So I went out on an overnighter trip this weekend, and towards the end of the first day my rear shock shits itself.  At first I thought the handling was feeling pretty odd and then at a service station I see the oil dribbling off the bottom of it.  I have to say, I'm pretty suprised - its a 2005 bike and the shock only has 9,000km on it! 

So anyway, I get to nurse the pogo-bike all the way home today along all the country roads and freeway.  Horrible. 

Should I...
a) replace it with a GS shock from a wreckers yard;
b) replace it with a different shock from a wreckers yard;
c) pony up and get a new GS shock from the stealer and fit it myself?

I guess my real question is what is the likely difference in cost going to be between the three options, and which is going to produce the best outcome for the money?

Personally, I'd replace it with a stocker.  Maybe I'm just an unusually crappy and insensitive rider, but I don't see much of a difference between fancy-schmancy shocks and the stocker in most cases. 

You should be able to get any kind of shock you want used for roughly the same price.  SV-650 shocks seem to be the favorite shoe-in as I recall.  As I recall, you'll need lowering links to bring the rear down to stock height.

Funny...   My SV has a GSXR-1000 shock shoehorned into it by the previous owner.  It rides rough, like a corn cob.   

If I have a shock out of a GSXR and some GS'er has the shock out of my SV, will some trail-90 rider end up with the shock out of your GS?   

It just happens that I"ve got a stock shock sitting here in my room taking up space from an 89. far as I know its in good shape.  PM me if you want it.   

Kat shock all the way ... nothing even comes close.
Anyway ... I'll let someone who has swapped out pitch in.
Cool.
Buddha.

I disagree. Its All About The Hagon Shock

Yea ... you peel off the hagon sticker and under it it says katana ... 
Honestly, I cannot really compare, I never had any time on a GS that didn't have a GSXR or a katana shock. I have one sitting in mt driveway which the clown crashed on labor day which pogo's like a bronco ... and I asked him, and he said he doesn't even notice it. Like ... what ... how.
Cool.
Buddha.

Well the stock shock , i sit on it and it drops maybe 3 inches , the hagon drops about 1 at most

it comes with adjustable damping with automatic rebound and compression balance. Also adjustable for spring preload with adjuster ring. Fully rebuildable, red powder coated spring and plated body

The red looks pretty as , i had a kat shock from when i got my kat parts bike for the f/e and such , and i thought it was nothing to compair however at 240 pounds , nearly 500 bucks , it should be , i got it of ebay for 40 pounds in a auction that ended at 5 am ...

I also have a stock GS shock you can have.  Just let me know if you want it and where you live.   

Oh yea, I have mm7568's stock shock too ... maybe you string up all 3 and it may work ...
Cool.
Buddha.