Yet another GXS600F Katana rear shock swap. Super easy and SO worth it!

[4strings]

Hi all,

I have been reading up on the Katana shock swap and wanting to do it for quite a while now.  I finally did it and it was awesome!  Honestly one of the best upgrades.  I would rate functional upgrades I have done as such:

• Fork spring and oil upgrade
• Pirelli Sport Demons
• Katana 600 Shock Swap

I grabbed the shock off ebay.  I originally wanted one that was post 2000, but I got a little desperate and so mine is a 1991 (Older than the bike by 2 years, and just as old as me!) I got it for $30 plus $10 S&H.  All you need to do this mod is the tools to remove a 14 & 17mm nut and bolt.

It came in the mail and I was super excited.  I popped the bike up on it's center stand and removed the bolt from the bottom of the shock.  The rear swing arm dropped to the ground as expected.  I removed the top bolt (a bit of a tight squeeze but I got to use my buddie's super special ratchet).  Finally, to get the shock out, I removed the big bolt that bolts the linkage and bottom of the dog bones together.  That let the linkage swing out of the way and the shock dropped right out.




As you can see the two shocks are really similar.




My shock's bumper for bottom-out protection was deteriorating.




I put the new shock in pretty much the way the other came out.  Top bolt in first, then the bottom shock bolt.  I actually used the bolt that was in the stock shock because the one in the new one was green metal.  I've had plenty experience  with green metal from my POS moped i've been working/lighting on fire for the last two years.  I'm convinced green metal fasteners are made of bubble gum and saw dust.  Anyways, I lifted up the back end till the dog bones lined up with the shock linkage and put that bolt in too.




SUPER easy!  I used the original Suzuki tool to adjust preload for an inch or so of sag.  I haven't tried fiddling with rebound dampening yet but I will.

I was unsure of how this mod would affect the overall ride.  It is hard to explain, but you feel less like you are on a pogo stick going over super bumpy roads.  The rear feels more settled in general when going over any bumps and the ride is smoother too.  I can't wait to see how it will feel on an interstate or doing some really spirited riding.  As previously mentioned in other posts, it does raise the tail by a little bit and that does make it lean a little more onto the side stand but it is perfectly fine for me (especially since I'm tall).  Thanks all for doing these write-ups that convinced me to do the mod.  No alterations required, three bolts and you're done!    Go for it!