So I got an sv650 shock for $20 from someone locallly. Last night I removed my stock shock, and tried to put the new one in. I dropped it in from the top. But it seems to be too long to fit? I can't get the bottom part to slide into place, its hitting the middle part of the swingarm. I read the wiki which said to trim the base of the shock. So I did that. and it still doesn't fit. I took a tie down, hooked it to my grab bar, tied it to my ceiling, and cranked it up so the swingarm is fully extended. And I still cant get the damn thing to slide in there.

What am I missing? Everybody says its a relatively easy swap. Do I need longer dogbones or something? That's the only thing that seems to be holding this back.

Yea it fits like crap. We have to change the wiki. You need to grind the linkage ... I have one that has been done pretty good ... $20 and shipping and I'd trade mine for yours.
Kat 600 or bandit 600 - I have one of those for $30 and shipping. Kat 6 - nope ... can look though.
Cool.
Buddha.

I may try to grind mine down myself. If I don't feel up to it, I'll probably take you up on that bandit 600 shock.

Side question - I'm 6'4", about 270 lbs. What would be the best shock for me? How about in the front? (not really wanting to upgrade to Kat FE)

6'4, 270 lbs ... dude ... get a bigger bike ... maybe a bandit 1250 ...
Anyway, mm75658, 6'3 and 260 lbs (your litte brother) has a GSXR shock on the back ... he loved it, he then went to kat fe and it got a wiggle ... never mind that ... GSXR shock ... all the way.
SV shock if it even fits, will have so little adjustability ... you gonna over power it ... B6 - also ... forget kat too. Id do GSXR ... maybe even the 94-95 GSXR ... too stiff, may be just right for you.
Seriously though ... you are a bit big for this bike ... close to 2X the design weight suzuki had in mind prolly.
Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: The Buddha on October 08, 2008, 11:20:54 AM
6'4, 270 lbs ... dude ... get a bigger bike ... maybe a bandit 1250 ...
Anyway, mm75658, 6'3 and 260 lbs (your litte brother) has a GSXR shock on the back ... he loved it, he then went to kat fe and it got a wiggle ... never mind that ... GSXR shock ... all the way.
SV shock if it even fits, will have so little adjustability ... you gonna over power it ... B6 - also ... forget kat too. Id do GSXR ... maybe even the 94-95 GSXR ... too stiff, may be just right for you.
Seriously though ... you are a bit big for this bike ... close to 2X the design weight suzuki had in mind prolly.
Cool.
Buddha.

I know i'm pretty big for the bike. But I can't switch to something different until at least next year. And I like the bike. Simple, easy to work on. All my buddies ride literbikes and I keep up with em fine. Fun to work on, etc. Plus no one else around here has one...unlike the gsxr's, r1's, r6's.....