katana rear shock

[jusfuris]

when you get this upgrade is all you need the spring or what else?

[pantablo]

you have to get the entire rear shock. I dont think you can separate the spring from body without serious tools though.

Just buy the shock complete and bolt it in. Remember, only a katana 600 shock will work.

[jusfuris]

would this be a good thing for me to get then? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7904472102&category=10066&sspagename=WDVW

i dont know if its my lack of experience/skill but i dont like the cornering of my GS. so im gonna get this and some progressive front springs and some clipons. i think that will help a lot! hopefully anyway!

[pantablo]

that is the right shock (notice he says 600 & 750? its only a 600 shock...)
check shipping on it before you bid. Sometimes these dealers rape you with shipping. If you can get it for $20 and $10 shipping you're golden. They can be had cheaper but more often for more...
dont install it until you do the front springs. will upset your handling even more if you do the rear first.

also-instead of clip ons (which will require lots of modifications or money) get lower handlebars. Suburban-machinery.com sells one for the sv650 that I used successfully-just like clip ons and it changed the handling tremendously for the better. Not cheap though at $120. Srinath on this board is making a similar styled bar for much less (about $40-$45) of lesser quality but same performance.

check my site for simple install instructions for the springs.

[Kerry]

i dont know if its my lack of experience/skill but i dont like the cornering of my GS.

Two questions, in order of importance:

1) What is the air pressure in your tires?
2) What tires are mounted on the bike?[/list:u]

[70 Cam Guy]

I have a Kat 750 shock mounted on my bike.  The mechanic at the salvage yard said the 600 and 750 shocks are the same except the 750 has the remote compression instead of the dial on the shock.  Its been so long it is compression/preload and not rebound adjustments right?

I have been nothing but happy with the shock since I picked it up.  It really compliments fork springs and oil.

[The Buddha]

To 98 750 and 600 kat's are the same, after 98 the 750's are remote reservoir. Thye 600's not... That's what I think now... I have been so confused with these... The wreckers that take them off write Kat on it and toss it in a pile... so trying to figure what year and what kat is just rough.
Cool.
Srinath.

[cozy]

I have a 2002 Kat 600 Schock  - no remote just dial. Easy to install took 30 mins. Did progressives same weekend.

[Stephen072774]

I have a 2002 Kat 600 Schock  - no remote just dial. Easy to install took 30 mins. Did progressives same weekend.

Question... did the kat shock raise the rear end any?  Since I put a 140/80 rear tire on I do not want to raise my rear any more.  Not even 1/4 inch.  Its just right on the sidestand now.

[cozy]

It did indeed raise the rear, noticably, so i'd say it would probably raise yours by at least a 1/4" .  But they are adjustable. I'm 6'1" , 150lbs. I use a really stiff setting and i'm sure a lighter setting would give less of a rise.

[Kerry]

To 98 750 and 600 kat's are the same, after 98 the 750's are remote reservoir. Thye 600's not... That's what I think now...

Here's what the Ron Ayers site shows:

From the Katana 600 fiche:

Code Select Expand

===========================================================================
Year   Part           Description                      Diagram URL
===========================================================================
1997   62100-19C21    Adjustment wheel, no reservoir   http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0286/rear_cushion_lever/rear_cushion_lever.cfm
1998   62100-08F00    No wheel, no reservoir           http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0298/rear_cushion_lever/rear_cushion_lever.cfm
1999   [Same]         [Same]                           [Same]
2000   [Same]         [Same]                           [Same]
2001   [Same]         [Same]                           [Same]
2002   [Same]         [Same]                           [Same]
2003   [Same]         [Same]                           [Same]

From the Katana 750 fiche:

Code Select Expand

===========================================================================
Year   Part           Description                      Diagram URL
===========================================================================
1997   62100-20C02    Remote adjustment cable          http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0287/rear_cushion_lever/rear_cushion_lever.cfm
1998   62100-08FB1    Remote reservoir                 http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0299/rear_cushion_lever/rear_cushion_lever.cfm
1999   [Same]         [Same]                           [Same]
2000   [Same]         [Same]                           [Same]
2001   [Same]         [Same]                           [Same]
2002   [Same]         [Same]                           [Same]
2003   [Same]         [Same]                           [Same]

It looks like the 600 and 750 have never shared rear shock parts.

NOTE: Ron Ayers lists an alternate part number (62100-08FA1) for the 1998-2003 Katana 750 models, but says that it is UNAVAILABLE.  My guess is that it was standard equipment for certain model years, but that it was replaced by the currently available part.

[The Buddha]

Shocks for the 750 and 600 Kat pre 98 aren't neccesarily identical, but just very nearly so for our purposes... he 600 had that multi position clicking collar like the GS, and the 750 had the threaded locking rings, and there was also the short clevise/long clevise issue apart from the remote puller on the rebound dial...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Kerry]

Srinath, did you happen to follow those URLs?

I'm curious about whether the diagrams match with your personal experience.  Especially on the 1998+ shock for the 600.  That later diagram is not as detailed as the 1997 diagram, so it was hard to say whether the "adjustment wheel" was really gone or not.

[The Buddha]

Yea that fiche is lousy... The 98+ 600 shocks... I have never seen... the 97 kat 600 shock... look at its preload adjustment...  
Makes you wonder who draws up these fiches.
Cool.
Srinath.