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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: flyingmachine on October 22, 2007, 04:21:26 PM

Title: Rear shock upgrade that maintains the stock ride height?
Post by: flyingmachine on October 22, 2007, 04:21:26 PM
I see the SV650 and katana rear ends are pretty common swaps but they both raise the backend up a bit.  Another suggestions for a cheap upgrade to the rear end with out making the bike taller?  Thanks
Title: Re: Rear shock upgrade that maintains the stock ride height?
Post by: Jay_wolf on October 22, 2007, 06:31:21 PM
You can get dogbones that lower the ride height ,  that u can use the Kat or the Sv650 shock , I Personally have a racing shock made for the gs500 , so it doesnt change the ride height

Safe
Jay
Title: Re: Rear shock upgrade that maintains the stock ride height?
Post by: darb85 on October 22, 2007, 06:35:40 PM
I used a kat 600 shock, It only raised it up only about 1/2 inch.  being 6'2" it doesnt matter much to me.
Title: Re: Rear shock upgrade that maintains the stock ride height?
Post by: Jay_wolf on October 23, 2007, 03:22:09 AM
Same , im 6ft 3 and almost 200 pounds , and its the exact same height lol , before when i sat on it , it dropped like 2 inches , now it doesnt move really
Title: Re: Rear shock upgrade that maintains the stock ride height?
Post by: bobthebiker on October 23, 2007, 03:29:35 AM
I'd actually LIKE the bike to be a bit taller, like another 2" because it just feels so low, its like being on a ninja 250, but with more power.
Title: Re: Rear shock upgrade that maintains the stock ride height?
Post by: Chuck on October 23, 2007, 06:27:05 AM
The increased ride height loads the front a little bit.  That means putting a little extra throttle into the corners in order to balance the weight to the rear.  Works for me!  :)
Title: Re: Rear shock upgrade that maintains the stock ride height?
Post by: flyingmachine on October 23, 2007, 02:41:25 PM
thanks guys, I'm 5'7" 150lb, but my girlfriend is 5'4" 110 or so (so she tells me  :icon_rolleyes:)  so a couple of inches may really make it difficult to put her foot down.  I'm still a bit confused about the kat shock, are there differences between the years that are longer than others?
Title: Re: Rear shock upgrade that maintains the stock ride height?
Post by: GSRider on October 23, 2007, 02:55:16 PM
Well, I just received my new Works shock, so I'll be able to tell you whether or not ride height is affected in a few hours...
Title: Re: Rear shock upgrade that maintains the stock ride height?
Post by: Lukewarm Wilson on October 23, 2007, 03:30:34 PM
You could try Ikon suspension in Australia they bought out Koni in Aust and still had some shocks for GS500 I've got one and its great  :thumb: :cheers:
Title: Re: Rear shock upgrade that maintains the stock ride height?
Post by: flyingmachine on October 24, 2007, 11:24:38 AM
don't think i can go for anything fancy (expensive)  I've exhausted my bike budget as is.  BTW, just curious, does anyone thinks having crappy suspension actually makes you a better rider (as least in the beginning)?  When I first started riding, I had shocks with no oil in the GS, every corner was a challenge.  My braking had to be super smooth, and no funny business in the corners either.  If I brake, gas, change lean angel too abruptly mid corner, the front end gets really upset (almost like a pogo stick)  Finally got some new fork legs in, and now I think I'm more careless, the damping really helps to hide mistakes I know I'm making. 
Title: Re: Rear shock upgrade that maintains the stock ride height?
Post by: Chuck on October 24, 2007, 11:44:41 AM
Quote from: flyingmachine on October 24, 2007, 11:24:38 AM
BTW, just curious, does anyone thinks having crappy suspension actually makes you a better rider (as least in the beginning)?

Absolutely.
Title: Re: Rear shock upgrade that maintains the stock ride height?
Post by: GSRider on October 25, 2007, 04:10:27 AM
Quote from: GSRider on October 23, 2007, 02:55:16 PM
Well, I just received my new Works shock, so I'll be able to tell you whether or not ride height is affected in a few hours...

Ride height is not affected at all with the Works shock.
Title: Re: Rear shock upgrade that maintains the stock ride height?
Post by: Kurlon on October 25, 2007, 01:29:29 PM
Quote from: GSRider on October 25, 2007, 04:10:27 AMRide height is not affected at all with the Works shock.

How about ride quality? : )
Title: Re: Rear shock upgrade that maintains the stock ride height?
Post by: GSRider on October 26, 2007, 04:03:56 AM
Uh, outstanding?  O0

Doesn't dive on the brakes as bad, doesn't squat like a little girl peeing when on the throttle, and soaks up bumps (Washboard effects, most notably) with no problem.

The biggest problem, was that after I replaced the front springs, I REALLY noticed how bad the rear was.

My recommendation? Replace front and rear at the same time, just to save the trouble.