shocks?

[Dorianfes]

i know that pretty much everyone on this site has, or is planning to, trade out there rear shock, or put in some progressive springs.  i was wondering if i really need to do this since i only weigh  about 140 lbs.  also, while i'm posting, i want to order a pair of bar ends, but since my bike is in storage i don't have easy access to it.  does anyone know what diameter i need to order?

[can-can]

Hey there. As far as I know, you don't absolutely NEED to make the shock/spring modifications but it does help the handling/ridability of the bike. I haven't done these myself yet, although I would like to. I don't ride my bike as often as I would like to, so I'm more reluctant to make mods. As to the diameter, I can't help you on that one. Mine is being stored right now also. Try doing a search on that topic. Happy riding!!

[pantablo]

handlebars are 7/8" diameter. If they're aftermarket theymay have different inside diameter but outside has to be 7/8" to fit the clamp.

I weigh 120# and I have gsxr rear shock and progressives up front. Between that and better tires my riding changed from day to night. Was able to ride much more aggresively, esp in the twisties with much more confidence. The Kat rear shock should be fine for most, I happened to get a great deal on my gixxer shock. Do front forks first though. That alone will improve the handling, prevent the bottoming out on driveways or while heavy breaking and give your tires better traction since they're not overloaded with braking forces (true under really hard breaking only).

Suspension and tires are IMO the first and most necessary changes anyone should make, for safety and for performance. Just ask Manjul or JohNLA how my riding is now, compared to when we first started riding together.

[The Buddha]

Yea yea pablo loves the GSXR shock...
But most people forget he actually never rode the stock enough to really see if it was in adequate, or if he likes the cool factor more than functionality or if he likes the read end jacked up look...
Honestly Unless you are 160 lbs or more... the stock isn't bad. yea its adjustability leaves much to be desired, and if you want a sportier ride you make it overly stiff cos only preload can be adjusted... but for most normal people at 160 lbs in full riding gear is the threshold... Of course if your original shock is bent or damaged... and I have seen a few that are... then switch by all means.
The next point it... with stock handle bars you cannot fit bar end mirrors (I think) cos it has that welded nut inside it. Bar end weights can be fitted but you may have to shave off the inner bushing to the right length. Aftermarket bars will take weights or mirrors without much effort cos they are pressure fitted... They have the rubber bushing that expands when tightened down and will tighten up against the inside of the bar. And yes 7/8 inch od it is.
Cool.
Srinath.

[JohNLA]

My only problem with the stock rear shock was when I would ride two-up. I would have to break out the spanner and find that weird angle and adjust up two knotches. Without fiddeling my Katana shock it is the same ride with a 150 single rider or 280 pounds going two-up. It also raises the rear an inch.

[pantablo]

Yea yea pablo loves the GSXR shock...
But most people forget he actually never rode the stock enough to really see if it was in adequate, or if he likes the cool factor more than functionality or if he likes the read end jacked up look...

Not true actually. One ride in the canyons left me pogo-ing all over the place, front and back. The gsxr shock IS overkill for the street and I would have had a KAt shock on it but was given this one at a good price-the Kat shock I had bought I gave to JohNLA. I recommend the Kat to everyone. If you like spirited riding then the rear upgrade is a must in my opinion, after the fork springs. And I Do like the rear end jacked up!

The next point it... with stock handle bars you cannot fit bar end mirrors (I think) cos it has that welded nut inside it.

Not true actually, again. The later bars (after '96 I think?-not sure) dont have the welded nut inside them and use the expanding rubber bushing. My stock '01 handlebars took the bar ends just fine.

[The Buddha]

Oh... ok... that's good information on the 96+ bars pablo... didn't know that. And the GSXR shock made it pogo... that's odd... Thought it would be too much spring for it to compress at all and hence would have felt hard and stiff on bumps but great on smooth roads. Pogo means the spring is too soft and damping is non existant. The GSXR shock has a spring that's far too hard, and damping that is pretty good if ever the shock compresses... so get it compressed and the shock is great. else its hard as hell..
Cool.
Srinath.

