Bike is LOW - All parts stock - We gave up for the day. Oh, well....

[adidasguy]

We know it takes 5 to 10 minutes to swap them with 2 people to hold everyting in place. Call and stop over when you get them.

[jacob92icu]

So, I took GSJacks Advice and ordered some links that would raise the bike. Only thing is The links I bought will only raise the bike an inch if not less based on my predictions. Should Have paid more attention when buying them. My question now is, is there any shock that is an extremely straight forward swap (no drilling, no shaving of swing arm, etc...) that will raise the bike roughly an inch? I have heard that the katana shocks don't raise the rear at all, and the sv650 shocks raise the rear by like 2 inches, but you need to do some alterations. There is one shock that I am curious about that supposedly raises the rear 3/4 of an inch and is a direct bolt on, the RGV250 shock. I weigh 210 lbs with gear so that is probably not a very good choice for me. Any others that I have missed?

[bombsquad83]

There was another thread I remember that talked about the 89 knuckle being made of aluminum as opposed to steel as it is in all 90+ bikes.  I believe it also said that you can use an 89 knuckle on all bikes, but you can't use a 90+ knuckle with an 89 shock (or something like this).  Doesn't that imply that there is something different about the 89 knuckle and shock than the 90+?  Maybe if you combine a 90+ shock with an 89 knuckle you get the 2" lowering?

[gsJack]

So, I took GSJacks Advice and ordered some links that would raise the bike. Only thing is The links I bought will only raise the bike an inch if not less based on my predictions. Should Have paid more attention when buying them. My question now is, is there any shock that is an extremely straight forward swap (no drilling, no shaving of swing arm, etc...) that will raise the bike roughly an inch? I have heard that the katana shocks don't raise the rear at all, and the sv650 shocks raise the rear by like 2 inches, but you need to do some alterations. There is one shock that I am curious about that supposedly raises the rear 3/4 of an inch and is a direct bolt on, the RGV250 shock. I weigh 210 lbs with gear so that is probably not a very good choice for me. Any others that I have missed?

I've only used oem GS shocks myself but do recall it has been said the Katana 600 shock would raise the GS rear so I just now looked at the Wiki and it says it will raise it 1/2-3/4" and is stiffer than the GS shock and has rebound damping.  You can see in the Wiki pic it's longer.

http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Upgrades.RearShock#katana

Which links did you buy, if it was the 6.835 ones we talked about it should raise it a little over an inch so with the Kat 600 shock it should be close to where you want it.  The 6.660 or the 6.720 I was originally talking about would have raised it more being even shorter.  Looking back, we weren't thinking too well on that one.   

[jacob92icu]

Haha I know! I did do one thing right and bought the 6.720 ones.  I should have just realized the 6.5 was perfect for 2''raise... Hmmm, maybe I'll have to try a katana shock. Good thing i was looking to change them out anyways. That's an interesting thought bomb squad, but i think adidas puts the aluminum knuckles on all of his bikes even the 90+ ones cause he likes the style, and he hasn't had any problems.

[adidasguy]

Aluminum knuckles are interchangeable.
The difference, as Jacob and I noted, is the lower u shape thingy on the shock where it bolts to the knuckle. On newer shocks, it is about 1/2" deeper due to the outer dimensions of the steel knuckle (I've posted pictures of both many times before). That is why an 89 shock will not fit a steel knuckle.

REMEMBER: The length of the shock - bolt hole to bolt hole - is EXACTLY the same. Newer shocks can replace 89 shocks and aluminum knuckles can replace steel ones. Steel knuckle + 89 shock doesn't fit (Coda found this out a year or so ago).

Junior and Phenix are the correct height. 1992 and 1993 frames. Both have 2009 shock and aluminum knuckle.

Next time Jacob is at the bike cave, we will do some detailed measurement and precise side photos from the same angle and distance to determine what is different. I suspect the point where the knuckle mounts to the frame is ever so slightly low (based on earlier photos).

[jacob92icu]

For sureeee. I have been super busy lately. But in the mean time, any year katana 600-750 shock will work?

[NjDan]

For sureeee. I have been super busy lately. But in the mean time, any year katana 600-750 shock will work?

I had to shave with my 01 750 shock from what i hear 600 you wont have to shave at all and at your weight might bw better choice

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[gsJack]

Haha I know! I did do one thing right and bought the 6.720 ones.  I should have just realized the 6.5 was perfect for 2''raise... Hmmm, maybe I'll have to try a katana shock. Good thing i was looking to change them out anyways. That's an interesting thought bomb squad, but i think adidas puts the aluminum knuckles on all of his bikes even the 90+ ones cause he likes the style, and he hasn't had any problems.

I noticed the 6.5" links for 2" raise you posted yesterday and should have questioned it then, stock links are 7 1/16" long between hole centers so:

(7.062-6.5)x5= 2.81" higher based on the approx 5:1 ratio and I always try to remember to say approximately or about since this is not rocket science, working on the GS is more like tractor science.

If the links you purchased are 6.72" then:

(7.062-6.72)x5= 1.71" higher which is close to what you are seeking so why not throw them on and see how it works out.  You can always throw on the Kat shock later when you find one if you want more height.  Way back 60k miles ago in May 07 when I put on my approx 1-1 1/4" lowering links I just put my bike on the stand and changed them without even removing the wheel.

By the way I didn't change the rear tire and links like I was considering when I put the like new rear shock on last week, just changed the shock.  It's all working nice that way and the ride height is only a tad higher with my 235# butt on board.  Still haven't used those 2" Burkhart lowering links I bought a couple years ago but have them on standby if I shrink another 3" in height in the next year or two.