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SV650 Shock swap

Started by Codoloco, June 04, 2018, 10:25:14 PM

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Codoloco

SV650 Real Shock Swap.  Ive seen the wiki and it seems it doesn't look hard to do but was wondering if anyone has done it and how comfortable it is? They are really inexpensive on ebay and I like the ass end lift that it will potential have.  Says to re-drill holes, but is that only if I want it the same height as the stock gs500 shock.  Can I just swap without any modding?

Also is there a certain year.  I see a lot early 2000s but looking at a 2008.  Should be the same right?

Endopotential

I did the SV650 swap, and it was only marginally better than stock.  Plus you'll have to lengthen your kickstand or else the taller bike will fall over.

I very much recommend the R6 shock, which has compression and rebound adjustment.  Much better ride, definitely one of the best upgrades on my bike.  And it's only a few bucks more.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=70953.0

2007 GS500F Cafe Fighter - cut off the tail, K&N lunchbox, short exhaust, 20/60/140 jets, R6 shock, all sorts of other random bits...

Codoloco

Thanks for that.  I was really looking at the R6 shock but I like the height of the 650.. Does the r6 have some lift to it?

Codoloco

Quote from: Endopotential on June 04, 2018, 10:42:33 PM
I did the SV650 swap, and it was only marginally better than stock.  Plus you'll have to lengthen your kickstand or else the taller bike will fall over.

I very much recommend the R6 shock, which has compression and rebound adjustment.  Much better ride, definitely one of the best upgrades on my bike.  And it's only a few bucks more.

Did you have to cut or redrill anything with the 650?

ShowBizWolf

The R6 shock didn't add any lift to my bike at all. I added shorter dogbones to give a 1" lift. I didn't hafta grind anything off the swingarm to install the shock, but I did have to grind when installing the dogbones.

I bought the SV650 shock last Fall, wanting to try it out and then give a comparison review of sorts... then life got in the way and I never got to do it. It's on my to-do list though!!

When I was curious about the SV shock, I did searches on here and it turned up a TON of informational threads about it. I saved them to a notepad file... here is my list of them:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=57309.0

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=44219.0

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=14393.0

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=7642.0

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=9828.0

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=43309.0
Superbike bars, '04 GSXR headlight & cowl, DRZ signals, 1/2" fork brace, 'Busa fender, stainless exhaust & brake lines, belly pan, LED dash & brake bulbs, 140/80 rear hoop, F tail lens, SV650 shock, Bandit400 hugger, aluminum heel guards & pegs, fork preload adjusters, .75 SonicSprings, heated grips

Codoloco

Quote from: ShowBizWolf on June 05, 2018, 12:45:47 AM
The R6 shock didn't add any lift to my bike at all. I added shorter dogbones to give a 1" lift. I didn't hafta grind anything off the swingarm to install the shock, but I did have to grind when installing the dogbones.

I bought the SV650 shock last Fall, wanting to try it out and then give a comparison review of sorts... then life got in the way and I never got to do it. It's on my to-do list though!!

When I was curious about the SV shock, I did searches on here and it turned up a TON of informational threads about it. I saved them to a notepad file... here is my list of them:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=57309.0

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=44219.0

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=14393.0

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=7642.0

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=9828.0

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=43309.0


Wow!! Thank you Showbiz, this is exactly what I need.  I really appreciate that, get some pics of my bike soon

ShowBizWolf

You're very welcome, I'm glad I could help!!
Superbike bars, '04 GSXR headlight & cowl, DRZ signals, 1/2" fork brace, 'Busa fender, stainless exhaust & brake lines, belly pan, LED dash & brake bulbs, 140/80 rear hoop, F tail lens, SV650 shock, Bandit400 hugger, aluminum heel guards & pegs, fork preload adjusters, .75 SonicSprings, heated grips

Codoloco

Quote from: Endopotential on June 04, 2018, 10:42:33 PM
I did the SV650 swap, and it was only marginally better than stock.  Plus you'll have to lengthen your kickstand or else the taller bike will fall over.

I very much recommend the R6 shock, which has compression and rebound adjustment.  Much better ride, definitely one of the best upgrades on my bike.  And it's only a few bucks more.

Thanks for the info too.  I've been heavily looking into the R6and fell this is the best choice.  Also the tip about the kickstand.. :thumb:

Nudie

I fitted what I thought was an SV650 shock and even after I drilled a hole 20mm above the stock hole it still sits 80mm higher than with the GS shock. After reading stuff on here, I'm beginning to wonder if the shock I bought was actually an SV650 or not.

