quick turnaround on what I was going to do about raising the stiffness of the shock and height of rear

[joshr08]

if you look at my pics of my bike its got a kat 750 rear shock but 160/60 rear tire and i used to touch flat footed with gs shock and stock tires and im not so flat footed anymore with the new tire and new shock  and its not set anywhere close to as stiff as the ol gs shock was.  i really think kat shock and taller tire will get you more of what you want with less headaches

[vorBH]

link pics to your bike please