Problems fitting dogbones

[gsJack]

It's helpful to have a diagram of the GS rear suspension handy when thinking/talking about the problem.

[carn]

Thanks for all the helpful tips - again.

I've been trying all of them with a mate last weekend, but to no avail. I'm starting to suspect the shock knuckle (or cushion lever according to gsJacks diagram) is too big, because it seems to push the shock pretty far back.

Does anyone by any chance know what the stock length of that one should be?

[adidasguy]

FYI:

1991+ shocks fit on any GS500 knuckle - steel or cast aluminum.

1989-1990 shocks only fit on the cast aluminum knuckle.

The length of the end that bolts to the knuckle is longer on the 1991+ shocks.

What year shock and which knuckle do you have?

Seems pictures still lacking. make a video showing what you are trying to do and the problem. More still photos showing everything.

[gsJack]

A quick search turned up a thread about putting raising links on a GS that says they won't fit because the shock will hit the swingarm like yours does. Lowering links are more common and don't present such a problem, Have some myself.

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=46811.msg531542#msg531542

Just putting some stock links on to replace the 2" lowering links that came on your bike would help.  Besides raising it 2" they would restore the stock 25* rake and make a big improvement in handling.

[BockinBboy]

It seems that it would be better to put stock dogbones/links back on it.  And then if you want to further raise it, upgrade your shock with a longer one.   

Although, I think I read that another member did successfully raise their bike with shorter links without grinding the swingarm... Was it Seamax??  Maybe he had a different shock??

Do check that the front still isn't lowered!  This would put you further from getting them on if it is!

- Bboy

[carn]

Since I got so many replies, I just wanted to post the outcome of this.

I finally got myself a set of original dogbones off ebay, fitted them with no trouble at all, and now its happy days

[Higgins13]

Since I got so many replies, I just wanted to post the outcome of this.

I finally got myself a set of original dogbones off ebay, fitted them with no trouble at all, and now its happy days

Pics!

[adidasguy]

I finally got myself a set of original dogbones off ebay, fitted them with no trouble at all, and now its happy days

FYI: Try getting parts here before ebay.

I have a dozen of them and have no idea what to do with them. You could have had them for postage.

I am a parts whore. Often I buy a "box-o-bolts" dirt cheap because it has a few things I need/want and know what they are worth. all these extra things come with the box and I end up with piles of extra parts. (One box actually had a blue indicator cap!)

(And due to too much effort to post and wait and non-buyers wasting my time, generally I do not post "for sale"  except to save things from the dumpster. I usually find the parts sell when someone PM's me because then they are serious and ready to buy.)