RichDesmond

Quote from: Nudie on June 11, 2018, 05:00:58 PM
I fitted what I thought was an SV650 shock and even after I drilled a hole 20mm above the stock hole it still sits 80mm higher than with the GS shock. After reading stuff on here, I'm beginning to wonder if the shock I bought was actually an SV650 or not.

Not all SV shocks are the same. The first gen (99-02) has a shock that 338mm long with about a 510lb/in spring, the second gen (03-?10) is 330mm long with a 430lb/in spring. I don't know what the Gladius and recent SVs have.

How long is a stock GS500 shock, and is there a variance between years?

(Shock lengths are measured eye-center to eye-center)
Rich Desmond
www.sonicsprings.com

Jim Knopf

Quote from: RichDesmond on June 13, 2018, 06:29:15 PM


How long is a stock GS500 shock?

(Shock lengths are measured eye-center to eye-center)

295 mm

007brendan

May want to also consider older GSXR shocks.  They have reservoir tanks and rebound and dampening adjustments.  You can use the exact same bolt for the clevis mount.  You don't need to redrill anything.  You likely will need to grind a bit of material off the swingarm to prevent interference between the spring and the swingarm.

It will sit a good deal higher and be a much stiffer ride.  I can still use my kickstand, but it does lean further over than it used to.  I tend to always use my centerstand anyway.
"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

RichDesmond

Quote from: Jim Knopf on June 14, 2018, 12:49:26 AM
Quote from: RichDesmond on June 13, 2018, 06:29:15 PM


How long is a stock GS500 shock?

(Shock lengths are measured eye-center to eye-center)

295 mm

Damn, that's a huge difference to either SV shock. On the SVs, for racing we use shocks* that are 10-15mm longer than stock, and that totally transforms the bike's handling. 30-40mm longer would be completely unworkable.
How long are the R6 shocks?

*Penske or Ohlins.
Rich Desmond
www.sonicsprings.com

Jim Knopf


RichDesmond

Quote from: Jim Knopf on June 14, 2018, 07:51:33 PM
Quote from: RichDesmond on June 14, 2018, 06:08:00 PM

How long are the R6 shocks?

*Penske or Ohlins.

295 mm

Is that for all years? I know Suzuki has changed GSXR lengths and spring rates a lot, typically every couple of years.
It's a shame that they aren't just a touch longer, most of the time the "best" length is 5-10mm longer than stock.
Rich Desmond
www.sonicsprings.com

ShowBizWolf

#15
I just did some shock swapping yesterday and finally laid out the SV650 (the style in the wiki), next to the stock GS500, next to the R6 (I believe mine is a 2010).

Eye-center to eye-center, I got 337mm for the SV650, 290mm for the GS500, and 292mm for the R6.

Total overall length for them I got 14.5" for the SV650, 12.5" for the GS500, and 12.75" for the R6.

I don't have an R6 shock with the slightly different style of top bits (the other one pictured in the wiki) to measure, unfortunately. Nor do I have the style with the different lower mount that won't work on the GS.

Superbike bars, '04 GSXR headlight & cowl, DRZ signals, 1/2" fork brace, 'Busa fender, stainless exhaust & brake lines, belly pan, LED dash & brake bulbs, 140/80 rear hoop, F tail lens, SV650 shock, Bandit400 hugger, aluminum heel guards & pegs, fork preload adjusters, .75 SonicSprings, heated grips

RichDesmond

#16
Excellent info, thanks!

The SV shock you have is a first gen, waaaayy too long for the GS500.

Just for grins I looked up the R6 shock spring rates on the Race-Tech site:
99-02  9.3kg/mm
03-04  9.85kg/mm
05      10.8kg/mm
06-16  9.8kg/mm

I don't know what years correspond to what mount style.

Unfortunately, they don't have the GS500 shock spring rated. If anyone is willing to mail me an old one that they don't want anymore I'll be happy to rate the spring. 
Rich Desmond
www.sonicsprings.com

ShowBizWolf

I trimmed that shock in the pic yesterday to fit and updated the wiki with more information :) It was a fun little project!

AFAIK, the style of R6 shocks that drop right into the GS are the '06-'16 ones. The one in the pic (that I had on my bike prior to the SV) is a 2010.

This turned into a really fun thread!
Superbike bars, '04 GSXR headlight & cowl, DRZ signals, 1/2" fork brace, 'Busa fender, stainless exhaust & brake lines, belly pan, LED dash & brake bulbs, 140/80 rear hoop, F tail lens, SV650 shock, Bandit400 hugger, aluminum heel guards & pegs, fork preload adjusters, .75 SonicSprings, heated grips

Codoloco

Holy smokes this is excellent info from everyone.  Showbiz, incredible work on the pictures and excellent update on the wiki.  Prefect visual perspective, thanks!!

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