[pantablo]

Um, I meant that for the first month I had the bike, riding in the canyons with the stock suspension front and rear the bike pogo'd every which way. completely stopped happening once I installed progressives adn rear shock.

[Kerry]

The next point it... with stock handle bars you cannot fit bar end mirrors (I think) cos it has that welded nut inside it.

Not true actually, again. The later bars (after '96 I think?-not sure) dont have the welded nut inside them and use the expanding rubber bushing. My stock '01 handlebars took the bar ends just fine.

Actually, both my '96 and my '99 have the welded nuts inside the stock handlebars.  That's why I was able to rig up my Throttle Retainer on both bikes.  (Check out the 3rd-to-last picture in the "How-To" part.)

EDIT: Changed link from sisna.com to bbburma.net

[pantablo]

I was wrong then...I guess omitting the welded nut inside the handlebar must have been another one of the multitude of changes that occured with the '01 model.

[The Buddha]

Um, I meant that for the first month I had the bike, riding in the canyons with the stock suspension front and rear the bike pogo'd every which way. completely stopped happening once I installed progressives adn rear shock.

Ok that makes sense... however could you have gotten a worse than usual stock shock... cos my 89 or the 90 or the 91 didnt do that. They just feel like they sag too much, and the rear end when it drops on hitting a pothole seems to drop a whole lot even for a small one... some like that. Maybe you being lighter it rebounded quickly and bounced around... and for me it didn't feel like it bounced back at all... Pogo is too much spring and no hydraulics. Dropping a lot is no spring, and not comming back up is also no spring...and too much hydraulics... I believe your bike just had some hydraulic issue... The GS shocks might be the worst quality control in the universe... Gino's bike felt fine with the stock shock, my 91 also felt fine, I have seen shocks with a bend in the top, another that was bent in a C, and my 89 felt awful, you hit a pothole and you feel you landed in a swamp... So I guess a switch is a smart idea in any case and at the first sign of trouble - definitely...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Lerxst]

What's a fair price I can expect to pay for springs and a shock, new vs. used?

Thanks.

[The Buddha]

What's a fair price I can expect to pay for springs and a shock, new vs. used?

Thanks.

There were progressives available for a short time for ~48 or so from cycle depot or some like that. Check the list or search for progressive...
Kat shocka... pretty much ebay... They seem to range from $15 to $50... but pick auctions with no reserve, and walk away if it gets too crazy. I'd not pay more than ~25-30 for one. Last year I had a few I sold for $20 each... but I cant get any more... I cleaned those wreckers out. Ebay is good though... just dont lose your head.
Cool.
Srinath.

[pantablo]

my site has a link to $60 progressives new. What Srinath said about rear shocks...

[Kerry]

Chaparral still has the Progressives for $46.99.  Type the part number 377-1128 into the Search box and go.

For confirmation on this being the right part for the GS500E, see the old thread I wanna upgrade my gs a little bit.

[pizzleboy]

Kerry:  Just wondering how the HELL you found those?  There are no suspension links on that page at all.

I think I'm going to be ordering those sooner than later.

[Kerry]

Kerry:  Just wondering how [...] you found those?  There are no suspension links on that page at all.

You know ... I can't remember anymore!  I'm just lucky I remembered about posting the info before.

[Kerry]

I probably:

1) Did a web search for "Progressive" and "11-1128" (from their APPLICATIONS page).
2) Found the Virago mailing list thread I mentioned in my old thread.
3) Tried replacing the leading "11-" with a leading "377-" like the Virago guy mentioned, and tried that on a Chaparral search.
4) BINGO!

BTW, since then I have ordered and installed these springs, and they're the right ones.

[pizzleboy]

:kiss:    

[pantablo]

I should add this to my site page-Great info kerry.