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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: seamax on February 27, 2009, 10:32:38 AM

Title: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: seamax on February 27, 2009, 10:32:38 AM
I ordered a riser kit that would llift the rear 1.25". This will be an addtion to my gxsr shock which is already installed.

Can someone tell me whether I would need to adjust the chain in order to accomodate this?

I look at how the bones are on the bike and cannot go thru the logic of whether the chain will need to be adjusted or not because of swing arm rise or seat rise...eh I suck.
Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: joshr08 on February 27, 2009, 10:56:35 AM
i would think you may have to tighten the chain a bit bit youll have to get everything installed and check it after that.
Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: fred on February 27, 2009, 11:03:42 AM
Once you get all that on the bike, it should be pretty clear which way the adjustment needs to go. You are making one tall bike. Isn't that going to work out to a 3+ inch lift?
Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: joshr08 on February 27, 2009, 11:05:39 AM
yeah fred im thinking almost 4 inch lift i think the gsxr shock is a 2.5 lift itself
Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: seamax on February 27, 2009, 12:24:56 PM
That's what i thought. When I installed the GSXR shock I did not have to adjust the chain though. But I will keep an eye on the chain tension after the dogbone swap.

Right now with the GSXR, both my feet are flat on the ground with knees bent. I thought I would raise it up another inch just for aesthetic reasons.

Will get some pics when done.
Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: ineedanap on February 27, 2009, 12:47:19 PM
just make sure you still have some chain slack thru the entire range of suspension travel.   When I went with my works shock that was almost gsxr length I had loosen my chain tension to prevent bind at full compression.   I used a fat friend and some straps to compress the shock and ended up having to run a smidge over 1.5 inches free play to keep the chain from binding at full compression.  You probably won't be able to use the factory .8 - 1.2 anymore.

Jacking the rear up that much should look fantastic.  Make sure you put some photos up when you're done!
Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: seamax on February 27, 2009, 02:47:50 PM
Why would you need to use a fat freind? Wouldn't  you just need to adjust it to accomodate your weight under full load unless your fat freind rides the gs also.  :D

I'm 135 lbs...not much weight to compress anything.  :embarassed:
Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: ineedanap on February 27, 2009, 03:02:02 PM
you under full load will still occationally compress the shock fully (big bumps)  I just happined to have a fat friend around that made that easier!

You need to make sure that the suspension can compress all the way.  If you set your chain to the recommended amount of slack you might find that when you hit a bump the chain tightens up so tight that the suspension can't move any further.  As the suspension moves chain tension changes (typically tightens as it's compressed until swingarm pivot and axle are parallel to the ground) and when you add a longer shock/different dogbones it compounds the problem since it changes the relationship between the arc of the swingarm and the arc of the chain. 
Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: seamax on February 27, 2009, 03:25:06 PM
Alright. Then I would need to get my wife and 2 kids to sit on the bike.  :laugh: Will put up pics when I'm done.
Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: ineedanap on February 27, 2009, 03:29:26 PM
cool, a family project! 

Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: scotilac on March 01, 2009, 08:16:22 AM
i am pretty excited to see the pictures of this bike!!! i also bought these risers and have to wait till warmer weather to put them on. wooooooohooooooo
Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: Danny500 on March 01, 2009, 04:45:50 PM
I know I know... you guys have all heard me say this before... but dude...

PLEASE TELL ME UP UPGRADED THE FORK SHOCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????????????????

I ran the SV shock and it raised my bike EXACTLY 3 inches from stock... BAD NEWS BEARS!!!!

You better stiffen the HELL out of the front 1.00's and no softer if you're shooting for 4"...

:cookoo:
Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: seamax on March 01, 2009, 08:49:48 PM
Fork Shocks?  :dunno_black:

I have ST Springs. No issue so far with the GSXR shock.
Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: Danny500 on March 01, 2009, 10:45:51 PM
Sorry... i meant FRONT shocks... by putting straight rate springs in there at least .90 - 1.00 spring rate.

Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: tulebox on March 02, 2009, 08:12:32 AM
Quote from: Danny500 on March 01, 2009, 10:45:51 PM
Sorry... i meant FRONT shocks... by putting straight rate springs in there at least .90 - 1.00 spring rate.


Or forks? :D
Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: seamax on March 11, 2009, 11:11:59 AM
FYI. This riser kit will not fit if you have gsxr shock. The new dogbones are about 3/8" from being aligned with the swingarm mounting holes or the clevis mounting holes.

The problem was that the swingarm would hit the bottom of the gsxr shock. Even after grinding the lower gsxr shock, which got me closer to 3/8", the swingarm still hit too much on the shock and you need the swingarm to drop further to fit the dogbones.

These might work with the kat or stock shock but will need major mod on the gsxr shock. Not worth my time for an extra 1.25 ". They will be put in the For Sale section.
Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: scotilac on March 11, 2009, 12:57:03 PM
Has anyone used these risers with the kat shock. I just bought both hoping they would work together. If anyone has any info on this that would be great
Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: scotilac on March 11, 2009, 02:38:38 PM
well i can assure you it does NOT work with the katana shock. i just got a phone call from my local shop who was putting them on for me and the said it would only work with stock.
Title: Re: Dogbone Riser Kit..
Post by: bill14224 on March 11, 2009, 04:28:40 PM
Danny is making a compelling argument why it's NOT a good idea to significantly increase the rear ride height.  Increasing it loads the front end more and once you get your chain adjusted so it'll allow full suspension travel, you'll find as it stretches you'll have too much slack when the suspension is at the top and the chain can fall off!  Add to that the resulting reduction in rear traction and ruining the marvelous stock geometry, and I see more cons than pros.

The more I read about some of the changes you guys make the more glad I am to leave the major stuff ALONE.  This bike was designed well to begin with in many ways, including steering geometry.  Sure, I can see wanting a better quality rear shock (especially on pre-1994's) and better springs up front, but that's as far as I'd go.