GSXR suspension.

Bluehaze · May 17, 2009, 05:22:21 PM

Buddha what year were these that you sent me?

Need some clarification:

I installed it with grinding.. however the front swingarm is hitting the coils. Is this normal for the GSXR shocks?

This something i just ignore? Am i supposed to get longer dog bone thing (sorry forgot the term) Please let me know for those that got it done. Let me know if you need pictures . Thanks.

The Buddha · May 17, 2009, 05:28:45 PM

No no no ... hell no ... grind up that part on the swingarm that makes contact.
I hate GSXR shock for this reason. All of them make contact ... if your bike has certain dimensions off ... I fitted one on one bike, no contact ... I did another, dang it, squeal squeal ...

Its a known work around ... going back 5+ years when someone ground the spring ... and the fix was to grind the SA ... grind it ... its got thick thick steel there, wont make any difference ... mark and grind the Swingam. Then fit it and see and then run it.

Cool.
Buddha.

The Buddha · May 17, 2009, 05:40:36 PM

The bike will squeak when its on the stand but not when fully loaded ... right ?
Cool.
Buddha.

Bluehaze · May 17, 2009, 07:10:14 PM

i havent installed the wheels yet. bah.. i dont know if i want to grind the swing arm...its not exactly easy to get to.. you got any katana shock for sale?...

scotilac · May 17, 2009, 07:19:19 PM

Grind the swingarm. It's worth it. I had to do the same thing. I couldn't imagine riding my bike without the gsxr shock. It's great. Make sure you paint it after so I dose not rust. You really don't need to grind much. It's so worth it

Bluehaze · May 17, 2009, 07:49:15 PM

so what is the softest setting on this thing. it will not even budge when i put my weight on it.. or when i push down as hard as i can. it has up to 4 setting on the bottom. which one is the softest?

Bluehaze · May 17, 2009, 09:38:38 PM

well i took it out.. didnt feel right. something is amiss......

The Buddha · May 18, 2009, 06:37:11 AM

Post pics.
To get it away from the swingarm without grinding it, you can get dogbones that are longer ... however that negates the extra ride height ...
Also try turning the shock the other direction.
I am out of nearly all shocks. I barely have enough to cover what I committed to - sorry. Ironically I sold the kat blue shock I mistakenly thought you wanted in a day or so after I sent yours.
It wont grind under load, but it should not even touch it IMHO.
Cool.
Buddha.

Bluesmudge · May 18, 2009, 07:55:38 AM

Quote from: Bluehaze on May 17, 2009, 07:49:15 PM
so what is the softest setting on this thing. it will not even budge when i put my weight on it.. or when i push down as hard as i can. it has up to 4 setting on the bottom. which one is the softest?

There is a very big difference between settings I imagine, have you tried them alll out? I don't know if the GSXR shock has more aspects that can be changed, but on my Kat shock, if the dapening is even one setting higher than softest I can hardly move it up and down by bouncing on the seat. Put if up to max and its like sitting on a rock. Softest setting is perfect for me. For rebound at least, it should be the lowest number is the softest. GSXR shock will be stiffer, so maybe softest on that is still hard to move. Remember you are not as heavy as a lot of the guys on here swapping to Kat and GSXR.

Bluehaze · May 18, 2009, 08:06:24 AM

Bluesmudge.. what i mean by move is when the wheels are put in. And i stand next to the seat. I then push down wiht all my might to see how fast it rebounds back.. When i do that with a stock shock.. the shocks depresses then quickly rebounds.. With the gsxr shocks... the shock wont depress at all.. its like a stone... and reading suspension tuning articles that is not good. you need some sag.. Otherwise the wheel will bounce on bumps as oppose to using the shocks to go over it. well that is my understanding anyways...

The Buddha · May 18, 2009, 08:19:34 AM

If its getting pushed side ways it can act like its locked.
The leverage on these is over 10-1 if I calculate it right, so I doubt you can compress it without a press.
The squeaking against the swingarm is bad ... definetly cannot load it with that going on ... but I didn't open it and powdercoat the bits without it being pressed open ... so I'd definetly say its got some side load/rubbing issues.
I sent it with it on a very soft setting didn't I ... spring preload is very low.
Cool.
Buddha.

Bluehaze · May 18, 2009, 10:15:06 AM

Buddha... i dont think the spring is bad.. i think its the binding thats causing the problem. no worries. i put back my stock and set it to 6. works well for now... i am good.

The Buddha · May 18, 2009, 10:29:41 AM

You want a better shock and still about that same ride height, do lowering dog bones. That will also address the swingarm hitting issue.
Cool.
Buddha.

Bluehaze · May 18, 2009, 10:31:02 AM

You stated that the dogbone, buying a longer one will negate the height. that would actually be good for me. i didnt like the hike. i had to tiptoe when the gsxr was on. what is the lenght of the stock dog bone?

The Buddha · May 18, 2009, 10:36:31 AM

You'd have to make em. Check for posts on this topic, GSJack had some good info if I recall.
Man you're supposed to like the extra height and the stiffer thing ... how heavy are you ... you weigh under 175 or so, you definetly should not be going to GSXR, its gonna be way too stiff.
Cool.
Buddha.

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