Hello,

I had installed this 2005 Katana shock yesterday on my '93 GS.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=018&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=280117750504&rd=1,1

Well, the ride became extremely harsh. The swing arm hardly compresses at all. I have it on 1st preload and 1st rebound.Going over the speedbumps is painful.

If before, my stock GS shock would bottom out, now this Katana shock hardly compresses.

While sitting still in garage, I would jump up and down on the seat as hard as I possible can, but the swing arm hardly moves at all.

Does this sound odd?

Jenya

J6

Pretty sure about the preload reading. Will recheck, but pretty sure.
Have progressives on the front. By contrast with the front that are soooo comfy and just float over anything I go over, the Katana is such a hard mule kick in the groin.

Jenya

Now, if this amount of stiffness is normal, my next question would be if it is possible to swap the coil on the Katana shock with another coild, maybe from Ohlins or Works? Perhaps some progressive coil?

Jenya

It's NOT normal. 

You replaced only the shock, not the other parts (pivot, etc), right?  Is it stuck on something?  Getting caught on another part of the suspention?  How much of the other parts did you remove (dog-bones, etc)?

Make sure the little dial isn't on 4 (1==Soft)... Make sure the big dial isn't on 7 (Put it somewhere in the middle, like 3)...  Make sure the shock isn't f%$ked (however you do that)...

If you really want to feel another Kat shock, mine has a kat in it...  I have it set to "Comfy"




And...  $9.99 for a '05 shock?!?  I HATE YOU!!!      

Come to think of it...  I'll friggen TRADE YOU!!!!   

Hey,

I would love to check out how your bike feels with Katana.
Let me know when and where I can meet with you.

Right now the shock is set on 1 preload and 1 rebound.
I only replaced the shock, everything else is stock GS.

Jenya

PM Sent.

Just to give you some perspective on the strength of the Kat monoshock spring, the rebound (4) and damping (2) was a bit too harsh for my 215 lbs + gear + tankbag weight. Patched seams on the road (~1") would jolt me off the seat for a split second at 70 km/hr. Moving the rebound to 3 helped smooth things out a bit, but similar seams on the highway are still a kick in the pants. It makes sense, though; the Kat6 is close to 80 lbs heavier (dry) and must remain stable at speeds the GS cannot achieve--with a pillion passenger, if necessary.

Do you hear that?It's me scratching my head.I got a new Kat shock for a 95.Top dial is on 3 and lower is on 7.I'm 205 pounds with my riding gear on.Soft as a pillow when I ride.
You could probably swap the GS spring on to the Kat shock.The spring would be softer but the Kat shock would defiantly damping better.  By the way,I got a new Kat shock for $16.40 INCLUDING shipping.HA 

I have katana shock too, it is a bit harsher than GS's but should be ok.

So my thoughts :

1: recheck settings.
2: the shock is rusted or otherwise non functional.
3: installed incorrectly.

I just did to and back swap between stock and katana. Katana almost seems to be hydro locked. It looks very prestine from the outside. But it doesn't compress even a tiny bit.
I wonder if it would make any sense to take it to the suzuki shop and have to take a look at it?

Jenya

Quote from: Jenya on June 07, 2007, 10:54:56 PM
I just did to and back swap between stock and katana. Katana almost seems to be hydro locked. It looks very prestine from the outside. But it doesn't compress even a tiny bit.
I wonder if it would make any sense to take it to the suzuki shop and have to take a look at it?

Jenya

It'll cost you out the nose,for them to tell you that you need a shock,when it's out of adjustment or something simple.All they can do is put it on a test stand and see how many pounds of pressure it takes to compress it.That is if they have a test stand,and then they have nothing to compare it to.I don't think Suzuki ever released there factory spring rates for their bikes.

Just take it to someone who can tell if it is ok. If not, repair can cost too much, and another used shock should be cheaper.

Mine is a bit stiffer than stock, but i can definitely compress it with my light weight 65kg/145lbs. It is also on preload setting 6. So my bet is you bought shock with defect, but check it with mechanic if it doesn't cost more than another shock.

If you have a big shop vise or a friend that has one,put it in there and see if you can compress it.If you have a local race team,they could prolly tell you for nothing.They may even have another shock lying about they'd give you.

Tonight on the way home  I had stopped by Home Depot and picked up $4 worth of different pieces from which I had rigged up a coil compressor.
http://culbertfamily.com/jenya/gs500/broken%5Fkatana/

After removing the coil, I tried to move the plunger, or whatever it is called, and it wouldn't move much. Only about 1/4 of an inch.

I, then, placed the shock into my drill press to be used as a large vice, between the chuck and the table. A little bit of persuasion with the turn of drill press wheel, and it started to move. Eventually, I had worked it out to a complete smooth range of motion.

Not sure what held it shut to begin with, but it moves nicely now. I will put it on the bike and keep an eye (or rather a butt) on it for a while.

Not a bad learning experience and now I have a $4 coil compressor. Maybe one day I will play with swapping different coils. Some heavy progressive coil would be interesting to match the progressive front.

Cheers,
Jenya

I have the stock shock , a Sv650 shock , and a katana 600 shock , then i spotted a Hagon Gs shock . and i thought well yea , he wanted 50 pounds with shipping , i looked online , and this one isnt very old . and the price tag is 235 pounds with out shipping , so im looking forward to this , ive got a kat front end now , so hopefully yhis shock is ,good , then ill sell the 3 i have to fund it ... Bargin

i'm super happy with my kat shock. i have it on 4/4 and don't mind the roughness (and beleive me, it's rough. i'm only 135lbs soaking wet) but i think i'm going to put damping on 3

Sorry slight threadjack

ok shock out of Bike, want to preset it before putting it in, Which is the right side to read it on?

Quote from: Jenya on June 13, 2007, 10:13:11 PM
Tonight on the way home  I had stopped by Home Depot and picked up $4 worth of different pieces from which I had rigged up a coil compressor.
http://culbertfamily.com/jenya/gs500/broken%5Fkatana/

After removing the coil, I tried to move the plunger, or whatever it is called, and it wouldn't move much. Only about 1/4 of an inch.

I, then, placed the shock into my drill press to be used as a large vice, between the chuck and the table. A little bit of persuasion with the turn of drill press wheel, and it started to move. Eventually, I had worked it out to a complete smooth range of motion.

Not sure what held it shut to begin with, but it moves nicely now. I will put it on the bike and keep an eye (or rather a butt) on it for a while.

Not a bad learning experience and now I have a $4 coil compressor. Maybe one day I will play with swapping different coils. Some heavy progressive coil would be interesting to match the progressive front.

Cheers,
Jenya

Could you repost the link.It wouldn't work for me.Interested in the homemade spring compressor.